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Category: Civil Rights

Wrapping up Tribfest 2019

Still a bit exhausted from our previous long day, we grabbed a coffee and departed at dawn to secure a spots in the inevitable line…

One-on-One with Beto O’Rourke (Sawyer Massie)

And we were right.  The line for Beto O’Rourke at the Paramount Theater venue had formed over an hour earlier than the start.  Even still, we were happily surprised with our seats, although that mattered little, since everyone rose to their feet when Beto took the stage.

Despite being in the audience when he appeared in Huntsville during his Senate campaign, we were interested to hear him, especially concerning the recent impeachment inquiries announcement. He filled his hour, ranging from gun control, to immigration, to decriminalization, and, of course, the topic of TribFest, impeachment. When he opened up Q&A, we sent in questions pertaining to his policy discussions, but none of ours were selected.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Austin Texas, Beto ORourke

The crowd erupted when he stood up from his chair and waved goodbye, but that was that. Regardless of party affiliation, we all agreed he’s a talented orator.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Austin Texas, Beto ORourke

The group diverged, attending sessions in completely different “spheres”: health care and space.

Up in the Air (Sawyer Massie)

This panel, designed to answer the question: “What is the trajectory of our space program?,” featured Douglas Brinkley, Lori Garver, and Thomas Zurbuchen – a distinguished author, former NASA Deputy Administrator, and NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, respectively.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Space Program, Douglas Brinkley

Brinkley has extensive knowledge in the field of space exploration and keeps close ties with many of the industry’s big names. He was also promoting his newly-published American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race. To give context to those attending the panel, he explained that “moonshot” has garnered colloquial usage over the years to signify exploration in any field, although first gaining popularity during the late 50’s Space Race.  Brinkley also stated that without the persistence of JFK despite an opposing population, no humans would have ever gone to the moon.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, SPace Program, Douglas Brinkley

Garver added that in the coming years, there will at least be one woman going to space in NASA’s upcoming “Artemis” missions.  She shared a story of being employed on the John Glenn campaign, although at the time did not know he advocated against women becoming astronauts; one of her missions now is to promote women in the space and science industries.

Thomas claimed that Apollo 11 changed his life, in spite of having no memory of it whatsoever. Sparked by interest in peering at Switzerland’s night sky, he devoted his life to becoming an astrophysicist. He emphasized the importance of space exploration and challenged the audience to be involved in innovating humanity.

No Thanks, Obamacare (Esmeralda Mata)

Panelists Elena Marks, Avik Roy, David Balat, Stacey Pogue, and moderator Emma Platoff discussed the cost of healthcare in Texas, and regional hospital and global pharmaceutical monopolistic behavior.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Obamacare

They argued that hospitals are able to negotiate fees with insurance companies that may seem beneficial to the consumer, but are not in reality. Some regional hospitals and global pharmaceuticals are taking advantage of the market power to charge higher fees for health care, when 40-50% of these typically are paid to administrators and intermediaries who never touch a patient. So, now the argument is whether we should pay hospitals directly, excluding insurance companies, to lower the cost of healthcare. Geographically, this will benefit those who live near a hospital, which hurts rural patients.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Obamacare

Break!  Although the Obamacare panel was a lot to digest, we decided that it was time for a snack.  Since we were already waiting in The Driskill between panels, it was an easy decision to try a couple of pastries from the 1886 Café, including the “signature” 1886 Chocolate Cake.  Amazing!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Driskill Hotel Bakery

Trade Off (Miranda Estrada)

Politico’s chief economic correspondent, Ben White, moderated a formidable panel of two: former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and US Trade Representative Carla Anderson Hills, and former Dallas Mayor and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Trade, Ron Kirk, Carla Anderson Hill

Our conversation started with the question of Congress’s ability to pass serious trade laws with only 33 days remaining in this session. Both Hills and Kirk agreed that several items still need to be passed and whether that would happen would rely heavily on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, about which they were optimistic. Turning to US economic vitality, Kirk stressed the importance of the need to attract people to the high quality of American-made goods and the need have Americans producing those goods. (Kirk explained in an aside that he is an anomaly of sorts, a pro-trade Dem.)

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Trade

He stressed the importance trade has on our country but also that trade in Texas in particular employs thousands of people and brings in revenue.

When asked what the world would look like without NAFTA, Hill defined NAFTA not as a diplomatic agreement but rather as a “constitutional province of Congress,” along with commerce and taxes.  She also spoke of the competitive supply trade NAFTA has created and that together we buy and produce for one another globally. Hill stressed the importance of every person needing to stand up and fight for trade, to not rely on Washington D.C. Kirk spoke of the privilege that often in America we forget, and that we benefit economically down to the family unit level due to trade. Kirk offered the notion that we did as a country need to upgrade NAFTA and the importance and consequences of losing that ground.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Trade

We made a quick connection with Kirk after (Sawyer & Miranda are from the Dallas area, but they let Annie & Esme in the pic, anyhow), briefly chatting on the “supertrain” connecting Dallas and Houston.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Ron Kirk

Break, part I: Lunch at Cava (Annie Jamarik)

Between discussions, we squeezed in a quick lunch, and because we like to reach a little outside of our comfort zone when it comes to food as well as politics, CAVA was a great choice for a quick lunch that still pushed boundaries for some of us – but not too far! Not native to Austin, this Mediterranean restaurant is a frequent stop for the LEAP Center whenever in town. A large variety of sauces and toppings makes it easy for everyone to get something they like, something a little different. (That said the braised lamb grain bowl with sriracha Greek yogurt was a group favorite!)

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, CAVA

Break, part II: Texas State Capitol (Annie Jamarik)

Because lunch was quick and easy, we had some time to kill before our next event.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019

Because we hadn’t had enough walking yet, and since Esmeralda had never been, we took advantage of the extra time to wander up Congress Avenue to look around the State Capitol building. We ventured on to the House and Senate floors for quick look-see before venturing back to TribFest, where the Capitol remained in our line of vision.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019

The Stories of 9/11 (Esmeralda Mata)

Garrett Graff, author of The Only Plane in the Sky, and late substitute Karl Rove, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush, completely moved the audience. The moderator asked them to focus on the two different Americas—pre and post “9/11.”   Both panelists stated after the first hour of the first attack, there was a noticeable difference across America.

First responders arrived, completely clueless of the full extent of the tragedy that has occurred, many of them falling victim themselves. President Bush was in Sarasota, Florida, visiting a school. Rove shared his thoughts after seeing the President enter the makeshift command center after he was informed by then White House Chief of Staff Andy Card: “A different guy walked through the door that day.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Austin Texas, Karl Rove, 9-11

Both Graff and Rove recounted a number of stories, although most centered on the specific events and timeline for the day of the attack, with details on the actions taken by United Airlines Flight 93 passengers, first responders fearful of subsequent attacks, and the massive undertaking (logistically and length of time) of grounding all aircraft across the nation.  Both also noted that many, while consumed with the shock, turned quickly to what would happen the next day, and the next, and how we would react, recover, and in the American spirit, press on.

History Class (Sawyer Massie)

On another adventure in the ever-elusive quest for a break from political discussion, we were able to witness three historical authors discuss Texas history and–oh wait, the current political climate. (We were unable to fulfill that quest…) Nevertheless, S. C. Gwynne, H. W. Brands, and Stephen Harrigan had a lot to say, and elegantly, all three.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, ObamacareSHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Stephen Harrigan, HW Brands, SC Gwynne

One poignant question from the audience, “Will we be okay?,” demonstrated the asker’s undeniable concern with the polarized political climate we face today. H.W. Brands, the only professional historian of the three, took the lead in answering.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, HW Brands

Citing history’s cyclical nature, he stated that these times are not the worst our nation has faced. We have faced bloody wars and devastation beyond what we face now so, logically, he concluded, we will be okay.

We were particularly happy to see Stephen Harrigan, who has been a guest of ours at SHSU.  He spoke insightfully, as usual, and he has a whole new perspective on his discussion, having just completed a six-year history of Texas: Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas.

After the panel, we rushed (next door) to the festival “hub” to be first in line for the book signing. Sawyer attempted conversation with S.C. Gwynne; Stephanie spoke with Stephen Harrigan, mentioning LEAP and SHSU.  He immediately recognized the Center and asked about Professor Yawn. (We were giddy knowing that a very famous author remembered us.)

One-on-One with Julian Castro (Miranda Estrada)

Meanwhile, the others had the opportunity to add another Democratic Presidential Nominee hopeful “arrow” to their quiver of presentations: Julian Castro, former San Antonio Mayor and HUD Director. Our moderator was NBC Correspondent Katy Tur, and she asked several questions that really allowed Castro to speak openly and honestly about his plans if he were to receive the nomination and then win.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Julian Castro

Regarding Castro’s recent pleas for funding and possible inability to make the needed polling numbers, Tur asked if he would drop to the Senate race, challenging Senator John Cornyn. He said very confidently that he would not run for Senate because his experience is as an executive. He claimed federal leadership experience, and he explained that he was running for the position that is relevant to his experience. Tur noted that the three current major poll leaders are all Caucasian, and asked Castro if he would support a nominee if Caucasian, and Castro said that he would fully support the party nominee regardless of race.

Asked from the audience what it would mean for Castro, son of a Mexican immigrant, to stand on the stage and debate President Donald Trump. Castro spoke of recent criticism that he is “too harsh” in debating, and stated that he hoped voters saw that instead that he is more than capable and prepared to debate Trump, along with the importance of his representation for Mexican-American children, to see someone that looks like them on the stage with the chance of becoming the next president.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Julian Castro

Closing Keynote: Nancy Pelosi (Annie Jamarik)

The closing chapter of The Texas Tribune Festival “book” is easily the most anticipated. This year, TribFest closed with a one-on-one discussion with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, as moderated by Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune. Because the closing keynote is generally highly anticipated, and especially after this busy news week regarding the impeachment inquiry, the Paramount Theatre reached capacity before we were able to grab a seat.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Nancy Pelosi

Long before we reached the front door.  Instead, we gathered at the Politico “tent” (yes. A tent set up out on Congress Avenue) for livestreaming.

During the talk, Speaker Pelosi addressed the impeachment inquiry stating that this is not about politics or partisanship, but rather emphasized the solemnity of an elected official’s oath of office.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Nancy Pelosi

She discussed some of the issues with President Trump’s lack of response to congressional subpoenas, to date, even citing similar action during President Nixon’s impeachment. Speaker Pelosi spoke at length about unifying our country and, singling out Willie Nelson in the front row (who garnered an impressive applause as well), also suggested that the arts will be important in healing the country.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Nancy Pelosi

 

But irrespective of the issues, the audience was in broad agreement, and maintained applause through the end.

Dinner at Clay Pit (Annie Jamarik)

After another long day of walking all over downtown Austin, Texas, we were ready for a good dinner! The Clay Pit is an Indian restaurant that LEAP enjoys nearly every time we visit Austin. We started the meal with garlic & basil and jalapeno & cream cheese naan for the table. For our entrees, we attempted a variety of traditional dishes, including: Butter chicken; Lamb tikka masala (which was supposed to be chicken); Chicken korma (which was supposed to be lamb); Lamb vindaloo; and Bhindi masala.

 

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Clay Pit
SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Clay Pit
SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Clay Pit
SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019, Clay Pit

Our new-to-Indian-cuisine guests said they loved their dishes – even though our waiter Tom had a challenge in getting some of them correct…

Because we never do anything halfway, we ended our large meal with vegan chocolate cake and chai spiced crème Brule to share. We were most happy for our shortest walk of the day – back to the hotel!

