♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Renee: WE OFTEN HEAR HOW OUR COUNTRY'S DIVIDES ARE WIDENING AND WHETHER WE CAN EVER RETURN TO MORRISSEY VIOLATE IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES AND POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS.

THE HENRY CLAY CENTER IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING CURRENT AND FUTURE LEADERS TO THOUGHTFULLY AND RESPECTFULLY ENGAGE IN PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS.

I TALK WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HENRY CLAY CENTER, OUR GOOD FRIEND, TOM SHELTON NOW ON "CONNECTIONS".

♪ ♪ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.úIFE COULD ALL USE A GOOD LESSON ON CIVILITY AND CIVICS, THE TIME IS NOW THE HENRY CLAY CENTER PROMOTES THREE CORE VALUES IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE: HONESTY, CIVILITY AND COURAGE.

TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY LONG TIME EDUCATOR NOW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HENRY CLAY CENTER, TOM SHELTON.

PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENT THERE AT THE HENRY CLAY CENTER, HE WORKED FOR THE NATIONAL CENTER ON EDUCATION AND ECONOMY IN WASHINGTON D.C. BEFORE THAT, HE SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND PROFESSOR OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

HE WAS IN SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION FOR OVER 20 YEARS INCLUDING SERVING AS SUPERINTENDENT IN DAVE ES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, WELCOME Dr. TOM SHELTON.

I REMEMBER FONDLY WHEN YOU WERE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FAYETTE COUNTY.

I ALWAYS TOLD YOU AND I'LL SAY PUBLICLY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE BEST WE HAVE HAD AND.

YOU WERE A DYNAMIC FORCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF I COULD BE HALF OF WHATEVER STU SILVERMAN WAS AND IS IS A GOOD COMPLIMENT.

>> Renee: SEND HIM OUR REGARDS.

THE EDUCATOR SPACE, IT'S DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW.

>> VERY DIFFICULT.

>> THE NEGATIVITY THAT ARE JUST, NOT SURE HOW TO HANDLE THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS AND PUTS EVERYONE UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE BUT THE LACK OF CIVILITY IS VERY DIFFICULT.

>> WE ARE SEEING IT MANIFEST AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS RIGHT, THAT'S WHERE LOCAL POLITICS COMES, THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD RIGHTED, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, YOU GO TO SCHOOL OR CHURCH WITH THEM, BALLET, IT CAN BE VERY PERSONAL AND WE ARE SEEING SOME REALLY HARSH MANIFESTATIONS OF OUR INCIVILITY IN PRACTICE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS THE EPITOME OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

I MEAN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT PAID FOR WHAT THEY DO.

THEY'RE ELECTED BECAUSE THEY HAD AN INTEREST AND A DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING FOR STUDENTS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS WERE AS GOOD AS THEY COULD BE AND TO SEE THEM HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS NOT ONLY HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IS VERY DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, TO WATCH.

>> Renee: WE ARE TALKING ON THE HEELS OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF JANUARY 6 AND IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY, BUT THEN IT SEEMS EVEN LONGER THAN A YEAR AGO WHEN WE REMEMBER HOW THERE WAS LIKE A COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS AROUND WHAT WE SAW AS JUST THIS INSURRECTION AND WE USE THAT TERM AND IT SEEMS LIKE REASONABLE PEOPLE IDENTIFIED IT AS WHAT IT WAS, BUT SOMEHOW ALONG THE WAY, THERE HAS BECOME A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT JANUARY 6 IS.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT EVENT AND EVEN EVENTS TO COME, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES THE HENRY CLAY CENTER HAVE A PLACE?

>> THE HENRY CLAY CENTER REALLY FOCUSES, AS YOU MENTIONED ON TRYING TO PROMOTE CIVILITY THROUGH DISCOURSE THAT LEADS TO COMPROMISE, AND COMPROMISE IS IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MIND HAS BECOME A BAD WORD, BUT ACTUALLY, WE KNOW COMPROMISE IS HOW GOVERNMENT AND IT'S HOW MOST ANY BUSINESS, HOW WE FUNCTION AND IT DOESN'T MEAN COMPROMISING YOUR VALUES OR BELIEFS.

