Featured Events
April 27 @ 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm CDT
Book Club: The New China Playbook by Keyu Jin
Hosted by Crossing Party Lines
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April’s book is The New China Playbook by Keyu Jin.
This book challenges Western perceptions of China, exploring its departure from traditional economic models, including the consequences of its one-child policy, the government’s complex relationship with entrepreneurs, its boisterous financial system, and the latest push in technological innovation. Keyu Jin reveals misunderstood dynamics in China’s shift away from conventional socialism and capitalism, marking the emergence of a new dynamic between these systems as a younger generation reshapes the nation’s future.
Learn more about this month’s book by downloading our one-page primer (see link on webpage).
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About CPL Book Club:
This monthly gathering’s mission is simple: to explore profound opinions and accounts of our nation’s and the world’s most critical issues through in-depth books. But it’s not just about reading – it’s about embracing diverse perspectives, sparking discussions, and sharing thoughts with fellow explorers of knowledge.
What you’ll get out of book club: our hope is for you to dare to dive deep, analyzing topics and navigating the twists and turns of politics together. If you share a passion for continuous learning and want to explore the intricacies of our world’s challenges, then this club is your intellectual haven (or entry) into finding out more.
How It Works:
- We will announce our book list 6 months in advance in the hopes of giving our members time to acquire, read, and consider the books prior to our meetings. We will start with an initial list of books that were hand-selected by the host and other members of the CPL leadership team. Three months into the initial list, members will propose and select the next 3 to 6 books to be read
- One month before the club reads a book, we will publish a primer (see link above), providing information about the book and the author, plus questions to consider while reading the book.
- At our meeting, we’ll spend about 15 minutes sharing thoughts as a group, then move into breakout rooms for a more intimate discussion of the book and the ideas it presents.
Where To Find the Books:
We promise that all the books we will discuss will be available online, in bookstores and in most cases, in your local library. Most will be available in hardcopy, audiobook, and e-book. Please consider borrowing the books from your local library. If you find purchasing new copies of the books beyond your budget, we encourage you to look for used copies, which you are likely to find online at Powell’s Bookstore, ThriftBooks, or on Amazon (listed below the hardcover or paperback prices).
April 28 @ 7:00pm CDT
-isms: What Do They Mean?
Hosted by Crossing Party Lines
In previous meetings we’ve discussed a lot of -isms, from classism to racism, socialism and capitalism to interventionism and isolationism. People rally against them or advocate for them. At this meeting, we’ll discuss -isms in general, starting with this definition from the web:
a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy, typically a political ideology or an artistic movement.
- How do -isms apply in your life? Do you identify as adherent to a philosophical ism?
- Do you find your favorite -ism gives you a sense of shared identity and belonging?
- Does being able to point to an -ism help you work toward a better future?
What is misinformation? How can we spot it and avoid it? How has the emergence of artificial intelligence technology complicated how we evaluate information? In this webinar hosted by the News Literacy Project, we’ll explore current trends in misinformation and identify types of misleading, inaccurate and false information. We’ll also discuss the fundamentals of fact-checking in the AI age, including how to debunk false images and videos.