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Author mikeyawnPosted on October 1, 2019October 7, 2019Format AsideCategories Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Food, Law, PoliticsTags Austin Texas, Beto O'Rourke, Carla Anderson HIlls, Douglas Brinkley, Julian Castro, Karl Rove, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Nancy Pelosi, Ron Kirk, SHSU, Stephen Harrigan, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest 2019Leave a comment on Wrapping up Tribfest 2019

Tackling the Texas Tribune Festival: LEAP’s Day 2 in Austin

On the second day of the Texas Tribune Festival, the LEAP team attending came together, divided, and attended a multitude and variety of sessions (together and in smaller groups), while critiquing the panels, the speakers, and the venues, over the course of the day, and over a series of coffee breaks and meals at some distinctly Austin establishments…

Student Breakfast with Jennifer Palmieri (Annie Jamarik)

The Student Breakfast at CapMetro Project Connect Community Office, hosted by the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, had special guest speaker Jennifer Palmieri, former White House Director of Communications (2011 to 2015, under President Barack Obama), as well as Director of Communications for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. As we ate breakfast tacos (like true Austin natives), Ms. Palmieri shared her unique perspective from working on a presidential campaign and applied her knowledge and experience to thoughts on the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Jennifer Palmieri

She was sure to stress that, while still early in the race, Senator Warren was the current candidate to watch due to her steady climb in the polls.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest

During Q&A, when asked for her advice to students entering the world of politics, Ms. Palmieri passed on wisdom she received from the Secret Service: “Listen to criticism, process it, move forward, and draw fire.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Jennifer Palmieri

Ed and the Feds (Miranda Estrada)

This discussion centered on how our federal and state agencies can work collaboratively on building education policy more effectively; the panel was comprised of moderator Sarah Darville (editor of Chalkbeat), Susana Martinez (former governor of New Mexico), and Jack Markell (former governor of Delaware).

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Susana Martinez, Jack Markell, Sarah Darville

Both Martinez and Markell placed education as a high priority during their tenure in office; however, they used different approaches to improving the quality of education in their respective states. Martinez believes in the importance of engaging parents by using transparency in giving grades to the school their children attended, and emphasized a ranking system of schools and their teachers is during her administration. She stressed the important roles teachers play as gatekeepers of information, and that they should be assessed on that. Markell used a different approach, instead opting for measuring academic growth of a student versus their proficiency.  Both agreed, though, that regardless of the method, there are always unintended consequences and no one plan is perfect. Overall, we learned more about how leaders can work to improve their educational systems in ways that best fit the needs of their citizens — and children.

Governor Martinez proved particularly gracious afterward, posing with photos and discussing education policy additionally.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Susana Martinez

Break! On our walk between session venues, we popped in to The Coffeehouse at Caroline.  Try the chocolate & cherry or cheese scones – depending on whether you want a sweet or savory bite – or the chocolate zucchini bread; or, well, anything.  It was all good, from the smoothie, to the coffee & tea, to the wide selection of baked goods!

Civic Enragement (Esmeralda Mata)

We all agreed that the Civic Enragement (“How progressive politics are turning citizens into warriors and cities into battlegrounds.”) panel was the most controversial of all!  The panel was substantially synergized in voicing their opinions on issues ranging from local to state and federal, discussing not only specific policy, but also the challenge in cultivating a good relationship between city and state leaders, given the difference between conservative and liberal governance styles and implementations.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Judge Susan Eckhardt, Alicia Glen, Jerry Morales, Alan Webber, Matt Yglasias

Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt’s opening comments, on the importance of being able to disagree agreeably, and in recognizing that an opponent can be your best ally at a local level by coming together in finding issues and solutions that can be exported to a federal level, did not parlay into how she will be remembered.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Judge Susan Eckhardt, Alicia Glen, Jerry Morales, Alan Webber, Matt Yglasias

She argued that state legislators do not provide county government with enough aid, as compared to a city governments, and focused on some particular ordinances.  After noting that state legislators hate Austin (“because we are so successfull”), she focused on Austin’s tree ordinance, noting that that, “Governor Abbott hates trees because one fell on him,” a quote that left our group wondering all day why an elected official would agree to be on a panel designed to bring people together, only to say something so callous.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Judge Susan Eckhardt

As a counterpoint, Midland Mayor Jerry Morales discussed sustainable growth, detailing jobs and other opportunities Midland has created with cohesive support from not only the state but also the federal government.  And while most of the panelists (and the audience) agreed that the responsibility of enforcing immigration laws is the responsibility of the federal government and not a city, Mayor Morales opposed this discussion, too, stating that every city should protect their citizens.  In general, the difference between rural and urban viewpoints of Texas was definitely highlighted among the diverse panelists at this session.

Break!  We ambled over to the TribFest “Hub,” the place for registration, light snacks and water bottle refills, and book signings.  Stations were set up with a number of books offered by the various speakers at TribFest.  We all picked out books, some of the group getting multiples, a decision we all lauded later when we were able to proceed directly to the signing line instead of first having to go through the buying line!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Susan Rice

From Within (Annie Jamarik)

Next up was a panel of experts who discussed how our country fights (or should fight) domestic terrorism. The panel included Robert Chesney, Director of the Strauss Center for International Security and Law and Associate Dean at the UT School of Law; Lisa Monaco, former White House Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor; Mary McCord, former acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; and Nick Rasmussen, Former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center. David Priess, former CIA officer, author of “The President’s Book of Secrets” and the Chief Operating Officer of the Lawfare Institute, was a model moderator.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest

One of the items that really stood out was the specific qualifications a violent attack must have to be classified as a domestic terrorist attack.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest

Chesney explained one of the gaps in federal statutes regarding domestic terrorism, in that requirements are so specific that the weapon used in an attack determines if an attacker could be charged at the federal level – or not.  (Explosives = yes; guns = no.) During Q&A, one question referred to monitoring and regulating online public forums (social media platforms) for hate speech and rhetoric. The panel all agreed that, because these online forums are owned by private companies, the government cannot regulate material, so it is up to the private companies to regulate themselves.  We would have loved to hear more on this, but the clock had run out.

