Democracy in action

Brown foreign policy discussion program receives $250,000 grant

Brown's Choices for the 21st Century Education Project has received $250,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to expand a program of foreign policy discussion at local libraries.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded $250,000 to Brown University's Choices for the 21st Century Education Project to expand its public policy discussion series, a program that engages Americans in consideration of the nation's foreign policy.

The grant will allow the program to expand to eight new states: Colorado, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. The program is ongoing in at least five other states: Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

The programs consists of four discussions at public libraries led by a local scholar. Among the topics are global environmental problems, trade, China and conflict resolution. Participation is open to everyone from high school students to senior citizens.

The program has been held in more than 300 libraries in 13 states since 1992. It is expected to run in almost 200 sites during the 2000 election year.

The Choices for the 21st Century Education Project is a program of the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies at Brown University. More information is available by calling 401-863-3155 or on the Web at www. choices.edu.