Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement

This collaborative event between the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs at Colby College and the Maine Chapter of the Fulbright Association will focus on the very topical subject of international migration and the global circumstances (such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and food insecurity) that drive its flow. The event represents a unique and important opportunity to bring outside experts […]

Leonard Pitts Jr. is widely known for his nationally syndicated Miami Herald column that often addresses issues of race and racism, politics, and culture. In a career that spans close to 45 years, Pitts has worked as a columnist, a college professor, a radio producer, and a lecturer. He is also the author of a […]

Join the Goldfarb Center for a talk with Anthony Ray Hinton one of the longest serving death row prisoners in Alabama history, who was freed in 2015 after proving his innocence. Mr. Hinton, now an author and prison reform advocate, will share his story about how he survived 30 years on death row and never […]

This live, virtual event will feature a conversation between United States Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Associate Professor of Sociology Christel Kesler. The dialogue will be hosted and moderated by Goldfarb's Executive Director Kimberly Flowers. Mayorkas will share the opportunities and challenges of his new role as part of President Joe Biden’s cabinet, […]

The Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs will be hosting an in-person conversation tomorrow with civil liberties leader and free speech expert Nadine Strossen. Kimberly Flowers, the Goldfarb Center's Executive Director, will moderate a robust Q&A with Colby students, faculty, and staff on issues ranging from how to effectively resist hate speech to free speech on college campuses. Strossen […]

Join us for a thoughtful talk with one of the nation’s top First Amendment litigators on free speech issues ranging from protest rights, Black student activism on campuses, and​the recent string of state classroom censorship bills. The event will be an open Q&A session where Colby students will have the opportunity to ask Mr. Sykes […]

Prof. Aaron Hanlon Prof. Christel Kesler Prof. Dasan Thamattor Conventional wisdom holds that science flourishes in a free, open society with robust free speech norms. But as misinformation spreads during a global pandemic, costing lives and undermining scientific credibility, is it time to rethink conventional wisdom? The Goldfarb Center will host an interdisciplinary faculty-led discussion […]

It is time for the last Goldfarb Center event of the semester. As part of its focus on freedom of speech, the Goldfarb Center is hosting an in-person talk that will be live streamed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7. We will be hosting a conversation with Nathan Law, a well-known democracy activist currently […]

Join us for a conversation on disinformation in the digital age with Lisa Kaplan ’13. From public policies to social media tactics, Kaplan will discuss how disinformation has become a serious threat to government, businesses, and individuals alike. What is the balance between freely sharing ideas and protecting vulnerable people from harmful disinformation? How has […]

Julie Ann Smith Rep. Charlotte Warren Rep. Jessica Fay Do you want to learn how policymakers and academic experts work together to best shape public policy? Join the Goldfarb Center in a collaboration with the Maine Scholars Strategy Network as we host Maine lawmakers and policy advocates to explore ways that academic research can impact public policy. […]

As part of the Goldfarb Center’s annual theme on freedom of speech, join Colby professors as they guide us in a conversation on free speech with a global lens. How do policy approaches to free speech vary across countries? Is the US approach to free speech exceptional? What kinds of historical and contemporary factors help […]

This year's George J. Mitchell International Lecture Series speaker is Gayle E. Smith, who has served as a top advisor on international issues for three American presidents and is one of the world’s leading experts on global development and global health security. In 2021, Smith took on a temporary role at the request of the […]

The last event of the semester for the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs will be a conversation with musician, entrepreneur, and podcast host Eric Nam about the increasing violence directed at Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Eric Nam is one of the most popular and recognizable celebrities in Asia. He […]

In its continuing efforts to recognize individuals who put themselves at personal risk for the sake of truth-telling, Colby College will honor two Ukrainians with the 2022 Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award for Courage in Journalism. Mstyslav Chernov, a visual journalist and writer, and photojournalist Evgeniy Maloletka are being recognized for exceptional bravery in covering the Russian […]

Please join us for a lively conversation addressing the pressing question: Is The Era of Big Government Over, Or Is It Just Beginning? Over the past three years, Americans have witnessed a profound change in the size and scope of government not seen in decades: public-health mandates, direct cash payments to individuals, growing divisions between […]

Sorelle Friedler Ph.D. is the Shibulal Family Associate Professor of Computer Science at Haverford College. She served as the Assistant Director for Data and Democracy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where her work included the AI Bill of Rights. Her research focuses on the fairness and interpretability of machine learning […]

The Mid-Maine Global Forum along with the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs is pleased to host Abrahm Lustgarten as the speaker for our annual Linda Cotter Speaker Event. Climate change is making the same parts of the world that are the most populated hotter and drier, leading to growing food scarcity and widespread economic impact […]

The Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs cordially invites you to attend the 2023 Senator George J. Mitchell Distinguished International Lecture. Democracies worldwide are under sustained attack. At the heart of all democracies are their institutions, with the justice sector at its core, buttressed by media, civil society and others which reflect the voice of those nations' […]

The game of Lacrosse is one of the Haudenosaunee most revered traditions, a celebration of health, strength, courage, leadership, and fair play, and spiritually as a “medicine” game. Join Corey Hinton as he discusses the history of the Creator’s Game and how its traditions and values impact indigenous and non-indigenous communities today. Michael-Corey Francis Hinton […]

2023 William R. and Linda K. Cotter Discourse and Deliberation Series The Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs invites you to attend a conversation about bipartisan legislative efforts in Maine to recognize Wabanaki tribal sovereignty. For more than 40 years, legislation in the state of Maine has prevented the Wabanaki Nations -- the Houlton Band of […]

Goldfarb Center, Colby College | 4000 Mayflower Hill Drive, Waterville, ME 04901

Join us for the 2024 Freedom of Expression Symposium to hear student policy proposals aimed at combatting misinformation in politics. At this event, students who have advanced to the semi-final round of the Goldfarb Center’s annual policy competition will give oral presentations to a panel of distinguished judges for a chance to win a first […]

Dear Friends of the Goldfarb Center, The 2024 election cycle is reshaping our political landscape. Join the Goldfarb Center and Davis Center for AI for an extraordinary panel discussion and hear from leading experts on how misinformation and AI are impacting the upcoming election. If you are planning on attending, we ask that you register […]

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