Break!  We had to make a game time change to our lunch plans.  The line for our first choice stretched throughout the restaurant and out the door, so we dropped back and punted to an Austin-based chain, P. Terry’s.  After some quick burgers and lemonade, and a brief respite from the sweltering heat, we maneuvered our way through the crowded city blocks.

Points of Light (Sawyer Massie)

In spite of the relatively short walks between venues, we still took a moment to linger and appreciate the air conditioning before proceeding into the main auditorium.  Despite taking our seats only moments before the panel began, only the first three rows were occupied.  It soon occurred to us that the Pete Buttigieg session at the Paramount more than likely took a toll on attendance for this and other panels held at the same time. Unfortunately for Mayor Pete fans – but fortunately for us – they missed out on a wholesome and enriching discussion on the legacies of George and Barbara Bush.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, George P. Bush, Susan Page, Michael Beschloss

The discussion – aptly entitled “Points of Light” – was moderated by Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty and featured Land Commissioner (and Bush “grandson”) George P. Bush, presidential author Michael Beschloss, and Susan Page, USA Today’s Washington Bureau Chief and Barbara Bush biographer.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, George P. Bush, Susan Page, Michael Beschloss

Much like previous panels, this one followed the Q&A format with audience questions toward the end. Likewise, current events and other inevitable topics in this heated political climate were discussed; however, this panel took an unusual turn in that it became emotional.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, George P. Bush, Susan Page, Michael Beschloss

The panelists opened up by explaining how America had to reassess its values following the deaths of former First Lady Barbara Bush, and President Bush, Sr., then delved into the inner machinations of their relationships to one another – and specifically, their last moments seeing one another.  Page recalled that after Barbara Bush was placed into hospice care – and knew these were her last moments – she reached out to her husband’s hand at the bedside and told him “I’m not worried about you, George.” This was her granting permission to him that he could live his life and she’d die knowing he’d be okay.  By the end, some of us were misty-eyed; it was touching to hear this from someone who got to spend so much time interviewing them.

After the panel, we were also fortunate enough to snap a quick photo with George P. Bush with a few minutes to spare before queuing up for our last panel of the day.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, George P. Bush

 

One-on-One with Susan Rice (Miranda Estrada)

 We did not score seats at the front of the packed venue for former UN Ambassador and National Security Advisor, Susan Rice. Our moderator for the evening, Margaret Talev, worked with Mrs. Rice during her time with the Obama administration. Their “conversation” started with the topic of the day, the impeachment inquiry on President Donald Trump.  Mrs. Rice stressed the importance of policy action being used only for the best interest of the United States as a whole and not for a single person.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Susan Rice

Mrs. Rice also spoke with the audience about her new book, “Tough Love,” reading an excerpt that covered a horrible yet funny-now experience. Her book is broken into the major parts of her life: early childhood, early years in government, time as UN Ambassador, and then as National Security Advisor. Mrs. Rice felt the need to write the book as a reintroduction of herself to the public – to address her feelings and thoughts regarding her treatment in the years following Benghazi that she was made out to be a monster.  In her career she was used to speaking for the United States; this book allowed her to speak for herself and be her own advocate, champion, and spokesperson.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest, Susan Rice

Break!  With the panels over, and a short refresh break under our belts, we did some sightseeing.  The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, dedicated to the former Texas Governor, is home to North America’s largest bat (specifically, the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat) population.  We lined up like good little tourists and watched for a while the colony head out for their dinner.  Then we headed to ours!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Austin Texas, Texas Tribune Festival, Tribfest

Dinner at Kerbey Lane Café  (Sawyer Massie)

After a long day, there was no question that we were famished and looking forward to dinner at an Austin staple: Kerbey Lane Café.  We slumped in our seats and indolently chatted from our slouched positions. Suffice it to say, we had expended all our energy on TribFest.  Everyone perked up, however, when platters of food arrived.  Plates of bacon and eggs, “green” mac-n-cheese, French toast and, in a nod to the calendar’s claim of the Fall season, pumpkin pancakes. We leisurely ate and recapped trip highlights (so far!) while enjoying relaxing in a comforting atmosphere, ending this day in preparation for an even longer day ahead of us.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Tribfest, Kerbey Lane Cafe

Author mikeyawnPosted on September 30, 2019Format AsideCategories Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Food, Fun, Jobs, Politics, TravelTags Austin Texas, George P. Bush, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Michael Beschloss, SHSU, Susan Rice, Texas Tribune, TribfestLeave a comment on Tackling the Texas Tribune Festival: LEAP’s Day 2 in Austin

Favorites from NOLA

 

After each trip, the LEAP Ambassadors break down their favorites from the experience.  And so they did on the NOLA trip, with the following results.

Favorite Restaurants:
1) Napoleon House: This is primarily a sandwich shop, and the students were very much impressed with the muffaletas.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans Louisiana, Napoleon House

2) Oceana: This is the most “Chilis” like of our New Orleans dining places, so it’s little wonder it was most liked by Makayla and Maggie.  In fairness, it does have a solid and diverse menu, giving people a choice of diverse New Orleans food.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans Louisiana, Oceana Grill

3) Elizabeth’s: Tied for second was Elizabeth’s, a truly original New Orleans joint, with praline bacon a highlight.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans, Elizabeth's

Favorite Food:
1. The Muffaleta: The New Orleans’ invention, the Muffaleta, wins the day!