IT MEANS BEING WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND HONESTLY AN CIVILLY ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION THAT LEADS TO COMPROMISE THAT MOVES US FORWARD AND THE HENRY CLAY CENTER IS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

IT'S NON-PARTISAN.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE STAY AWAY FROM POLITICS, WE DON'T-- >> Renee: YOUR BOARD REFLECTS BOTH SIDES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYTHING WE DO, WE ALWAYS THINK, OKAY, DO WE HAVE EQUAL REPRESENTATION, YOU KNOW, ARE WE CONSIDERING EVERY SIDE IN THE MATTER.

EVEN WITH WE ENGAGE THE STUDENTS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT WE WORK WITH, THEY COME WITH THOSE TYPES OF EXPECTATIONS OF BEING LABELED A CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL OR SOME TYPE OF TERM AND WE ASK THEM TO BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE.

ARE.

>>> ARE THEY MORE WILLING TOY CHEW ALL OF THOSE LABELS AND SAY I MAY NOT BE AN BONA FIDE LIBERAL.

I DON'T FALL INTO THE BOX OF AN R OR A D?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH-- WE FIRST ASK THEM ABOUT THE TOPICS OF INTERESTS THAT THEY WANT TO DISCUSS POLICY TOPICS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THEM.

AND THAT CREATES THE INITIAL ENGAGEMENT, BUT MOST AFTER ALL OF THEM COME INTO IT THINKING THEY KNOW THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD HAPPEN OR THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE OR THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO IMPROVE.

SOMETIMES WE ASK THEM TO TAKE ON THE OPPOSITE PERSPECTIVE AND TO ARGUE THE OPPOSITE PERSPECTIVE.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO UNDERSTAND SOMEONE ELSE'S PERSPECTIVE THAN IF YOU HAVE TO STATE IT YOURSELF THAT REQUIRES THEM TO HAVE TO LISTEN A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S WHAT WE DO, RIGHT?

WE LISTEN WHILE THINKING WHAT IS THE NEXT THING WE ARE GOING TO SAY.

BUT LISTENING TO HEAR AND TO UNDERSTAND.

>> Renee: THAT'S THE KIND OF CORE PRINCIPLES I WAS GETTING MY MASTERS IN COMMUNICATION, THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE, NOT JUST TO HEAR IT AND TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND BUT TO UNDERSTAND AND COME TO SOME KIND OF SHARED MEANING, NOT SHARED AGREEMENT.

THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HENRY CLAY CENTER.

IS THIS MAY NOT BE VERY WELL KNOWN TO PEOPLE.

WE KNOW IT'S NAMED AFTER KENTUCKY STATESMAN WHO HAS A COMPLICATED HISTORY AND REPUTATION ACROSS THE NATION.

BUT HE IS REVERED.

I THINK HE CALLED COMPROMISE NEGOTIATED HURTS, RIGHT?

THAT EACH SIDE GIVES.

SO THE HENRY CLAY CENTER NAMED IN HIS HONOR BEYOND THE THREE CORE PRINCIPLES.

WHY HIM AND WHY IS IT RELEVANT NOW.

>> SO THE HENRY CLAY CENTER HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 14 YEARS, AND AS YOU INDICATED, THERE IS PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT US.

MOST PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY AND CERTAINLY HERE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND LEXINGTON KNOW OF THE ASHLAND ESTATE AND THE HENRY CLAY ASHLAND ESTATE AND THAT'S A SISTER ORGANIZATION TO US.

A LOT OF GREAT WORK GOES ON THERE THROUGH JIM CLARK AND THE STAFF AND TEAM THERE AT ASHLAND.

BUT WHAT WE TRY TO FOCUS ON AT THE HENRY CLAY CENTER IS HIS BACKGROUND, HENRY CLAY'S LEGACY AS THE GREAT COMPROMISER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CREDIT HIM FOR DELAYING THE CIVIL WAR FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS.

