By Dennis Welch for ThisWeek Community News

“We need to rebuild the civic infrastructure of democratic life.”

How appropriate that this call to action from the celebrated Harvard professor and political philosopher, Michael Sandel, was made in the heat of this sometimes contentious presidential-election year.

Described as a “rock-star moralist” by Newsweek, Sandel is a best-selling author who challenges audiences to think about complicated issues and engage in “the lost art of democratic debate.” The New Albany Community Foundation hosted Sandel recently as part of the Jefferson Series.

The Jefferson Series has begun to draw attention nationally as one of the premier lectures series in the country.

In addition to the packed evening lecture open to the community, Sandel led a discussion with 90 New Albany High School civic and government students. In anticipation of Sandel’s visit, the students read his book, Justice, and were prepared and engaged.

In addition to New Albany students, the evening lecture attracted students and educators from Columbus City Schools, KIPP Columbus, the Ohio State University, Capital University, Denison University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Otterbein University, Central Ohio Leadership Academy, Columbus School for Girls and more.

The community foundation, through generous sponsors and donors, has hosted compelling speakers since 2002, when two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author, David McCullough, helped us raise funds for the New Albany branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. McCullough, through his extraordinary presentation, inspired students to want to learn more about the American revolution by peaking their curiosity. Since his first visit, the foundation began sponsoring student lectures and author residencies at the schools.

The lectures are part of the community foundation’s commitment to promote lifelong learning. As American business executive, Clay Bedford once said, “You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him/her to learn by creating curiosity, he/she will continue the learning process as long as he/she lives.”

Since its inception, the Jefferson Series has covered a range of topics including energy (T. Boone Pickens), food/health (Michael Pollan), mental health (Mariel Hemingway), global conflict (Fareed Zakaria) and history (Doris Kearns Goodwin). The community foundation will host historian Jon Meacham in May and welcome back McCullough in June.

We have been heartened by the community’s response to the series, with most lectures selling out. And thanks to our generous sponsors, we have been able to present the highest-quality speakers while keeping ticket prices affordable so that everyone has access.

We invite you to learn more about the community foundation and the Jefferson Series at newalbanyfoundation.org.

Dennis Welch is a recently retired executive vice president at AEP and chairman of the New Albany Community Foundation Board of Trustees.