The University of Iowa community will explore what the American Dream means to people today during the spring 2019 Theme Semester.

Organizers of the fifth-annual Theme Semester hope to encourage thoughtful discussion of this long-held national ideal by posing questions such as:

• What does the American Dream mean to the most diverse generation in this country’s history?
• How can we imagine an American Dream that embodies the values and aspirations of all Americans?
• How do we ensure that all Americans have an equitable say and power over what happens in their lives?

The American Dream Theme Semester will begin Jan. 21 with the UI’s annual Day of Service in Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Academic courses, events, and activities will continue to explore the topic throughout the semester. More than 50 courses related to the American Dream have been self-identified by UI faculty and staff, and film screenings, panel discussions, book talks, and lectures will add to the varied lineup. Additional events are expected to be announced throughout the semester.

While the UI will host speakers from across the country, the Theme Semester also aims to highlight individuals and groups across campus and across Iowa.

“We’re trying with this Theme Semester to give a voice and shine a spotlight on people who are working to fulfill the American Dream or help others fulfill their American Dream,” says Jordan Brown, outreach and engagement coordinator in the UI Office of Outreach and Engagement.

Brown says organizers are working with faculty and staff to integrate at least one activity, reading, or project related to the American Dream into their spring courses. The office worked with Matt Gilchrist, associate professor of instruction in rhetoric and director of Iowa Digital Engagement and Learning (IDEAL), to develop a guide for faculty and staff.

“We realize that this topic may not visibly fit into some classes,” Brown says. “The guide includes ideas for incorporating the topic along with tips for how to talk about the American Dream with your students and help them learn about it from different perspectives.”

Highlights of the American Dream These Semester include:

• Feb. 18—A collaboration with FilmScene to screen Generation Wealth, which examines materialism, celebrity culture, social status, and the desire to be wealthy at any cost.
• Feb. 9—Deon Harris, author of The Basic Essentials of Doing Time Constructively: The Politics of Prison and Dog Food, will host a book discussion and share stories from his life.
• March 19—Panel discussion with CRUSH of Iowa, a grassroots community-based organization focused on helping those who have fallen victim to opioid addiction, educating communities throughout the state, and working to prevent further loss of loved ones to substance abuse.
• March 30—“Workers’ Dream for an America that ‘Yet Must Be,’” a one-day public conference bringing together statewide leaders from labor, faith, civil rights organizations, and the campus community to examine workers’ struggles to define and achieve an American Dream for themselves and their families in history and today. The keynote speaker will be Pablo Alvarado, executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

For a complete list of Theme Semester events, classes, and more, go to https://theme.uiowa.edu. Theme Semester is a program of the Provost’s Office of Outreach and Engagement.