The Sheldon Museum of Art and the Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, & Community Engagement is hosting Civil Conversations at the Sheldon on Sept. 19 from 4 to 5 p.m.
The Sheldon's website lists Civil Conversations as a time to foster understanding with students and community members from diverse backgrounds.
Civil Conversations participants will tour the art exhibition “Voting is People Power,” which will be at the Sheldon until Dec. 29.
“They (Sheldon student ambassadors) are going to help facilitate small group conversations where works of art will be the focal point for having a respectful exchange, sharing different perspectives and ideas related to voting, to democracy in the US, and also talking about cultural differences,” Erin Hanas, curator for academic and campus engagement, said.
The Sheldon will also host a guest speaker, an immigrant who recently gained citizenship. He will be sharing his immigration experience and his excitement to vote in a US election for the first time.
“The city of Lincoln is a pretty diverse place; the campus of UNL is also a pretty diverse place, not just in terms of where students are from but different perspectives and lived experiences,” Hanas said. “It's a way to engage with other students or community members and a great opportunity to practice having civil discourse, having a respectful exchange of different ideas.”
Civil Conversations is a part of a bigger initiative known as Welcoming Week hosted by Lincoln and Lancaster County from Sept. 13-22. It includes events throughout the city featuring food, music and traditions from many different cultures.
“Welcoming week is an annual campaign that celebrates the work in communities across the country to become welcoming places for everyone, including immigrants and refugees,” Hanas said.
Welcoming Week organizers and the Sheldon invite members of the public as well as University of Nebraska-Lincoln students to attend the event.
They will also be hosting Lincoln Unites Sept. 20 from 1:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, a free event for the public celebrating new citizens and sharing art, music and the heritage of different cultures.
Another free event for the public is the Harvest Moon Festival, hosted by the Asian Center, on Sept. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Antelope Park Bandshell, where guests can enjoy cultural performances, music, food and other activities.
Along with the exhibition and Civil Conversations, the Husker Vote Coalition will have a table with buttons and information on the 2024 election to help people register to vote.
Welcoming America launched Welcoming Week in 2012 and had their biggest week yet last year with hopes that this year can be even better.
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Article by Hannah Nazarenus with The Daily Nebraskan