How America's Towns are Writing the Future of the Country
How America's Towns are Writing the Future of the Country
No strangers to Erie, veteran journalists James and Deborah Fallows made their first Global Summit appearance in 2018, where they discussed their bestselling book "Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America," which features their reporting on Erie. They were named honorary citizens of Erie by Mayor Joe Schember, and received the Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas Award. They returned in May 2021 with HBO filmmakers Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan to discuss their recently released HBO Documentary "Our Towns" at the JES's first-ever virtual Global Summit."
The Fallowses are back this year to talk about their continuing work through the Our Towns Civic Foundation. The foundation is committed to connecting and supporting those leading today's American renewal. They will present new reporting since their last JES appearance, and will be joined by their Our Towns colleague and JES Vice President Ben Speggen to engage with a panel of activists who are following one process of change and renewal, Community Heart & Soul, in their own communities.
James Fallows writes about politics, world affairs, aviation, technology, and more on his Substack, "Breaking the News." In addition to a storied career as a writer for The Atlantic and many other publications, he has written twelve books and has been a regular commentator for public radio. For two years, he was the chief speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter. James Fallows was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019.
Deborah Fallows holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Texas. She has written for many national publications and is the author of two additional books, including "Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language." Previously, she was a senior fellow at the Pew Research Center, an assistant dean at Georgetown University, and director of data architecture at Oxygen Media.
Location: Gannon University, Yehl Ballroom in Waldron Campus Center – 124 W. 7th Street Erie, PA 16501.
Date/Time: Thursday, November 10 @ 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Early Bird: GA $25, VIP $50 / Regular Price: GA $35, VIP $60.
Parking: Gannon University parking garage on Peach Street.
Please read our full Covid-19 policy here (updated July 21, 2022).
James and Deborah Fallows; National correspondents for The Atlantic, special connection with Erie and the Jefferson, and a chapter of their new book “Our Towns” is devoted to Erie. James Fallows worked in the Carter administration and is the author of several books, and Deborah Fallows holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Linguistics and is the author of two prior books.
