Category Archives: Academic & Research

The Radical Humanity of Citizen Professionalism

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Citizens, Community, Constructivism, Healthcare, Professional, Social Innovation. 11 Comments.

  Also published in AOL’s The Patch. By Andrea Morisette Grazzini Betty GreenCrow has a presence so striking it’s hard to miss.  Balanced measures of wisdom and curiosity, connection and boundary seem to emanate from people like her.  Emerging unbidden from somewhere integral—their soul, perhaps. Whatever […]

Big-boy NASA and small Girl-led Biz launch jobs

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Charles Bolden, Darlene Miller, Economy & Business, Education Policy, Professional, Social Innovation, STEM. Tagged , , . No comments.

By Charles Bolden and Darlene Miller  Seattle, Washington February 3, 2012 You may be wondering what the owner of a small, Minnesota-based, woman-owned machine parts company has in common with the Administrator of the world’s premier space exploration agency.  The answer was made clear this week […]

Follow the (student) Leaders for (fun) Democracy

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Democracy, We The People, YMCA. No comments.

  Also published at DemocracyU What can students do about democracy? While debate echoes in Congress and conference rooms about democracy, kids are achieving it via basketball in cul-de-sacs and YMCAs. Lest I’m thumped over the head by sophisticated thinkers for over-simplifying, I’ll add:  Coordinating […]

If Hawks & Doves Married Moral Codes

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Civil Discourse, Faith and religion, Human Rights, Military. Tagged , , . 7 Comments.

  Portions of this essay were highlighted as “comments that best represent a range of views” in The New York Times. Also published in Australia’s political and social e-journal, OnLine Opinion. Andrea Morisette Grazzini, September 2011 When you juxtapose soldiers and peace activists you notice […]

Civilized Compassion: Not Detached, Engaged.

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Citizens, Dalai Lama, Education Policy, Faith and religion, Politics & Elections, Social Innovation. 2 Comments.

Also published in Twin Cities Daily Planet. Andrea Morisette Grazzini June 15, 2011. Spiritual leaders are rarely invited to do stadium-sized talks at public universities.  Mostly because they don’t deliver butts-in-seats sales like, say, basketball. Plus there are risks of violating boundaries separating government-funded academics […]

Bi-Partisan Proof: Rage Rhetoric On Outs

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Civil Discourse, Humphrey School, Media & Culture, Minneapolis, Politics & Elections. No comments.

Also published in MinnPost A new civility movement is spreading like wildfire in American culture.  Whether it engulfs enough American hearts to change a national mindset riddled by polarized views remains unclear.  But evidence is mounting that now is the time.  Unprecedented discussions are emerging […]

Heart Doc’s Healthcare Solution: Human Connection

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Healthcare, Human Rights, Politics & Elections, Professional, Social Innovation. No comments.

Robert Frantz MD is one of the most respected cardiologists in the world. In his travels around the globe and his own life and work this past year, he see reasons for despair. But this physician, a caregiver by heart and in work, is also quite clear — miracles are very much possible. Here Dr. Frantz shares his very personal and moving reflections on a critical cure–hope found in unlikely places and people. Excerpts from his stunning New Years letter, below.

Secret Lessons for Parents and Policymakers

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Burnsville, Community, Education Policy, Nonpartisan Productive Dialogue, Social Innovation, Standard Measurements. 1 Comment.

Also published at TCDailyPlanet: Here’s a secret parents and policymakers haven’t heard. Last week, while most educators were scrambling to stuff last-minute lessons in before summer break some Burnsville, Minnesota teachers bucked the system (just a bit) for big-picture sake.

Critical Question: How can candidates solve Deficits of Thought?

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Education Policy, Politics & Elections, Standard Measurements. 4 Comments.

Governer Tim Pawlenty’s appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press provokes partisan passions — and a call for higher order bipartisan thinking if we are to achieve a higher order government.

Football players teach professors

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Athletics, Community, Media & Culture. 1 Comment.

University of Minnesota athletes voice their full potentials in a stunningly candid dialogue that transforms professors into learners and proves these star players are powerful teachers — and the strongest kind of men and women.

Middle-of-the-Road Rage

Written by . Filed under Academic & Research, Civil Discourse, Media & Culture, Nonpartisan Productive Dialogue, Populism. No comments.

I addressed Newsweek editor Jon Meacham at his recent talk on civil discourse at University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul. Meacham’s speech and the large turnout it drew underscores the accelerating interest in non-ideological dialogue.

Setting up my question to Meacham with a provocative “media-teaser” got his attention and launched an animated conversation. Meacham acknowledged the larger question Nonpartisan Productive Dialogue asks: when will citizens will become agitated enough about the failure of the polarizing rhetoric of our leaders to do something about it?

My published comment to Meacham’s recent Newsweek column captures the conversation and builds on it themes.