Thursday 21 February, 08 Distribution 

Webchat: Immigrants and the 2008 Elections

As America heads into the presidential elections, one of the issues at stake is the treatment and rights of immigrants. Who are the immigrants in America, and what are the issues and challenges they face? What are some of the policies being implemented at the local and national levels that are affecting immigrants? Join Deepa Iyer on February 26 at 2:00 pm (local time) for a discussion about immigrants in the United States, with an emphasis on the Asian American community.

Deepa Iyer is executive director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to civic and political participation by South Asians in America.  (Register for webchat)

Washington's Birthday Holiday Honors First President

George Washington served as military, civilian leader

Americans long have honored George Washington, commander of the United States armies in the War of Independence, first president of the United States, and "first in the hearts of his countrymen.  "During the Revolutionary War, Washington's small band of soldiers faced a well-equipped professional army, but he led his often ragged forces to victory in the face of incredible hardships. Washington enjoyed nearly universal respect, not least for spurning all offers of political power at the moment of his military triumph (1781), choosing instead to return to his Mount Vernon, Virginia, farm.  (Read more)

Advocate of Interfaith Understanding Discuss America and Islam

Ask America webchat with Courtney Erwin on “finding common ground”

Diversity is a cornerstone of American society, and U.S. citizens come from virtually every ethnic and religious community in the world. As the face of America changes, Americans of all ethnic and religious backgrounds are making efforts to better understand each other.  On February 14 Courtney Erwin held a web discussion of the West's engagement with Islam and the ways in which Americans are talking about their common and varying values.  Courtney Erwin, Esq., is chief of staff for the Cordoba Initiative, a multifaith organization founded in 2002 with the goal of healing the relationship between the Islamic world and America through civil dialogue, policy initiatives, education and cultural programs.  (Read Transcript)

Bush To Welcome Pope Benedict XVI to White House April 16

Leaders will discuss efforts to advance peace, religious freedom, human rights

Visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the White House

President and Mrs. Bush will welcome His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the White House on April 16, 2008, during his first visit to the United States as Pope.  The President and the Holy Father will continue discussions, which they began during the President’s visit to the Vatican in June 2007, on their common commitment to the importance of faith and reason in reaching shared goals.  (Read more)

Picturing Women

This presentation "explores how women are figured, fashioned, turned into portraits, and told about in words and pictorial narrative." Features a large collection of historical images, interactive features, lesson plans, reading list, video clips and images from the accompanying symposium, e-cards of comic valentines, and more. From Bryn Mawr College, Library Company of Philadelphia, and the Rosenbach Museum and Library.  (Visit site)