YOU KNOW OF COURSE AS YOU MENTIONED, HE DID HAVE A VERY COMPLICATE BACKGROUND AND WE'VE HAD TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> HE REPUDIATED SLAVERY BUT HE OWNED SLAVES.

>> AND HE SPOKE VERY DISPARAGING TOWARDS NATIVE AMERICANS AND IF I COULD ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

WE AS AN ORGANIZATION HAVE HAD THOSE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AMONG OUR BOARD AND WITH OUR ALUMNI AND WITH OUR STUDENT PARTICIPANTS TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE, IN NO WAY, SUPPORT SLAVERY OR SUPPORT ANY FORM OF INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, DISCRIMINATION, THE LIST GOES ON TOWARD ANY PEOPLES WE EVEN DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD RETAIN THE NAME, THE HENRY CLAY CENTER.

>> Renee: I WAS GETTING READY TO ASK YOU THAT BUT YOU ARRIVED AT STAYING WITH IT AND WHY?

>> IT WAS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING AT WHETHER IT'S NOT JUST THE CONFEDERATE FLAG WHETHER IT WAS JEFFERSON DAVIS OR ANY GENERAL, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS PARTICIPATED FROM THE CONFEDERACY, RENAMING, REMOVING STATUES AND THINGS AS WE'VE DONE HERE IN LEXINGTON.

AND SO WE HAD THAT SAME CONVERSATION.

WHAT DOES THE NAME HENRY CLAY MEAN?

AND WE CAME TO THE DECISION THAT WE HAD TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE DID NOT, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT HIS VIEWS TOWARDS NATIVE AMERICANS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS OR ANY OTHER PEOPLES THAT HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BUT, WE DID WANT TO FOSTER THE GOOD SIDE OF HIS LEGACY.

ABOUT WHAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK LIKE, ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER AND HOW WE SHOULD WORK TO THAT COMPROMISE AND SO WE STUCK TO THE NAME.

WE CHANGED OUR PRINCIPLES AND CHANGED OUR MISSION STATEMENT A LITTLE BIT AND YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOT TO FURTHER DIVERSIFY OUR BOARD.

WE DO HAVE AN EXTREMELY DIVERSE ALUMNI AND STUDENT BODY THAT ENGAGES WITH US, BUT WE HAVE TO BE CHANGING AS TIMES CHANGE AND TO BE COGNIZANT OF EVERYONE'S BELIEFS, EVERYONE'S VALUES AND EVERYONE'S WORTH.

DO YOU GET PUSH BACK STILL ABOUT THE DECISION TO RETAIN THE NAME, HENRY CLAY?

>> WE DO.

WE GOT SOME OF THAT IN THE 2021 STUDENT CONGRESS EVENTS.

>> AND THIS IS ON THE HEELS OF ALL THE RACIAL INJUSTICE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE IN 2021, WE CONDUCTED A WEBINAR SERIES, MONTHLY WEBINAR SERIES FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

AND IN JANUARY RIGHT SO THE HEELS OF THE INAUGURATION, WE HELD OUR FIRST DISCUSSION AND IT WAS SENATORS LOTT AND DASCHLE, WHO WERE AT THAT POINT, OUR HONORARY CO-CHAIRS AND ARE NOW EMERITUS CHAIRS OF OUR ORGANIZATION TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY BOTH LED THE SENATE THE LAST TIME IT WAS A 50-50 SPLIT AND HOW THEY WORKED TOGETHER.

THE SECOND MONTH, IN FEBRUARY, IT WASN'T JUST BECAUSE IT WAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BUT THAT WAS THE MONTH WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT RACIAL INJUSTICE AND HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING AGAIN TO LISTEN.

IF YOU ARE NOT HONEST AND YOU MENTIONED OUR PRINCIPLES EARLIER, VALUES.

IF YOU ARE NOT HONEST, IF YOU ARE NOT COURAGEOUS, YOU DON'T HAVE THE CONVERSATION, YOU CAN'T GET TO THAT COMPROMISE.

>> I'M JUST CURIOUS AS YOU ALLUDED TO ABOUT A LOT OF THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS AND THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE CONFEDERACY.