Favorite Museums:

  1. Ogden Museum of Southern Art: This museum was favored by Ryan and Ilexus.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans Louisiana, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, James Surls

  1. World War II Museum: This was actually tied for first place, with Makayla and Maggie naming it as their favorite.  Interestingly, Makayla and Maggie most enjoyed the interactive exhibits.  Ryan, on the other hand, thought it was better the last time he visited, when they had more artifacts and commentary, and fewer interactive aspects.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans Louisiana, WWII Museum

Favorite Art Pieces:

There wasn’t a lot of consensus on the art, but some standouts included:

  1. Benny Andrews: A black artist whose style was vaguely reminiscent of the Regionalists, with a strong emphasis on the African-American experience.

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2. Courtney Egan: Virtual Idyllis

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3. James Surls: And, of course, we always enjoy seeing James Surls’ work!

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Favorite Activity:

  1. There was a tie in the favorite activity department, with two students liking the Segway Tour…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans Louisiana, Segway Tour

…and two students most enjoying their scavenger hunt.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans

There was also general agreement that this was one of the most fun LEAP trips, with many interesting sites…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Jackson Square, NOLA, St Louis Cathedral

…and sightings…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, NOLA, New Orleans Louisiana, Red Dress Race

Author mikeyawnPosted on August 18, 2019Format AsideCategories Art, Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Food, Fun, Law, Politics, TravelTags LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, New Orleans Louisiana, NOLA, Red Dress Race, Segway Tour, SHSULeave a comment on Favorites from NOLA

Megan Chapa: LEAP, South Texas College of Law, And Beyond

Megan Chapa served as a LEAP Ambassador for more than three years, filling the role of Vice-President, President, and Past President.  She also served as founding President of the Pre-Law Society, and she will be a 3L at South Texas College of Law this fall.  She volunteered to write this guest blog on her experiences at SHSU and as a LEAP Ambassador.

I am a third-year law student at South Texas College of Law Houston. I served as a LEAP Ambassador from 2014-2017 as I earned by Bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University. Those three years were the most influential years of my educational experiences, and the opportunities I was offered and the people I met as a LEAP Ambassador have served me extremely well in law school.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, Washington DC
                    Chapa at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, where she interned her senior year

 

As a LEAP Ambassador, I learned to not only balance my school, work, and internships, but also leadership positions.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, Arkasas Supreme Court
                                                   Megan Chapa at the Arkansas Supreme Court

This meant managing my time appropriately. Thinking back, many of those days were similar to my first year of law school. I remember some days as a LEAP Ambassador, I would go to class in the morning, intern in the afternoon, and then, about three times a week, I’d attend one of the many programs we participated in or attend a community meeting.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, KSAM, Larry Crippen
                                     Chapa and Karla Rosales with KSAM’s Larry Crippen

I would get home with just enough time to study and prepare for the next day. Gaining the skills to manage my time, set me up well for law school.

I served as the President of the LEAP Ambassadors for a full year, a normal term for a LEAP President. During these times, I learned to sharpen my emotional intelligence to better understand how to lead others. I encouraged my colleagues to build on their strengths and work together on tackling the task ahead, and I also had key public speaking opportunities.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law
                                                              Chapa speaking in a mock City Council

I used similar skills during my tenure as a Mid-Law Senator for the Student Bar Association—South Texas College of Law Houston Chapter. As my experience in LEAP taught me, I did my best to use my strengths in my leadership.

One of my favorite memories as a LEAP student was meeting Michael Morton.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, Michael Morton
                                    Alex Galvan, Michael Morton, Megan Chapa, and Kaitlyn Tyra

Michael Morton was wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife in 1987. After spending over twenty-five years in prison, he was exonerated of this crime. Morton spent some of his incarceration in a Huntsville prison. When I met Mr. Morton, he explained to me that it was his first time back in Huntsville since his incarceration. In that moment, I felt honored that the LEAP Ambassadors had arranged that, enabling him to return to the community under more pleasant circumstances and allowing SHSU students to learn from his experiences.

I did not realize that moment would only scratch the surface of how much it really meant to me. In law school, I learned the importance of the Michael Morton Act, an act that requires an open discovery process, and how this act has impacted prosecutors throughout the state of Texas. The fact that I had the opportunity to meet such an influential person in the criminal law community early on, made the world of difference in understanding the importance of integrity and pursuit of justice.

Of course, I had many more opportunities with LEAP, from traveling to other states, such as Arkansas…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, Pinnacle Peak

…Missouri…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, Gateway Arch
            Ryan Brim and Megan Chapa in one of the elevator pods at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis

…Georgia (and about twelve other states)…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, Coca Cola
                    Chapa, Tyra, and Rosales visiting Coca Cola, with the Coca Cola Polar Bear

…visiting Presidential Libraries…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, Lyndon Baines Johnson, LBJ Presidential Library

…meeting artists such as Richard Haas…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, Richard Haas

…and David Adickes…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law,, David Adickes

…attending conferences with state legislators….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law,, Southern Legislative Conference, Savannah GA

…and even presenting at conferences…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law,, ARKPSA

…and also doing charitable work, such as Huntsville’s “Great Muddy Escape”….

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law,

…or public services such as our “John Wayne Film Festival.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, John Wayne

…and meeting attorney David Berg, who, at my first LEAP event, shared with us his experiences as a lawyer and his personal family history, including the murder of his brother, as he recounted in his book, “Run, Brother, Run.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law, David Berg, Run Brother Run

Currently, I am an intern at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office where I hope to be employed in the near future. Applying the time management skills, the leadership skills, and taking advantage of the connections I made with others as a LEAP Ambassador have made me the student I am today. I have no doubt that LEAP made a difference in my life. I am a better professional because of my experience with LEAP, something that I think can be said by all the students involved in the program.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Megan Chapa, STCL, South Texas College of Law,

Author mikeyawnPosted on July 12, 2019Format AsideCategories Art, Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Fun, Law, Literature, Politics, Travel, VolunteerTags David Berg, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Megan Chapa, Michael Morton, SHSULeave a comment on Megan Chapa: LEAP, South Texas College of Law, And Beyond

An Evening with Special Agent Robert Booth

by Victoria McClendon-Leggett

The day after returning from New York, we were back in the car and headed to….College Station.  It’s not a long trip, but it came at a busy time; it was, however, a highly worthwhile endeavor.

