Despite the many ways the arts enrich our communities, arts advocacy has never been easy. And now, when artists hit hard by the pandemic have led our communities in coping and imagining new ways forward, it’s as important as ever to make sure that the arts are central to community planning and development — and are funded appropriately.

From misinformation to hate speech to political advertising, social media is delivering content that affects our society and democracy. In “Social Media and Democracy: The State of the Field and Prospects for Reform,” scholars at the Knight-supported, cross-disciplinary Stanford Cyber Policy Center will explore how online content impacts democratic information ecosystems, and how to mitigate its worst effects. 

  How can schools leverage greenspaces during COVID-19? How can parks and public spaces provide a safer space for outdoor learning?

Performers and arts organizations of every stripe are adapting to the constraints of a socially distanced audience and are utilizing communications technology like Zoom, podcasts, and social media to reach remote audiences in new ways. On Episode 10 of “DISCOVERY,” we’ll talk with Kathryn Yu, executive director of No Proscenium, an organization that explores how performers experiment with remote performances.

In the wake of George Floyd’s killing, journalists are having their own reckoning on how newsrooms have upheld systemic racism. Some major outlets have announced new teams devoted to covering race and systemic oppression. What does research show about how Black Americans experience the news? What stories need to be told on a broader scale?

Check out CEDAM's September webinars.

New to the community economic development field or want to learn about areas outside of your expertise? CEDAM is hosting its second iteration of their community economic development (CED) 101 webinar series starting this month! New this year will be increased opportunities to network and debrief with participants to help you make connections with your peers across the state.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is beginning the revision process for the interim Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP).

How can city leaders quantify the costs and benefits of social services to drive impact in their communities? In times of budget constraints, how can we think through new revenue generation measures while supporting more inclusive and equitable budget allocations?

What role do libraries play in our cities? Join the Maplewood Library Foundation for “E Pluribus Unum” a timely conversation on libraries, unity and cities.