Initiatives

We tend to think that both democracy and diversity are good things; many of us even say that diversity is a strength.

In a world where traditional media is under fire, and the way we get information is in a period of rapid transition, what does vigilance mean?

After Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in Tucson, pundits spent extensive time wringing their hands over the lack of civility in American political discourse.

The world moves so fast now that democracy can’t keep up. China, Singapore, and some other undemocratic countries can make smart, long-term fiscal decisions faster.

A Zócalo/Cal Humanities "Searching for Democracy" event with poet Philip Levine and Stuart Leavenworth of the Sac Bee.

One of the most controversial fights of today concerns the policy of birthright citizenship. What if no one were to be granted automatic U.S. citizenship regardless of the nationality of his or her parents?

Daniel Alarcón is the author of California Reads selected book Lost City Radio. In March 2012, our partner Mary Menzel from California Center of the Book interviewed Alarcon about his novel.

Our partner, Mary Menzel, at California Center for the Book, led a discussion about the memoir, which deals with Houston's interment as a Japanese American during World War II.

Mary Menzel, our partner from California Center for the Book, interviewed Rebecca Solnit at the Long Beach Public Library in April 2012.

Our partner Mary Menzel from the California Center for the Book spoke with Beeman, who is one of the nation's foremost Constitutional scholars, at the Newport Beach Library at an author in conversation event in April 2012.