The Benwood Foundation, in partnership with The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies, and CreateHere continues the 2009 George T. Hunter Lecture Series with a presentation by David Brooks, The New York Times columnist and author on Tuesday, November 17, 7 p.m., in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall located inside the UTC Fine Arts Center. This lecture is free and open to the public.
Brooks’ lecture, entitled “How We Flourish: Building Community from the Brain Up,” will focus on community development and its important ties to public education, arts and culture, and the environment.
“Mr. Brooks is nationally respected for his valuable political insights and social commentary,” said Corinne Allen, Executive Director of the Benwood Foundation. “We are honored to have him speak in Chattanooga about community building and development, which is a core issue for the Benwood Foundation as well as education, arts and culture and the environment.”
Brooks is a keen observer of the American way of life and a savvy analyst of present-day politics and foreign affairs. He holds several prestigious positions as a commentator: bi-weekly Op- Ed columnist for the New York Times, regular analyst on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” He is the author of two books of what he calls “comic sociology” – Bobos in Paradise and On Paradise Drive.
Brooks has worked at The Weekly Standard, joining the magazine at its inception and serving as senior editor. He has been a contributing editor at Newsweek and the Atlantic Monthly. He worked at The Wall Street Journal for nine years in a range of positions, including op-ed editor. He has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, The Washington Post and many other periodicals.
Prior to his lecture, Brooks will participate in a roundtable discussion with political science and honors students at UTC. “We are honored to have Brooks visit the UTC campus and appreciate him taking the time to meet with our students,” said UTC Chancellor Roger Brown. “The roundtable discussion will provide a wonderful opportunity for some of our students to meet with one of our nation’s most respected journalists.”
Brooks is the fourth and final speaker in the 2009 George T. Hunter Lecture Series. Prior speakers were author and historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin, PBS Education Correspondent, John Merrow, and environmental leader, Majora Carter. For more information, visit www.benwood.org.