We found our seats and waited to hear from our expert, Robert Booth, who worked for the State Department as a counterintelligence officer for 28 years, and he had plenty of stories to share with the crowd about how other governments attempt to gain access to classified American information. Following introductions by Andrew Natsios…

…and Jim Olson…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Bush School at TAMU, Robert Booth, Jim Olson

Booth began his talk by informing us that attempts to spy on the U.S. have been made since our country’s very conception.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Bush School at TAMU, Robert Booth

He then taught us about how there are two types of Americans who ended up spying for foreign countries: (1) diplomatic or intelligence officers who have made careers out of espionage and (2) U.S. citizens that have access to sensitive information and are willing to share it with another government. The latter is considered more threatening to the United States, since citizens can deal with highly classified information that would be harmful if put into the wrong hands.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Bush School at TAMU, Robert Booth

Booth then went on to discuss the 4 different reasons for betrayal by these nefarious characters: money, ideology, leaks, and ego.

Money is the most common reason that people betray their country, but they also do so because of ideologies that align with other governments.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Bush School at TAMU, Robert Booth

They think that certain secrets should be shared with the public and typically enjoy knowing and sharing certain information that the people around them are clueless about. Booth stated that the biggest threat to national security is economic espionage, and he shared a couple of stories about times when he had to help protect American trade secrets.

The crowd asked questions about the Mueller report and whether or not he thought it should be published, to which he replied that to do so would compromise methods and sources.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Bush School at TAMU, Robert Booth

When asked what his advice would be to anyone looking to have any sort of career like his, his response was to first become fluent in another language.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Bush School at TAMU, Robert Booth, Jim Olson

The time ran out before all the questions could be answered, but before we left, we were able to meet with Booth and with Bush School Professor James Olson, who also knows a bit about this topic–having served as chief of counterintelligence for the CIA.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Bush School at TAMU, Robert Booth, Jim Olson

For dinner we stopped at Tanaka Ramen, a College Station favorite among LEAP Ambassadors.

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It was Samantha’s first time to try the Japanese delicacy, but she gave her spicy chicken Ramen great reviews!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Tanaka Ramen, Samantha Piedra-Lujan

We thanked our waitress and then headed back home to Huntsville.

 

Author mikeyawnPosted on April 17, 2019Format AsideCategories Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Law, PoliticsTags LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, SHSU, Special Agent Robert Booth, Texas A&M Bush School of Public ServiceLeave a comment on An Evening with Special Agent Robert Booth

Big Apple Bound

For almost all of us, it was our first trip to New York City, and we had much on our agenda.  We arrived by plane late, but that did not deter us from taking some photos of the famous New York skyline.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, Skyline

One of the nice things about this view, is that is also of historical import.  We photographed the skyline from “Hamilton Park” in Weehawken, New Jersey, the site of the duel between Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804.

And with that, we kicked off our New York experiences.

United Nations Headquarters Tour

Makayla Mason

We began by walking our way from our hotel to the United Nations headquarters, where we had a tour scheduled.  The walk also allowed us to stop at the Chrysler Building, an architectural marvel.  For 11 months in 1931, it was the world’s tallest building (the Empire State Building surpassed it), and at 1,046 feet, it remains the 8th tallest building in the city.

What really distinguishes it, however, is the Art Deco architecture.  The exterior of the 31st floor is ornamented with gargoyles and replicas of radiator caps (it is the Chrysler building!) and the 61st floor is adorned with stainless steel eagles (being a national treasure, it appropriately featured the national bird).  It was ranked 9th by the American Institute of Architects on a list of “America’s favorite Architecture.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, Chrysler Building

While we could only get poor photos of the exterior, we managed some nice photos on the very art-decoish interiors.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, Chrysler Building

It was a nice first-stop in the city, and it prepared us for the more modern architectural landscape provided by the United Nations.

On the plaza just outside the building we stopped to see a handful of interesting sculptures, one of which was shaped like a ship, a memorial to the slave trade and its attendant horrors.  Another sculpture was to “non-violence,” and it depicted a gun with its barrel tied in a knot.  The sculptor, Carl Reutersward, completed the sculpture after John Lennon was murdered.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations, Carl Reutersward, Non-Violence Sculpture

Inside the building, we found other interesting and historically significant items, such as a replica of Sputnik, the USSR satellite that was the first in space.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations, Sputnik

Although having a chance to explore the United Nations would always be a special treat, it was especially relevant this semester, because the LEAP Ambassadors have met two Ambassadors, and are scheduled to see two more Ambassadors, including the US Delegate to the UN.  So it is a semester, really, of learning about International Relations, directly from those who know it best.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Ambassador Christopher Hill
LEAP Ambassadors with Ambassador Christopher Hill
SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Ambassador Chase Untermeyer
LEAP Ambassadors and SHSU Students with Ambassador Chase Untermeyer

Our tour guide, Ana, was from Spain, and she speaks three different languages, but we were on her English-version tour.   She began with the history of the UN and of the building in particular.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations

The UN was considering building their headquarters elsewhere when John D. Rockefeller Jr. donated $8.5M for the procurement of the site in New York City. Eleven different designers helped contribute to the design of the building, including lead Wallace K. Harrison (United States), and other famous architects such as Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer (Brazil).

The United Nations was established after World War II with 51 countries as members. It currently has 193 countries as members, with South Sudan being the last country to join in 2011. The members of the UN make up the General Assembly. In the General Assembly, each country has one vote, no matter the size or influence of the country. There are 15 countries on the Security Council with five of them being permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Russian Federation, and China. The other ten members rotate from the General Assembly every two years based on geographical representation.

