Former Ohio governor to speak about managing urban-rural divide

Former Ohio Governor John Kasich will kick off a Cornell initiative exploring ways of finding common ground between urban and rural communities with a visit and public event Nov 19.

"Bridging Urban-Rural Divides in the United States: A Conversation with Governor John Kasich," will take place from 6-7 p.m. in Rhodes-Rawlings Auditorium, Klarman Hall. The event is free and open to the public but registration is required.

Kasich will be in conversation with Peter John Loewen, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences. They will talk about how urban-rural polarization can be bridged in the United States. Kasich was a member of Congress from 1982 to 2000, serving as chair of the House Budget Committee and on the Armed Services Committee. He served as governor of Ohio from 2011-19 and ran for president during the 2016 Republican primary. Today, he runs the Kasich Company and serves as a political analyst for NBC, CNBC and MSNBC.

Kasich is the author of five books: "Courage is Contagious;" "Stand for Something: The Battle for America's Soul;" "Every Other Monday;" "Two Paths: America Divided or United" and "Up to Us: Ten Little Ways We Can Bring About Big Change."

"Gov. Kasich will be drawing on his extensive experience and success as governor of a state that exemplifies both thriving rural communities and dynamic urban centers," Loewen said.

Before Kasich's address, scholars from U.S. universities and think tanks will convene for a workshop covering topics such as economic transformation and rural life; representation and the geography of power; culture, information and shared civic life and what a land-grant university owes democracy.

"We want to understand the causes, consequences, extents and possible solutions to various urban and rural divisions in the United States," Loewen said. "And we want to know how experts in the field view urban-rural divides and discuss how universities can play a role in closing these." The workshop will lead to a white paper articulating an agenda for a multiyear project, he said.

This workshop opens a yearlong effort focused on ways to bridge the divide between urban and rural communities, an initiative of the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Cornell Center on Democracy.

Register here to attend the Nov. 19 evening event; please note the event has a strict no-bag policy.

Kathy Hovis is a writer for the College of Arts & Sciences.