QUESTIONS OF POWER AT “AMERICA 250”

despite its name, pac isn’t only for anthropologists

At its core, PAC is focused on creating a space for people to learn, exchange, and discuss insights on today’s pressing issues.

PAC’s grounding approach is public knowing for public change, meaning we know that only through shared understanding can interconnected challenges be addressed. Crucially, we know building “public knowing” requires going beyond and outside of disciplines, including anthropology.

PAC works to be a collective “town hall.” In addition to highlighting research from the qualitative social sciences and humanities, PAC equally prioritizes insights from community-based organizations, non-profits, public or independent scholars, artists, advocates, and other critical thinkers and doers. We aim for PAC to serve as a central meeting place where these entities meet, exchange insights, and envision possibilities for change.

We build this approach into our structure, including:

• Attendance is free.

• The location is central and accessible. Anyone can walk in and attend.

• Anyone may apply to present, and we encourage applications from interdisciplinary, public, or independent scholars, non-profits, and community organizations.

• Talks should center important needs, questions, and concerns and should be legible for people outside the academy.

• Sessions are encouraged to be interactive, so that exchange is multi-directional and blurs the line between presenter and audience.

• “Non-traditional” conference formats at given equal weight, such as film screenings, walking tours, teach-ins, workshops, exhibits, and community conversations.

• Food, local transportation support, and interpretation are provided.