As we moved through the tour, Ana described the 30 human rights that the UN recognizes. Interestingly enough, not one single country in the world upholds all 30 of those rights.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations, Human Rights

Ana also explained the role of the UN as global peacekeepers. Peacekeepers are from member countries who go to locations that have been/or are suffering from war or natural disasters.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations

They act as buffers between countries who have established ceasefires, and although the peacekeepers carry weapons, they do so only for self-defense or to enforce the ceasefire. An interesting fact about the UN Peacekeepers is that they wear their country’s uniforms, but they all wear bright blue hats that signify they are representatives of the United Nations.

The UN was filled with art, but a piece that particularly caught our attention was a mosaic made of Murano glass and, interestingly, based on Norman Rockwell’s famous “Golden Rule.”  The mural was purchased by the US, but created by six Italian artists and given to the UN for its 40th birthday.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations, Norman Rockwell

This was great foreshadowing for us, as we have been researching Rockwell and will be visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum while on our American History Tour.

We were fortunate enough to access the General Assembly room.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations

Inside were two paintings by Fernand Léger, one of the world’s most famous artists and, incidentally, a man who taught Huntsville’s own David Adickes. (David Adickes is known around Huntsville for “A Tribute to Courage,“ known locally as “Big Sam,” the giant sculpture of Sam Houston on Interstate 45.)

Léger’s paintings in the General Assembly are abstract, as Ana explained, each member has the opportunity to see the same painting, but interpret them differently, just as each of these countries see the world differently.

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Leger’s art was intriguing, all the more so since we knew we’d be seeing more of his work at the four New York City art museums we’ll be visiting over the next three days. 

After milling about the General Assembly for a bit…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations, General Assembly

…and then proceeded to visit some more amazing artifacts, such as this statue, which “survived” World War II, despite being about a third of a mile from ground zero in Nagasaki when “Fat Man” landed, killing about 80,000 people.  The church which housed this sculpture was destroyed.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations

We saw some additional art…

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…checked in to a “Meditation Room”…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations

…and, most interestingly, Marc Chagall’s stained-glass window.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations, Marc Chagall, Stained Glass

Before leaving, we stopped into an impressive gift shop, lingered for just a bit on Le Corbusier’s UN Staircase…

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, New York City, United Nations, Le Corbusier

…and then headed to our lunch destination.

Consistent with our endeavor to eat in places that reflect the local cuisine or otherwise expand our cultural experiences, we ate food from all over the world at the Amish Market. The diversity and extent of the food options were inversely related to their seating availability, part of the New York Dining Syndrome (NYDS) that afflicts all unknowing tourists, such as ourselves.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Amish Market, New York City

Despite needing to sit at separate tables, we enjoyed the meal, which provided much-needed calories, all the more so since our next stop was a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

Author mikeyawnPosted on March 12, 2019March 12, 2019Format AsideCategories Art, Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Law, TravelTags Chrysler Building, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, New York City, SHSU, The Big Apple, United NationsLeave a comment on Big Apple Bound

LEAP Students Learn Leadership: General McChrystal and Joanne King Herring

While SHSU students may attend lectures every day, it’s not every day they hear lectures from public figures with the stature of General Stanley McChrystal.  But three LEAP students were able to cap their fall semester by attending an in-person and extended presentation on leadership by the four-star general.  It was “not only a great way to the end the semester,” noted SHSU student and active-duty Army Sergeant Erick Rodas, “but also a highlight of my education at SHSU.”

The event was made possible by the LEAP Center’s relationship with the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, which hosted General McChrystal.  The students were provided second-row seats…

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

…at beautiful The Ballroom at Bayou Place in Houston…

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

…while also receiving copies of the latest of McChrystal’s books, “Leaders: Myth and Reality.”

Following an introduction by WAC Executive Director Maryanne Maldonado…

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

…and typically fine moderation by WAC Program Director Ronana O’Malley, McChrystal highlighted figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr, who—while in his 20s and 30s—reformed laws on race to provide greater equality for more Americans.  He did so, according to McChrystal, by serving as a symbol, organizational head, spokesperson, chief negotiator, and unifier of an unruly and unpredictable movement.  His actions—often taken under extreme duress—were tactically essential to the success of the civil rights movement, but these actions also “resonated with group values” of those who supported the civil rights movement, allowing his spirit to lead a cause even after his death.

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

A more recent death—that of President Bush—also prompted thoughts from McChrystal.   He praised the former President for his leadership during the Persian Gulf War—“great team management”—and for his dignity, kindness, and humanity.  On a personal note, he recalled receiving a phone call on the morning of his retirement from President Bush, whom he had never met.  President Bush spoke with McChrystal for about 10 minutes, thanking him for his service to the country.  It was a simple act of kindness, but one that symbolized Bush’s larger approach to governance.

While separated by race, life-span, and battles, Bush and King both perceived service as essential to leadership, and both reflected the concept of “active citizenship,” which McChrystal praised.

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

Indeed, McChrystal explicitly called for a national service program, whereby “students have the chance to learn citizenship not only in civics classes, but also by going out and experiencing it.”

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

For LEAP students, it was both a civics lesson and a unique experience, one made by more rich by the presence of another civic leader: Joanne King Herring.  Ms. Herring is an author, former honorary consul to Pakistan, and the host of a long-running Houston television show, but she is best known for engineering United States support for Afghanistan in its resistance to the Soviet invasion in the late 1970s and 1980s.  She was portrayed by Julia Roberts in the 2007 film, “Charlie Wilson’s War,” which traces her collaboration with US Representative Charlie Wilson (who, incidentally, represented Huntsville, Texas) to repel the spread of Communism.

Her presence at the event was prompted by her interest in General McChrystal’s career in the Middle East, but she gladly took time to speak with SHSU students.

