The Contemporary, a startup founded by Trinity University students, will host its launch event at the Pearl Stable in San Antonio on April 10 at 6:30 p.m.
The event, entitled “Contemporary Thought Leaders: A Civic Engagement Symposium” will feature a panel discussion regarding education, civic engagement, and immigration.
Robert Rivard, the Director of The Rivard Report, will moderate the panel. Panelists include the following people: H. Drew Galloway, the Executive Director of MOVE San Antonio, a non-profit civic engagement organization; Marisa B. Perez-Diaz, the youngest Latina, nationally, to join the Texas State Board of Education; Jason Stanford, the Communications Director for the Office of the Mayor Steve Adler in the City of Austin TX; Juany Torres, founder of Organize SA, a community organization on civic engagement, education, and voting.
The news media’s polarization and fragmentation represent a few of the most critical challenges our democracy faces. In a recent interview we published with Ethan Zuckerman, the director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT, Zuckerman stressed the importance of media ecosystems that challenge readers’ preconceived notions rather than pushing sensationalist conspiracies. Without forums that encourage respectful debate across the political aisle, our communities and country will become ever more divided. The need for dialogue on public affairs has never been more important. With such pressing issues in mind, we founded The Contemporary, a nationwide current affairs publication that unifies and empowers collegiate journalists.
The Contemporary hopes to bring the next generation of leaders in academia, government, and business from across college campuses together into one community in order to engage deeply on the most pressing issues we face. The team has collaborated with over 20 publications nationwide, interviewed prominent figures, and competed in the final round of the Stumberg entrepreneurship competition.
Trinity University recently selected The Contemporary to use its crowdfunding platform, TUGether. At this event, attendees will be encouraged to donate to help The Contemporary empower collegiate journalists nationwide.
We are grateful to our sponsors, The Pearl, The Rivard Report, Aric J Garza Law PLLC, Trinity University Entrepreneurship Center, and Trinity University Student Government Association. Their generosity has helped us make this event possible.
