Each year, Columbia College Chicago identifies a theme as the subject for its “Critical Encounters” initiative, a year-long college-wide examination that serves as a model for interactive, community-inclusive civic engagement exploring the relationship between art and social science, artistic action and revolution.  During 2007-2008, Columbia College has chosen the theme of Poverty & Privilege.

On September 26, Critical Encounters and the Institute for the Study of Women & Gender in the Arts & Media co-hosted a Town Hall Forum to begin a layered and complicated discussion engaging our ideas, perceptions and knowledge about poverty and privilege.  The panelists included activists and civic and community leaders, whose professional and personal work is directly related to these broad issues from a variety of perspectives, including: justice, equity, access, health, education, employment, faith, economic development, and participation. The mission of Critical Encounters and the goals of this program are to foster engaged discussions which serve as catalysts to generate new knowledge and understanding, begin to create shifts in attitudes and perceptions, and encourage civic activism.