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

Sharing anecdotes with the students—including one in which she travelled to the Middle East and surreptitiously filmed the Russian aggression while disguising herself as a man and, at least on one occasion, hiding in a barrel—encouraging them in their studies, and discussing policy, Ms. Herring proved both informative and entertaining.

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

“It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise,” said Brittany Gibson, a freshman at SHSU.  “I didn’t really expect to end my first semester in college by hearing from two such accomplished leaders.”

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

Reflecting further on the evening’s events, the LEAP students noted inspiration by both McChrystal and Herring to serve—and to lead.  While their leadership styles and efforts played out in similar geographic theaters but from vastly different approaches, the similarities can be summed in the words of our University’s namesake, “A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under.”

These were stirring thoughts for the LEAP students, who capped their nights by having their books signed…

SHSU, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, World Affairs Council, Ronan O'Malley, Maryanne Maldonado, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders:  Myths and Reality, Ballroom at Bayou Place

…sharing a few words with the General…

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It was another wonderful evening at a World Affairs Council event for LEAP Students, who met two amazing leaders, learned a lot, and enjoyed themselves in every way.

Author mikeyawnPosted on December 9, 2018Format AsideCategories Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, PoliticsTags Ballroom at Bayou Place, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, General Stanley McChrystal, Joanne King Herring, Leaders: Myths and Reality, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Maryanne Maldonado, Ronan O'Malley, SHSU, World Affairs CouncilLeave a comment on LEAP Students Learn Leadership: General McChrystal and Joanne King Herring

Wrapping up the Texas Tribune Festival

After three days attending the Texas Tribune Festival, LEAP students prepared themselves for a somewhat relaxed day of learning about art.  But first, the crew headed out for lunch at the New World Deli.

Lunch at New World Deli – Ilexus Williams

After getting to sleep in a bit after a long weekend traversing the Festival, we started our last half-day in Austin with brunch at New World Deli. We were greeted by friendly staff, and all ordered various soups and sandwiches. Among the many dishes ordered, a common one was the Broccoli and Cheese soup, which everyone agreed was scrumptious!

The sandwiches that we ordered weren’t the only things grilled at the table; Professor Yawn questioned each of us in turn about our favorite activities of the trip. First, we were asked to reflect on our favorite Texas Tribune panels, which included “Education Reform That Makes the Grade,” “From Deployment to Employment,” to “The Consequences of Gun Violence.”

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Texas Tribune Festival, Gun Violence, Austin Texas, ATX

Then we were asked which speaker we enjoyed hearing from the most. The answers ranged from Beto O’Rourke and Eva Guzman to Wendy Davis. Next, we all tried to distinguish our favorite group activity. However, no one could choose between Mr. Arredondo’s art studio…

SHSU, Sam Houston State University, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Austin Texas, ATX, Texas Tribune Festival, Daniel Arredondo

and the Segway tour!

SHSU, Sam Houston State University, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Austin Texas, ATX, Segway Tours

Both were unique and unforgettable experiences in their own regard.

After finishing our meals, we ordered a smorgasbord of sweet treats. We finished out our time at the New World Deli with brownies, chocolate cake, gluten free cookies, and key lime pie. After indulging in dessert, we made our way to our last stop: The Blanton Museum of Art.

The Blanton Museum of Art – Elena Castillo

At the Blanton Museum of Art…SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX

…we were taken back to a time when art was a catalyst of revolution and change. Today we wandered through centuries of historic change from different cultures and societies. As we walked through The Blanton Museum of Art each piece held a different message. We saw many pieces by many of LEAP’s favorite artists such as Thomas Hart Benton…

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX, Thomas Hart Benton

….Ellsworth Kelly…

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX

…George Segal…

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX, George Segal

…and Andy Warhol.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX, Andy Warhol

My personal favorite was one of the pieces from the Carl & Marilynn Thomas collection known as “La Muerte de San Jose,” which translates to “The Death of Saint Joseph.” This piece was filled with many colors that blended so smoothly together that it was hard to understand where the focal point was but it was clear that the painting represented something important. It also added to the reality of Saint Joseph’s death, from the angels above his body, to his pale skin, and finally by Jesus placing a final blessing on him as he dies.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX

I was so captivated that I didn’t realize the rest of the group had continued on to the next exhibit and had to catch up!

Another favorite among the group was a piece by Cildo Meireles. It is a contemplative space that is meant to symbolize the Jesuit oppression of the indigenous Tupi-Guarani peoples of Brazil during colonial times.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX

The installation uses a line of 800 communion wafers that is strung from a ceiling made of 200 cattle bones and hangs down and connects to the floor which is strewn with around 600,000 pennies. The entire piece is shrouded in black gauzy fabric which is meant to represent life and death. The string of wafers connecting the bones and coins symbolizes the connection that spiritual power had between the suffering of the indigenous peoples and material wealth that resulted from their colonization.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX

After meandering all the way through the museum, it was time to explore “Austin” which is perhaps more well known simply as the Ellsworth Kelly chapel. As it is relatively empty, we only spent a short while taking it in.

The different designs of stained-glass windows at each of the three different ends of the chapel cast different colors on all the walls inside.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX, Ellsworth Kelly

The Kelly pieces were beautiful, with each wing of the chapel showing off the art in a different way.

 

 

 

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX, Ellsworth Kelly

…and being just right for photographs.

SHSU, LEAP Center, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, LEAP Ambassadors, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Texas, ATX, Ellsworth Kelly

For many, this was our first time to the Blanton Museum, and for a couple it was our first trip to an art museum ever. We learned so much during this weekend, and were grateful for the opportunity to visit our state’s capital and learn and experience so many new things there. Until next time, Austin!

 

Author mikeyawnPosted on October 22, 2018Format AsideCategories Art, Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, Food, Politics, TravelTags ATX, Austin Texas, Blanton Museum of Art, Center for Law Engagement And Politics, Ellsworth Kelly, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, SHSU, Texas Tribune FestivalLeave a comment on Wrapping up the Texas Tribune Festival

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