A series of free public forums dealing with important community issues will be held in Tifton, Albany, Athens and Atlanta this fall. Members of the community are invited to attend and listen, share perspectives and make informed judgments on various topics.

The forums are sponsored by the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies at the University of Georgia and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

“The forums are always completely non-partisan and are moderated by a trained, neutral moderator that we will provide,” said Jill Severn, the director of the Russell Forum for Civic Life in Georgia and head of access and outreach at the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies.

Severn said that the forum series is part of a nationwide initiative by the National Issues Forums, Presidential Libraries and other organizations that encourage civic engagement during this election season.

Severn said the forums will use the National Issues Forums guides to provide a civil, respectful and thoughtful environment for people to come together, listen, share perspectives and make informed judgments on critical issues.

Locally, Syd Blackmarr, Kelly Ann Frizzell, Eunice Mixon, Keith Rucker, Christine Tibbetts, Shawn Utley and Lorenzo Williams are working as advisors on the project.

The forums’ topics, descriptions and Tifton

Please see FORUMS, Page 2A