We Talk

Office of Government Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5247 USA
(269) 387-2072

Past Events

Why is Gen Z So Different? How The Great Rewiring of Childhood (2010-2015) Will Impact Everything
March 12, 2025

Program recording

Has the use of smart phones and especially social media "rewired" global youth development? Should smart phone use by youths be limited in schools and at home? Social psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Jonathan Haidt believes it should. His most recent work, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, examines what he's coined as the “great rewiring of childhood,” in which play-based childhood has been replaced by a phone-based childhood. Haidt will talk about his research, the current mental health situation, and provide some collective action ideas to better prepare Gen Z and beyond to wisely navigate the virtual world.

 

A University the World has Never Seen
Feb. 6, 2025

Program recording

Dr. John Tomasi, president of Heterodox Academy, joined us for a campus visit to present a lecture about rebuilding trust in higher education and the work of HxA that included HxA colleagues from U of M and MSU.
 
Moral Courage for Messy Times: Palestine, Israel, and the Truths In-Between 
Nov. 12, 2024

Program recording

An in-depth discussion on the ongoing conflict between Gaza and Israel, led by Irshad Manji, acclaimed author, educator, and founder of the Moral Courage Project. Manji was joined by Abdullah Antepli, Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at Duke University, exploring the human dimensions of the conflict and the search for peace amidst deep-seated divisions.

This event was a thought-provoking dialogue on the complex realities of the Gaza-Israel conflict, featuring diverse perspectives on interfaith relations, moral courage, and the possibility of peaceful coexistence.

Mississippi Turning
Oct. 22, 2024

Program recording

An engaging and thought-provoking event featuring Mississippi-born artist and activist Genesis Be, alongside Assistant Chief Victor Green from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. This special event included an advanced screening of the powerful documentary "Mississippi Turning," which follows Genesis Be and her former high school classmate from Mississippi as they seek common ground over the deeply divisive symbol of the Confederate flag on the state’s flag.

Through their journey of dialogue and understanding, "Mississippi Turning" captures the complexities of heritage, identity, and progress, making this a timely and compelling conversation. Following the screening, Genesis Be and Assistant Chief Green led an interactive discussion on reconciliation, activism, and bridging divides in our communities.

Protecting Democracy 
Oct. 1, 2024

Program recording 

We brought together former U.S. Congressman Fred Upton (R), former U.S. Congressman Mark Schauer (D), and former Michigan Elections Director Chris Thomas. Moderated by Jeff Breneman, Western Michigan University’s Vice President for Government Relations, this panel will explore the critical issue of election integrity amid a broader erosion of trust in institutions such as elected bodies, higher education, and the media.

With their extensive experience in public service and election oversight, the speakers addressed key threats to our voting system from both foreign and domestic sources, the rise of misinformation, and what citizens can do to help restore confidence in the democratic process. The conversation also focused on finding bipartisan solutions to ensure the integrity of U.S. elections for future generations.

WAIT, She was homeless?
Spring 2024

Program recording

Trustee Emeritus George Franklin unveiled the deeply personal journey behind the Wall Street Journal's headline sensation, "She Talked Like a Millionaire, Slept in a Parking Garage and Fooled Nearly Everyone". Delve into the heart-wrenching narrative of Franklin's late sister and her struggle with homelessness, shedding light on the complex realities often obscured by societal misconceptions.

In an enlightening discussion, WSJ reporter Jon Kamp provided invaluable insights drawn from his extensive reporting on homelessness, mental health, and substance use disorders. Together, we unraveled the intricate layers of this pressing issue, confronting the harsh truths while fostering understanding and compassion.

Kalamazoo Mayor Anderson, along with esteemed professors from the School of Social Work, Dr. Shane Brady and Dr. Don Cooney (also serving as City Commissioner for Kalamazoo), joined our endeavor. As the rate of homelessness escalates in Kalamazoo, it's imperative to challenge prevailing narratives and confront the underlying issues head-on. Guests joined us as we embarked on a journey of empathy, education, and advocacy, guided by firsthand accounts, journalistic expertise, and the collective wisdom of community leaders and experts. Together, we can strive for meaningful change and support those most in need within our city.
 

Foundation for individual rights and Expression (FIRE) visit

We Talk hosted the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)'s Legislative and Policy Director Joe Cohn and Student Press Counsel, Lindsie Rank, to campus on Wednesday, September 27 2023, to promote free speech protections. We had productive dialogues on why free speech is important in the higher education landscape and how we can improve on it. 
 

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland

WMU was honored to host Mr. Bryan Newland (Ojibwe), Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior on April 13, 2023. Mr. Newland is a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community in northern Michigan, where he served as Tribal President from 2017 to 2021. 

Mr. Newland works to strengthen the government-to-government and nation-to-nation relationships with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. In his visit to WMU he spoke about how the traditional Seven Grandfathers teaching has guided his work in public service and helped him to engage across diverse communities. 

Dave Isay with StoryCorps

We Talk and the Fetzer Institute were pleased to bring Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps, an ongoing national oral history project, and the One Small Step initiative to Kalamazoo on March 28 and 29, 2022.

Dingell/Upton Civility tour

WMU We Talk hosted a stop on U.S. Congressional Representative Debbie Dingell and Fred Upton's Civility Tour at Heritage Hall on August 1, 2022. President Edward Montgomery served as the moderator of an engaging and enlightening conversation about how the two members of the Problem Solvers Caucus have reached across the aisle in recent years to pass important legislation and foster civility.

Eboo Patel and Manu Meel 

The founding leaders of Interfaith America, author Eboo Patel, and Manu Meel of BridgeUSA, visited Kalamazoo October 5 and 6, 2022 to share how their organizations work with institutions and individuals to build a more diverse and just democracy. They hosted student-focused events and a campus/community conversation.

Re-stitching the fabric of our democracy for the 21st century

The founding leaders of Interfaith America, author Eboo Patel, and Manu Meel of BridgeUSA, came to campus October 5 and 6 to share how their organizations work with institutions and individuals to build a more diverse and just democracy. They hosted student-focused events and a campus/community conversation. Learn what these national civic leaders had to say about how to strengthen the social fabric of our campus and community.

Diversity Without Division

Moral Courage College came to campus on March 21-22, 2022 for a thought-provoking, interactive and engaging experience that delves into the heart of what it means to build a culture of belonging. Diversity Without Division™ is a uniquely unifying strategy and toolkit for inclusion. It uses brain science to foster empathy so that differences can be explored in ways that bring people together.

Allison Gerrard is the Director of Education for the Moral Courage Project. There, she trains and certifies professionals to teach diversity without division in their own workplaces. A scholar of behavioral science, she led the Hidden Talents Lab in the psychology department at the University of Utah, where her team studied the skills that young people develop in the face of adversity. Now, as a certified Moral Courage Mentor, she equips people in business, higher ed, and K-12 schools to communicate productively about polarizing issues. 
Irshad Manji and Moral Courage

Irshad Manji, with the force of personality and wit, brought her message of moral courage to WMU in September 2021, boosting the We Talk movement among students, faculty and staff. The Brooklyn-based educator and founder of Moral Courage College challenged her audiences to think differently about how they handle conflict. In classroom, panel, presentation and social settings, Irshad prepared young people to engage honestly about contentious issues rather than shaming or canceling each other.