top of page

Education Symposium

Opinions and information innundate our world from all kinds of media and sources.  It is a challenge to know which sources are reliable, credible, factual and non-partisan in the selection and presentation of information.  We all want to know more - and know the truth - so we are better informed citizens, voters and neighbors.

The  Education Symposia component of our work is to organize public events on critical topics of the times, featuring expert speakers and panelists.  The Symposia are opportunities for you to delve into these topics through formal presentations and follow up Q&A sessions .

We also invite and encourage our elected representatives to participate in these events, bringing you an opportunity to make in-person connections with people who directly affect your lives.

And... it is an opportunity to go beyond our existing opinions through deeper knowledge, and ideally discover the common ground of shared interests and concerns.



 

Symposium Details Still In Development

                     The US Constitution -
          Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Our first symposium is a very big topic  and one that has become a key element of discussion-everywhere - the US Constitution. 

The U.S. Constitution is interpreted differently today compared to the past, primarily due to shifting judicial philosophies and evolving societal values in the 21st Century. Do you consider our U. S. Constitution an evolving document?

For this first event we will focus on select aspects of the Constitution with an eye to the thinking at the time of the writing of the Constitution (Yesterday), what has changed, or not, since that time (Today) and what are the future implications and questions (Tomorrow).  Aspects we will focus on are freedom of speech and the press, the role of the Supreme Court, voting rights, and impacts on the economy of policies and court decisions.



Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 
 
Location:  George Washington University, Ashburn Campus

Agenda

12 :00- 1: pm   -Registration and Coffee
1:00 - 1:15 pm - Welcome and Opening Remarks
1:15 - 1:35 pm - Keynote - Speaker TBD
1:40- 2:40 pm  Panel: The US Constitution ...Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Moderator - Barbara Harrison 
Panelist - John Flannery, Constitutional Lawyer
Panelist - Ambassador Michael Polt, Former US Ambassador to Estonia, Serbia and                               Montenegro
Panelist - TBD
Panelist - TBD
2:40-3:00 pm -  Audience Questions
3:00-3:15 pm - Closing Remarks

3:15-4:15 pm - Refreshments and Meet and Greet
Heading 6

Speakers and Panel

Karen G Schaufeld,J.D., Honorary Chair

Barbara Harrison

Moderator

Philanthropist, Community Foundation, Leesburg,VA

Founder of the granting organization One Hundred Women Strong (100WS), entrepreneur and award-winning author, supporting community not-for-profits

Barbara Harrison Media, Inc. Washington, DC, with three decades of writing, producing, reporting and anchoring with various media including WRC/NBC4

John Flannery II, J.D.

Constitutional Lawyer Panelist

The US Constitution YESTERDAY- Framing the Founding Principles  Co-founder Campbell Flannery, Special Counsel to the  

Ambassador Michael Polt

Former Ambassador to Estonia, Serbia, and Montenero

Panelist

Describe the team member here.

bottom of page