Past Events

The Scrivner Institute and Center on American Politics, in partnership with the Colorado Sun, hosted a recap of the 2024 Colorado Legislative Session. The Colorado Sun’s politics team moderated conversations with Governor Polis and state legislators about the 2024 Legislative Session, including the challenges, the successes, and everything in between.

Speakers included:

• Governor Jared Polis
• Rep. Iman Jodeh, Aurora
• Rep. Anthony Hartsook, Douglas County 
• Sen. Jim Smallwood, Parker
• Sen. Kyle Mullica, Adams County

The Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, in partnership with the Hoover Institution's Veteran Fellowship Program, hosted a panel discussion on the important role of veterans in American democracy and their contributions to civil society after their military service.

Veteran generations often shape the societies to which they return, with significant implications for democracy. The experiences and transition back into civilian life of the post 9/11 veteran generation will play an important role in the future of American democracy. These veterans are increasingly leading within their local communities, civil society, and in Congress, but at a time when American democracy is in danger. How these veterans use their influence and build linkages between the military and civilian society will have outsized effects on American democracy and the all-volunteer force.

Scrivner Institute, the Center on American Politics, the Denver Gazette and Colorado Politics co-hosted a mayoral debate at the University of Denver, in partnership with Biennial of the Americas. We invited the DU and broader Denver communities to hear from the final mayoral candidates, Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston.

The Scrivner Institute of Public Policy and Center on American Politics of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies hosted a screening of “The Unify Challenge”, a documentary featuring four Coloradans engaging in civil and respectful dialogue across their differences. As they talk through some of the most complex political issues of our day, they begin to better understand each other and how their individual experiences shape their beliefs.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion featuring Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and University of Denver faculty examining the practice of civil discourse and how to renew our society’s ability to engage in both intelligent disagreements and productive dialogue between people who hold opposing views.

In November 2022, Coloradans voted on Proposition 123, a ballot measure that would dedicate a small percentage of state income tax revenue to create a statewide affordable housing fund to support the development and preservation of housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income families. The Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute and the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy hosted a webinar prior to the election to explore this proposed policy and what its passage would mean for Colorado’s housing affordability crisis.

The Scrivner Institute of Public Policy and the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies hosted a discussion on the role of city leadership in global governance with Dr. Joel Day, a researcher, lecturer, public official, and Korbel PhD alum whose research concerns how global nonstate actors like cities shape global governance.

The Korbel School hosted an important discussion reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol. A panel of faculty experts revisited the insurrection and discussed its consequences and implications for the state of American democracy as well as the ability of the United States to play a lead role in advancing democratic governance globally.

The Scrivner Institute hosted a panel discussion with local mayors from across the Denver Metro region about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cross-city collaboration as well as new opportunities that have emerged for increased collaboration in public policy and beyond.

Panelists included: 

• Mayor Tara Beiter-Fluhr, Sheridan

• Mayor Michael B. Hancock, City and County of Denver

• Mayor Jackie Millet, Lone Tree

• Mayor Linda Olson, Englewood

• Mayor Adam Paul, Lakewood