Bipartisan Policy Center to Sponsor Keynote Panel at 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship

PHOENIX, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) will sponsor the keynote panel at the 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship today, September 22, at 3:30 p.m. MT in Phoenix, Arizona. Panelists include Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, BPC Senior Fellow Senator Bob Bennett, Arizona State Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Sally Rider of the National Institute for Civil Discourse and Ted Simons of KAET-TV's "Horizon" current events program. PBS Host Aaron Brown, a former CNN anchor, will moderate the panel.  

The discussion on civility and political discourse will bring together politicians, members of the media, civic leaders and business and social innovators for a frank conversation about the rise of political incivility, the qualities of successful civic leadership, historical bipartisan accomplishments, and the solutions needed to improve a political environment widely seen as beset by gridlock.

In light of the recent tragic events in Arizona, BPC and its Democracy Project have been working with numerous organizations in Washington to discuss how to improve our democracy and civic health. The discussion in Arizona seeks to emulate that conversation to an audience outside the Washington beltway. Read more about BPC's Democracy Project here.

The event is open to media, but an RSVP is required.  To RSVP please contact Charlie Eder at [email protected] or 352.232.3877.  

WHO: Mayor Phil Gordon (D-Phoenix)

Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT)
BPC Senior Fellow

State Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Phoenix)

Sally Rider
Co-Director, National Institute for Civil Discourse,
Associate Dean, University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law,
and Director, the Rehnquist Center

Ted Simons
Managing Editor of Eight/KAET-TV's HORIZON

Aaron Brown
PBS Host; Former CNN Anchor
Professor of Practice, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism

WHAT: A Keynote Panel on Civility and Political Discourse
66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship                   

WHERE: Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
Digital Media Center
Studio A at 8 Arizona (6th Floor)
555 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ  85004

WHEN: Thursday, September 22, 2011
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. MT             

Watch the live webcast here.    

The 66th Annual National Conference on Citizenship is made possible with support from the Case Foundation, BPC and Clearwire.

About the Bipartisan Policy Center:
Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue. With projects in multiple issue areas, the BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach.  For more information, please visit our website: www.bipartisanpolicy.org.

SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center