Seminar Format:

The Saguaro Seminar evolved from an executive session model developed at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. This model has proven effective in developing actionable strategies for and solutions to multi-faceted problems facing the United States. Two hallmarks of this approach are: the self-conscious dialogue between "thinkers" (those who spend more of their time thinking conceptually about the issues) and "doers" (those who spend the bulk of their time confronting the issue directly); and the growth in the group's understanding of the issue over time. The Seminar: the participants will help organize the work of the seminar by meeting for at least six three-day sessions over the next two years. The group is responsible for developing recommendations for strategies that will help foster the growth of social capital and civic connectedness in America.

Saguaro Participants

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Saguaro Meetings

Meeting I – General Introduction/history
(Cambridge, MA, April 17-19, 1997)
Background meeting focusing on social capital and lessons from the Progressive Era that could apply to the current crisis. [List of related readings and links]

Meeting II – Youth and civic engagement (Boston, MA, September 8-10, 1997) Our second meeting focused on adolescent youth and civic engagement. [List of related readings and links]

Meeting III – Government and social capital (Indianapolis, IN, December 7-9, 1997) Hosted by Indianapolis Mayor Steven Goldsmith (a Saguaro participant) this meeting focused on the inter-relation between government and community engagement: both how government can affirmatively boost civic engagement and how to minimize any harm that government does to civic engagement. [List of related readings and links]

Meeting IV – Politics and social capital (Los Angeles, CA, February 13-14, 1998) The fourth meeting addressed the relationship between and issues surrounding politics and civic engagement. [List of related readings and links]

Meeting V – Faith and social capital (Washington, DC, June 12-13, 1998) At this meeting we examined faith-based efforts which weave a stronger community fabric. [List of related readings and links]

Meeting VI – Work and social capital (Tarrytown, NY, October 16-17, 1998) Our sixth meeting focused on work and civic engagement. [List of related readings and links]

Meeting VII – The arts and social capital (Santa Fe, NM, June 11-13, 1999) The seventh meeting focused on the arts and civic engagement. [List of related readings and links]

Meeting VIII – Technology and social capital (Cambridge, MA, March 31-April, 2000) Information on this meeting will be posted soon. [List of related readings and links]