The Forum featuring Eric Liu
THE FORUM
FEATURING Eric Liu
ARPIL 8 2022 | 6PM | IN-PERSON EVENT
Based in Seattle, Eric Liu is former White House speechwriter who directs the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship & American Identity Program and is a correspondent at The Atlantic magazine. Liu’s latest book is Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility and Democracy, which grows out of the Civic Saturday phenomenon that Liu and his team pioneered and has now spread nationwide.
Leaders grow and flourish with ongoing learning. Communities benefit from adapting to the times. Liu observes that we, as Americans, live in a culture of hyper-individualism where almost every message we get, from every screen we scan, tells us that we are on our own and beholden to none. Yet far from feeling free, we feel entrapped in digital isolation, enslaved by consumerism and suffering from status anxiety. Liu will share his ideas and insights on how each of us can escape these pressures to find love, joy, and purpose.
This Forum, with Eric Liu and a special performance by local vocalist extraordinaire MercuryCarter, kicks off The Charlotte Center Festival of Ideas, a series of thought-provoking events during Charlotte SHOUT!
6:00 PM - Reception with appetizers and beverages; cash bar for wine and beer.
7:00 PM - The Forum: Connect. Consider. Ignite.
9:00 PM - Optional: 'The After-Party' - reflection and conversation hosted by our board chair
Eric Liu is the CEO of Citizen University, a nonprofit working to foster a culture of powerful, responsible citizenship. His eight books include You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen, and the national best-sellers The Gardens of Democracy and True Patriot. His first book, The Accidental Asian, Notes of a Native Speaker was a New York Times Notable Book featured in the PBS documentary, “Matters of Race.” Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and later as the President’s deputy domestic policy adviser. He has also served as a board member of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Washington State Board of Education and the Seattle Public Library. He is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School.
MercuryCarter, a Charlotte-born singer-songwriter, is a vocalist of boundless talents. With exceptional pitch, 3.5 octave range, and unique phrasing, MercuryCarter is noted as one of the greatest and most distinguishable voices of this generation. His musical knowledge and passion for various genres, most notably the golden ages of jazz and soul, contribute to his timeless sound.
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