The following comes from Houston Tomorrow, which is the new name for the Gulf Coast Institute:

Houston Tomorrow Distinguished Speaker Series Doubleheader

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
Neal Peirce, Syndicated columnist
Topic: What does the Obama election mean for federal policy in metropolitan regions?

Neal Peirce is a pulse-taker of change in how America governs itself. His column has repeatedly broken fresh ground in identifying vital new trends state and local governments and the dynamics of federal/state/local relations. Time magazine called Peirce "the only national chronicler of grass-roots America." His weekly column, syndicated through The Washington Post Writers Group since 1978, appears in over 50 newspapers.

Thursday, December 4th, 2008
Mark Winne, Author and food activist
Topic: Closing the Gap - Food security and policy in a fast-changing world.

Mark Winne is the author of "Closing the Food Gap -- Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty." From 1979 to 2003, he was the Executive Director of the Hartford Food System, a private non-profit agency that works on food and hunger issues in the Hartford, Connecticut area. During his tenure with HFS, Mark organized community self-help food projects that assisted the city's lower income and elderly residents. Mark's work with the Food System included the development of commercial food businesses, Connecticut's Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, farmers' markets, a 25-acre community supported agriculture farm, a food bank, food and nutrition education programs, and a neighborhood supermarket.

Details for both events:
United Way Community Resource Center
50 Waugh Dr., Houston, TX
reception 6:30
lecture 7:00 - 8:30

Receptions and lectures are free.
Donations are appreciated.
RSVP to wendy.natt@houstontomorrow.org