Committed to Idaho! Recognizing Interfaith Sanctuary and Dottie Stimpson

May, 2018

Those who choose to work in the public interest make tremendous sacrifices of time and energy, often for far less pay than they might make in other fields. And their commitment to serving the common good is far-too-often unrecognized. With this in mind, we are very pleased to announce that we are recognizing Interfaith Sanctuary with our third annual Commitment to Idaho Award.

We are also proud to announce that we are honoring the late Dottie Stimpson for her work founding and guiding City Club of Boise with our second annual Enhancing Public Discourse Award.

In this issue of Public Interest, we’ll show you an example of how the School of Public Service is preparing future leaders to tackle homelessness. And we’ll show one way we are furthering civil conversations on campus and in the community through our annual Civility Symposium.

Improving the lives of our neighbors is tough work. Having civil conversations with people with whom we have passionate disagreements is tough work. But now, maybe more than ever, it is important to honor and model the values of commitment and civility as we educate the future leaders who will build on our work.

Thanks for listening,

Corey Cook
Dean, School of Public Service
Boise State University

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO HONOR INTERFAITH SANCTUARY WITH THE 2018 COMMITMENT TO IDAHO AWARD

The Commitment to Idaho Award, now in its third year, recognizes individuals and organizations committed to improving the lives of Idahoans. Previous winners have been U.S. Representative Mike Simpson for his work securing National Wilderness protection for the Boulder-White Clouds (now known as the Cecil D. Andrus-White Clouds Wilderness) and Bruce Newcomb.

Interfaith Sanctuary was chosen for the honor from among dozens of individuals and organizations nominated by the public. “Interfaith Sanctuary is well-known throughout the Treasure Valley for providing a warm meal and safe shelter for hundreds of Idahoans every day,” said Corey Cook, Dean of the School of Public Service. “But many might not realize the wide range of vital supportive services they offer to help their guests on the road to self-sufficiency or that they are known nationally for their innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems. The entire Interfaith community exemplifies a deep Commitment to Idaho.”

Interfaith Sanctuary will be recognized at a reception on Tuesday, May 8 from 4-6 p.m. in the Simplot Ballroom of Boise State’s Student Union. The ceremony is open to the public. RSVPs are appreciated.

DOTTIE STIMPSON OF CITY CLUB OF BOISE RECOGNIZED FOR ENHANCING PUBLIC DISCOURSE

Dottie Stimpson will be honored with the Enhancing Public Discourse Award for founding and guiding of the City Club of Boise. Stimpson, who passed away in October 2017, founded City Club in 1995 after concluding that Boise needed a venue where its citizens could learn about and discuss important issues of the day in a non-partisan, civil manner. “Dottie recognized that we would benefit from an informed and civil discussion of issues in a respectful forum,” said Wendy Jaquet, retired Idaho House Minority Leader. “Her founding of the City Club was inspired and we are so grateful for her leadership.”

PPA STUDENTS PRESENT FINDINGS FROM HOMELESSNESS RESEARCH

Boise State Public Policy and Administration and Master of Public Health graduate students researched homelessness this semester, taking a special look at housing insecurity among university students. In addition to the academic research, a service-learning component comprised an integral part of the Introduction to Public Administration course.

The students prepared and served dinner to 50 families and children at the Interfaith Sanctuary over two nights in early March. They also participated in the City of Boise Point in Time Count in January, which counted the number of individuals experiencing homelessness.

The students presented their research findings to university and community housing leaders on April 25.

Read More About the Research and Recommendations of Our PPA Students on Our Website >

CENTER FOR IDAHO HISTORY AND POLITICS HOSTS CIVILITY SYMPOSIUM

The School of Public Service’s Center for Idaho History and Politics recently hosted the Second Boise State Civility Symposium. Co-sponsored by the Center for Idaho History and Politics, Idaho Public Television, the Idaho Statesman and the Idaho Humanities Council, the symposium brought experts from Boise State, throughout Idaho and across the U.S. together to discuss issues such as Talking Across Differences, The Future of Civic Literacy, and Reconciling Demands for Free Speech and Civility. The event also featured a City Club Lunch and premiere screening of Beyond Civility, as well as a screening of the PBS special American Creed, featuring former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy.