Constitution Café
Within the framework of My Daily Constitution (MDC), a Constitution Café is a public gathering organized around a particular topic, with the purpose of a rigorous examination of the topic through the prism of the Constitution. Constitution Cafés are designed to break away from the dynamics of the large lecture hall, with its invisible ‘wall’ of the panel discussion. Constitution Cafés create spaces where individuals and communities can become active participants in a dialogue about our democracy. Constitution Cafés foster a climate of reflection, inquiry, and knowledge building. Constitution Cafés depart from the prevalent simplification of issues - the dichotomy of left/right / blue/red/ pro/ con, in favor of complexity, and deeper understanding.
MDC Constitution Cafés adhere to the following guidelines:
Discussion Leaders are drawn from the local community and are selected based on their experience and engagement with the topic. Discussion leaders can be scholars, lawyers, community activists and organizers. Most Constitution Cafés involve one or two discussion leaders.
Time Frame - Typically, Constitution Cafés run two hours. Workday Constitution Cafés run from 50 minutes to hour in order to accommodate students and workers lunchtimes. The discussion leader/s present information for the first segment, typically 30 minutes, after which the floor is open to questions, discussions, listening, sharing. Thus, the bulk of the time is devoted to an interactive discussion after a shorter formal presentation. Through this design, Constitution Cafés platform both formal information presented and unscripted public contemplation.
Seating - Whenever possible, a circular seating arrangement, or a variation thereof is used. Linear rows of seating are avoided. This seating arrangement bolsters a more animated exchange among participants.
Locations – Constitution Cafés take place in cooperation with the community spaces which host them. These can be libraries, theaters, dance halls, restaurants, bars, cafés, parks, food courts, community rooms.
Constitutions — Special MDC editioned copies of the U.S. Constitutions are distributed free of charge.
Accessibility – Constitution Cafés are free and open to the public.
Discussion Leaders are drawn from the local community and are selected based on their experience and engagement with the topic. Discussion leaders can be scholars, lawyers, community activists and organizers. Most Constitution Cafés involve one or two discussion leaders.
Time Frame - Typically, Constitution Cafés run two hours. Workday Constitution Cafés run from 50 minutes to hour in order to accommodate students and workers lunchtimes. The discussion leader/s present information for the first segment, typically 30 minutes, after which the floor is open to questions, discussions, listening, sharing. Thus, the bulk of the time is devoted to an interactive discussion after a shorter formal presentation. Through this design, Constitution Cafés platform both formal information presented and unscripted public contemplation.
Seating - Whenever possible, a circular seating arrangement, or a variation thereof is used. Linear rows of seating are avoided. This seating arrangement bolsters a more animated exchange among participants.
Locations – Constitution Cafés take place in cooperation with the community spaces which host them. These can be libraries, theaters, dance halls, restaurants, bars, cafés, parks, food courts, community rooms.
Constitutions — Special MDC editioned copies of the U.S. Constitutions are distributed free of charge.
Accessibility – Constitution Cafés are free and open to the public.
Image above: "The Constitutional Limits on the Police Use of Force", Constitution Café led by Alphonse Gerhardstein,
Founder and President, The Prison Reform Advocacy Center, at the Contemporary Dance Theatre, Cincinnati Ohio, 2002.
Founder and President, The Prison Reform Advocacy Center, at the Contemporary Dance Theatre, Cincinnati Ohio, 2002.
