Mark S. Fleisher, Ph.D. – Research Professor, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University

Dear Colleagues:

We rarely see ourselves as others see us; but often we barely see others at all.

Cultural anthropologists, or ethnographers, are in the business of looking at “others” and discerning what Mark Fleisher calls the, “unwritten cultural rules that mold peoples’ thoughts and influence their interpretation of the world around them.” In doing so they may serve as eyes for those who do not have the time or interest to look from outside.

In the mid-1990s, Professor Fleisher began visiting the “north end” neighborhood of Champaign, Illinois, as a local evaluator for a national youth gang suppression, intervention, and prevention initiative. Over the following years he observed, “the symbiotic relationship between north end citizens, the local police departments, and the predominantly white citizenry of Champaign-Urbana,” as well as “the ways north end people squeezed the best of life out of modest surroundings and enriched their lives with family and friends.” In his new book, Living Black, he, “documents north end poverty in its material form and describes how folks use social networks to manage privation.” Join us for a view of the social life that can exist beyond or aside the statistics and headlines of the day.

All best regards,
Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies 

About Our Guests

Mark S. Fleisher, Ph.D., was educated as a cultural anthropologist and in linguistics with theoretical and methodological specializations in linguistic theory, generative grammar, phonology, sociolinguistics, and ethno-linguistics, field methods, qualitative data analysis, social network data collection and analysis, community-based systemic and program evaluation, delinquency and youth gangs, the American correctional system, and the application of social network analysis to organizational assessment and adolescent social networks. Over the past 25 years Fleisher’s research focused on prison management and violence, youth violence, youth gangs, organizational systems and evaluation, and social network analysis. Fleisher published five books, including two award-winning books (1995, 1998) and dozens of peer-review peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.

Where We Meet

Mather House is located next to the Thwing student center two buildings to the right of Kelvin Smith Library on Euclid Avenue. Please enter the front door to Mather House and turn right. Mather House Room 100 is at the end of the hall.

Parking Possibilities

The most convenient parking is the lot underneath Severance Hall. We regret that it is not free. From that lot there is an elevator up to street level labeled as Thwing Center.

Schedule of Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

October 21: The DARPA Robotics Challenge and the Future of Robotics. With Wyatt S. Newman, Professor of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering.

October 28: Macroeconomic Challenges for the Next Administration. With Mark S. Sniderman, Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Economics, Weatherhead School of Management, and former Research Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

November 4: Biennial Political Science Department Pre-Election Forecast Discussion.

November 11: The Unrealized Promise of Libertarianism. With Gus Dizerega, Ph.D., independent political theorist.

November 18: Can Democracy Meet the Challenge of Polarization? With Mark Chupp, Assistant Professor, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Social Sciences.

November 25: Thanksgiving Break.

December 2: Putin’s Russia. With Kelly M. McMann, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director, International Studies Program.

December 9: Health Care Report Cards – Time for Second Thoughts? With J.B. Silvers, John R. Mannix Medical Mutual of Ohio Professor of Health Care Finance.