THOSE MONUMENTS ARE COMING DOWN I KNOW AS A MAN OF HIGH INTEGRITY AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN ABOUT INTEGRITY AND INCLUSION, DID YOU HAVE ANY MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT RETAINING THE NAME OF HENRY CLAY?

>> TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST AND TRANSPARENT, I ACTUALLY HAD EVEN PROBLEMS MOVING INTO THE ROLE THAT I'M IN BECAUSE OF THAT LEGACY.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE OPENING FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION, I WAS COMING OFF RETIREMENT FOR THE NATIONAL CENTER, AS YOU MENTIONED.

A FRIEND OF MINE LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE OPENING POSITION AND I THOUGHT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO REPRESENT BECAUSE I AM A STUDENT OF HISTORY.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN FOLLOWING NOT ONLY POLITICS BUT GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS.

AND SO THAT WAS A STRUGGLE.

AND SO IT WAS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, OF TALKING ABOUT THAT WITH OUR BOARD.

WE SOUGHT INPUT FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF CAME AROUND TO THIS.

AND IT WAS A COMPROMISE.

>> Renee: A COMPROMISE.

THE EPITOME OF IT.

THAT'S THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS JOHN DICKERSON WITH CBS NEWS WHO DID A PIECE WHEN HE WAS WITH THE MORNING SHOW ABOUT THE ART OF DISAGREEMENT OR THE ART OF ARGUMENT I THINK WHAT IS HE CALLED IT.

AND IT REALLY IS AN ART THAT WE HAVE LOST THAT ALONG THE WAY.

SO WITH THESE KIND OF VOLATILE ISSUES, WHETHER IT IS-- DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE AS DIVISIVE AS RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

NOW WE ARE ARGUING ABOUT OTHER THINGS: FACE COVERINGSES, YOU NAME IT.

THERE ARE DIVIDES FOR EVERYTHING.

WHETHER OR NOT THE SKY IS BLUE, IT SEEMS.

AND SO I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT THE YOUNGER GENERATION, HOW THEY COME IN BECAUSE THEY COME FROM HOMES WHERE I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME PRETTY FIRM POLITICAL VIEWS.

DO THEY SHUN THAT OR TRY TO FINDLY OWN IDENTITY OR FIRMLY PLACE PLACED BECAUSE IT IS TRADITION IN THEIR FAMILIES?

>> I THINK A GOT WAY TO ANSWER THAT WOULD BE TO DESCRIBE HOW THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS ARE MADE UP.

SO IN THE COLLEGE CONGRESS, THERE IS ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EVERY STATE AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THAT PARTICIPATE, 51 STUDENTS.

THEY'RE EXTREMELY DIVERSE, NOT ONLY IN RACE, ETHNICITY, SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED ALSO IN POLITICAL VALUES AND BELIEFS AND AND SO WE, WHEN WE BRING THEM TOGETHER, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, FIRST THING WE ASK THEM IS, YOU KNOW, DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A CONSERVATIVE OR DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, A LIBERAL OR MODERATE?

BUT WE DO THAT AROUND POLICY TOPIC AREAS.

SO IN 2021, OUR COLLEGE CONGRESS GENERAL OVERALL THEME WAS THE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE.

SO THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAD GONE ON EVEN BACK TO THE ELECTION, RIGHT?

>> Renee: RIGHT.

>> AND IF YOU LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENCES THAT WE HAVE, AND THEN WE CHOSE POLICY TOPICS WITHIN THAT.

LIKE WHAT DOES POVERTY LOOK LIKE URBAN VERSUS RURAL?

>> Renee: INTERESTING.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF COMMONALITY BUT A LOT OF DIFFERENCES.

WE LOOKED AT HEALTHCARE ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, URBAN VERSUS RURAL.

AND SO STUDENTS HAD TO THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY STOOD ON THOSE ISSUES.

AND OF COURSE THAT'S HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY FAMILY AND SCHOOLS.

