Forum Convener:

Estus Smith Public Policy Institute, Lois B. Hollis Center for Social Equity (Formerly the ESVHF-CPDE at ASU)
Master of Public Administration Program
Albany State University
Albany, GA 31705

Forum Moderators and Instructor:

MPA Students in PADM 5011: Public Administration: Scope, Development, and Ethical Environment

Forum Overview:

The United States is in conflict, as most Americans demand change in the policing practices that are intended to create safer neighborhoods. In the spring of 2020, the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks sparked nation- wide protests as many citizens voiced their concerns about the unjust treatment of racial minorities. All three died during encounters with police, and their names joined a lengthy list: Eric Garner in New York City in 2014, Freddie Gray in Baltimore, MD in 2015, Philando Castile in St. Paul, MN and Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, LA in 2016, to name only a few.

What should we do to ensure equal justice and fair treatment in our communities?

Option 1: Increase accountability
Option 2: Confront persistent racial discrimination in policing
Option 3: De-escalate to create new responses to nonviolent problems

Please join us for a deliberative dialogue via Webex that will present these three options and things we may do and drawbacks. This issue guide is in prepublication status. Therefore, your participation is especially helpful for providing feedback through the survey after the forum. The forum deliberation serves as part of the public voice to be shared with decision makers for change.

This forum is being hosted as part of the National Issues Forums Institute’s (NIFI) With the People national initiative. This ongoing initiative encourages sustained practices of public deliberation on campuses and in communities across the country.

Also, this forum debuts the Estus Smith Public Policy Institute (PPI), the renamed NIFI Public Policy Institute for network partner, Albany State University. In 2005, the ASU PPI was formed under the Estus Smith Vineyard Healing Foundation (ESVHF) - Center for Public Deliberation and Engagement at ASU. From 2013-2020, the PPI was operated as the Lois B. Hollis Center for Social Equity. Now, the Center will house the Estus Smith PPI.

Dr. Smith served as a NIFI vice president for many years. He passed away on May 30, 2020. He was Vice President Emeritus with the Charles F. Kettering Foundation after having served there for 18 years. In 2003 and 2004, Dr. Smith visited Albany State University to assist with the development of the public policy institute.