July 30, 2026

Investigating the Consent of the Governed

The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence states that governments are instituted among people and that governments “derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.” What does any of this mean today? In this conversation, we will explore what it means to grant consent to the government and what it might mean to take it away.

This event will take place in the Grace Scatterday Room. 

6:30 p.m., Dallas Public Library, Dallas

August 27, 2026

Talking About Values Across Political Divides

“How can I be me without making it difficult for you to be you?” This question gets at the fundamental challenge of being in society together. We live in a contentious political world, and it’s difficult to talk about our deepest values and beliefs in safe, civil, and respectful ways. In 2021, the Pew Research Center found that nearly six in ten Americans felt that political conversations with those you disagree with are generally stressful and frustrating, as opposed to being interesting and informative. If we avoid such conversations, we lose opportunities to form a community with others that reflects our best selves. How can we learn to share our values in ways that bring us together rather than push us further apart?

6:30 p.m., Dallas Public Library, Dallas