>> Renee: THEIR REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE IS NOT THAT VAST AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU ONE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL CONGRESS, WHICH IS 50 STUDENTS MADE UP MOSTLY, AT LEAST HALF OF THOSE STUDENTS COME FROM KENTUCKY BECAUSE A LOT OF PARENTS DON'T WANT TO SEND THEIR CHILD, RISING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COME TO LEXINGTON FOR A WEEK TO WORK WITH US.

ALTHOUGH WE DID HAVE MORE STATES REPRESENTED.

WE HAD 13 STATES REPRESENTED IN THE LAST ONE IN 2021, BUT WE FOLK-- WE FOCUSED ON NOT HEALTHCARE AS FAR AS THE LEVEL OF SCARE WE FOCUSED ON ACCESS AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY KENTUCKY MOST PEOPLE KNOW VIN CHANDLER AND THE FOUNDATION.

SO WE HAD THE CONVERSATION, AND THE STUDENTS HAD TO COME UP WITH POLICY PROPOSALS ON HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE TO HEALTHCARE.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH INSURANCE OR WHETHER IT'S THROUGH SPECIAL PROGRAMS OR WHAT IT MIGHT-- AND WE HAD STUDENTS WHO CAME IN WITH ONE COMPLETE PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE VERY CONSERVATIVE THINKING THIS WAS NEGATIVE THAT WE WOULD GIVE ANYTHING AWAY OR PROVIDE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW AT THE COST OF GOVERNMENT.

WHO TOTALLY CHANGED THEIR MIND BEFORE THE WEEK WAS OVER.

>> Renee: INTERESTING.

AND HOW ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE.

WERE THEY PERSUADED SOME?

>> THERE WERE SOME.

I DON'T KNOW-- I THINK MOST OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE AND, YOU KNOW, WERE PRETTY STAUNCH IN WHAT THEY BELIEVE, BUT THEY DID LISTEN AND ENGAGE IN GREAT CONVERSATIONS.

PART WHAT HAVE WE ASK THEM TO DO IS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, EACH TIME, THEY ARE IN TEAMS, THEY WORK IN TEAMS AND THEY HAVE TO PRESENT THEIR POLICY PROPOSALS AND THEY HAVE TO SHOW WHERE THEY COMPROMISED.

>> Renee: INTERESTING: SO WHAT DO THESE KIDS WANT TO BE WHEN THEY GROW UP?

ARE THEY ALL WANTING TO BE IN THE PUBLIC POLICY SPACE?

DO THEY WANT TO BE POLITICIANS?

>> WE HAVE A VARIETY WE'RE FORTUNATE TO PARTNER WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, SPECIFICALLY THE MARTIN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY.

Dr. RON ZIMMER AND HIS TEAM ARE GREAT TO WORK WITH US AND PROVIDE US WITH DOCTORAL STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS TO WORK WITH US.

WE ALSO AACCESS TO GREAT POLICY PEOPLE FROM THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS AND THE PARTICIPATION FROM THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER IN D.C., ENGAGEMENT IN PRESENTATIONS FROM THE U.S. START IN D.C., NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CIVIL DISCOURSE OUT OF D.C., NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CIVILITY AND GOVERNMENT IN HOUSTON TEXAS.

ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WORK WITH US TO PUT ON THE PROGRAM.

SO STUDENTS MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN GETTING INTO POLICY WORK, THEY MAY GO INTO LAW.

THEY MAY GO INTO GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALUMNI WHO ARE SERVING IN EITHER LOCAL, STATE OR EVEN NATIONAL LEVEL GOVERNMENT POSITIONS.

BUT MANY TIMES THEY JUST GO INTO SOME LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP IN WHATEVER ORGANIZATION THEY ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO WORK IN BECAUSE THAT'S THE THING ABOUT CIVIL DISCOURSE AND COMPROMISE, IS THAT IT DOESN'T ONLY WORK IN GOVERNMENT.

IT WORKS, YOU KNOW, IN ANY TYPE OF CONVERSATION, ANY ENVIRONMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO HOW DO YOU SELECT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE?

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA?

