It will be followed by a Q&A session that will likely respond with various ways to express patriotism, to actively participate in democracy, and to transform a stranger into a good neighbor. We will offer ideas for people with varying amounts of time, energy, and stamina. Building community is grassroots democracy.

Susan Gottehrer – The Director of the Nassau County New York Civil Liberties Union and the New York State affiliate of the ACLU. She has fought for Immigration, Reproductive and Voting Rights, Police Reform, and Criminal Defense Reform. Susan holds a Master’s degree in Education from Columbia University, a Master’s in Political Science from the New School for Social Research, and a Master’s in Public Administration/Policy Analysis from New York University. She’s been an adjunct Political Science Professor at Pace University, Adelphi, and Long Island University, and has eight years of Public Relations experience.

 

Sonia Aurora — A published author of poetry, short fiction, and essays, Sonia Aurora has taught secondary and college-level classes in literature and humanities in Long Island, New York City, and Philadelphia classrooms, often exploring oral history, digital media, poetry, activism, and filmmaking.  As an engaged resident of Port Washington, Sonia coordinates the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock and helped found Long Island Together. Sonia holds Masters degrees from Harvard University (in International Education) and Queens College (Poetry), with a BA from Stony Brook (English).

 

Carlyn Cowen — As the Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), the nation’s largest Asian-American social services organization, she is responsible for public policy, advocacy, government affairs, and community engagement for CPC’s 80,000 clients, from 40-plus countries. Prior work includes coordinating research and data analysis for over $4 billion in human services contracts for the New York City Mayor’s Office, managing consulting projects for the UN Development Programme, and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities. Carlyn holds an MA (Economic and Political Development and Nonprofit Management) from Columbia, and a double BA (International Relations, Philosophy) from UNC-Chapel Hill.