>> IT USED TO BE THAT THE STUDENTS WERE ACTUALLY NOMINATED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN THE INDIVIDUAL STATES, AND SO THEY WERE ACTUALLY-- WE WERE SENT THE NOMINEES FROM EACH STATE.

WE WENT TO A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS A FEW YEARS AGO, AND LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE JUST RECEIVED THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE TWA CONGRESS WHICH IS FLANKED-- 2022 CONGRESS PLANNED FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SUMMER, HOPEFULLY IN THE SUMMER IN PERSON.

WE HAD NEARLY 300 APPLICATIONS.

AND THAT'S A RECORD NUMBER FOR US.

>> Renee: YOU TAKE HOW MANY?

>> 51.

>> WE HAVE A SCORING RUBRIC AND COMMITTEE AND THEY GO THROUGH AND SCORE ALL THE APPLICATIONS AND YOU KNOW, LIKE IT'S MULTIPLE SCORING NOT JUST ME SCORING.

SOMEONE ELSE WILL STORE SCORE IT AND WE'LL COMPARE AND DISCUSS AND THEN WE COME DOWN TO A NOMINEE AND ALTERNATE SO THAT WE HAVE A DELEGATE FROM EVERY STATE AND PRODUCE D.C.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CONGRESS WORKS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY'RE MOSTLY FROM KENTUCKY.

WE WORK VERY SPECIFICALLY WITH THE KENTUCKY HOSTAGES-- KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOLS.

OF COURSE I KNOW THEM VERY WELL AND KNOW THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS QUITE WELL AND SO YOU KNOW IT'S STILL A SCORING RUBRIC AND APPLICATION PROCESS.

>> Renee: AND THE COST TO THEM?

>> ZERO.

>> Renee: ZERO.

THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE IS AT NO COST?

>> THE ONLY COST THAT THEY HAVE-- WELL, FOR THE COLLEGE CONGRESS, LET ME SAY THIS, IT IS ZERO BECAUSE WE PAY THEIR TRAVEL EXPENSES HERE AND BACK.

WE PAY ALL OF THEIR EXPENSES WHILE THEY'RE HERE.

HIGH SCHOOL CONGRESS,YOU KNOW, WE WILL SUPPORT AND WORK WITH THEM IF TRAVEL IS AN ISSUE BUT BECAUSE MOST OF THEM COME FROM HERE IN KENTUCKY, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE COST MAYBE OF THEIR PARENTS OR THEMSELVES COMING BACK AND FORTH TO LEXINGTON, BUT OTHER BE THAT, IT'S COMPLETELY FREE.

ONE THING I SHOULD DEFINITELY MENTION IS THAT IN THE COLLEGE CONGRESS WHEN IT WAS IN PERSON-- THIS PAST YEAR IT WAS VIRTUAL-- PUT IN PERSON IT IS A TWO-WEEK LONG PROGRAM.

THE FIRST WEEK IS IN LEXINGTON AT U.K.

BUT THE SECOND WEEK IS IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> Renee: THAT'S COOL.

>> THEY NOT ONLY GET TO SEE STATE LEVEL POLITICS AND POLICY CONVERSATIONS, THEY CAN SEE IT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

THIS YEAR SINCE IT WAS VIRTUAL, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO WORK THROUGH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CIVILITY IN GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A CONGRESSIONAL FORUM CONVERSATION AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED, IT WASN'T PLANNED THIS WAY, THAT WE HAD TWO KENTUCKY CONGRESSMEN WHO PARTICIPATED.

CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH AND CONGRESSMAN BARR, BUT IT'S ALWAYS AT LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN AND ONE DEMOCRAT.

AND THEY TALK ABOUT COMPROMISE AND HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE WHAT ARE MOST PEOPLE SEEING RIGHT NOW?

THEY THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS A DISGRAEME, RIGHT?

>> Renee: RIGHT-- A DISAGREEMENT.

>> AND AS WE KNOW, THERE ARE VERY STRONG BELIEFS AND VERY STRONG ISSUES THAT FALL ALONG PARTY LINES BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING-- GOVERNMENT COULD TOTALLY STALL AND NOTHING WOULD BE HAPPENING IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SOME LEVEL OF COMPROMISE AND SO WHEN THE STUDENTS HEAR THAT AS THEY DID FROM CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH AND BARR, THEY'RE FASCINATED.

>> Renee: THE STUFF THAT DOESN'T MAKE THE NEWS.

THE BIPARTISANSHIP, THAT US IS NOT GLOSSY ENOUGH.

BUT IT IS THE RHETORIC THOUGH.

I WONDERED IF CONGRESSMAN BARR AND YARMOUTH TALKED ABOUT.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SOUNDBITES.

BUT IT IS, SOME OF THE SOUNDBITES WE HEAR FROM THE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR DEMOCRACY, THE TONE, THE LANGUAGE, THE PUT DOWNS, RIGHT AND I'M CURIOUS FROM THE STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE, IT SEEMS LIKE FRANKFORT IS NOTHING LIKE WASHINGTON D.C. THAT THERE IS MORRISSEY VIOLATE ON THE STATE LEVEL THAN THERE IS IN THE BELT WAY.

DID THEY COME WITH THAT IMPRESSION OR DID THEY THINK BOTH WERE EQUALLY OFFENSIVE IN SOME WAY?

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF VARIES SOMEWHAT BETWEEN THE COLLEGE CONGRESS AND THE HIGH SCHOOL CONGRESS BECAUSE AS THAT VARIES STATE TO STATE, THE COLLEGE CONGRESS, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PERCEPTION COMING FROM THEIR HOME STATE HOW IT IS WORKING THERE VERSUS HOW IT MIGHT WORK IN ANOTHER STATE AND HOW IT MIGHT WORK IN D.C., SO THEY KIND OF SEE A STATE TO STATE PERSPECTIVE AND A STATE VERSUS FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE.

BUT THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, MOST AS I MENTIONED ARE FROM KENTUCKY, AND WE ACTUALLY ALLOW THEM TO EXPERIENCE FRANKFORT, IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT THIS YEAR WITH COVID.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CAME OVER AND ADDRESSED THEM.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS NOT ABLE TO AT THE TIME BECAUSE OF HIS SCHEDULE.

BUT WE WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW A LABEL OF A PARTY, YOU FOLLOW WHAT MAKES SENSE FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE AND THERE IS GOOD AND BAD ON EACH SIDE.

I ALWAYS SHARE WITH THEM THIS EXAMPLE I DID ALL THE LOBBYING FOR SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE STATE, BOTH HERE AT STATE SLEFL AND NATIONALLY.

I WOULD SEE BILLS WE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE FROM EDUCATION COME FROM BOTH SIDES.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

>> AND WOULD I SEE BILLS THAT WE DID WANT COME FROM BOTH SIDES.

AND SO IT WAS ALWAYS A MATTER OF HOW DO YOU DISCUSS THAT AND IT MIGHT BE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION HERE TO NOT, YOU KNOW, OPPOSE A BILL BUT TRY TO GET IT KILLED IN THE OTHER BODY.

AND VICE VERSE, AND I TOLD THEM IT'S ALL PART OF THE PROCESS.

>> AND IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, TOO, RIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ALL TRANSACTIONAL, RIGHT?

THERE IS A LOT OF RELATION AP STUFF THAT GOES INTO THE MIX AND THE TRUST THEY HAVE WITH YOU KNOWING IT'S A FASCINATING PROCESS, I LOVE IT MOST OF THE TIME AND I WISH MORE PEOPLE DID AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THE HEN ARE I CLAY CENTER IS DOING TO HELP US ALL.

MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADULT VERSION FOR THOSE OF US IN MIDDLE AGE.

>> WE ARE WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT.

IF I COULD JUST SAY IN CLOSING RENEE, THAT WE ARE A NON-PROFIT AND WE TOTALLY OPERATE BASED ON DONATIONS AND GRANTS AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO THE HENRY CLAY CENTER.ORG, LEARN MORE ABOUT US AND MAYBE MAKE A DONATION TO HELP IN OUR WORK AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> Renee: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOUR WORK Dr. SHELTON THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND AT THE HENRY CLAY CENTER.

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