The following is a partial listing of possible seminars. We customize each Reading & Discussion program to meet the particular needs and priorities of the participating organization and its professionals. Come to us with your specific issues and concerns, and we will tailor the readings and program focus just for you.

Doing Justice: Literature and the Law Judges, lawyers, court administrators, police officers, probation officers, and other legal and law enforcement professionals are the public’s arbiters and negotiators of our complex legal system. How do we balance the dictates of formal codes of law with consideration of individual circumstances? How do we address legal inequalities, judicial bias, and differing visions of justice and mercy?

“Out of many, one.” The same motto that spurred our country’s forebearers to seek unity as a nation captures the special challenge of today’s workplace—taking diverse perspectives and backgrounds into account while striving to further organizational goals. How do we confront generalizations, stereotypes, and biases? How do we begin to see through the eyes of others?

Corporate executives, nonprofit managers, government officials, and other leaders face tough decisions every day. What standards of judgment inform our choices? How do leaders make unpopular decisions while maintaining trust, employee morale, and teamwork? When is risk-taking effective? When and why do we hold back?

Doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and counselors are called upon to help those who are ailing and in pain—physically, mentally, and spiritually. What are the limits of our professional responsibilities to patients and clients? Where do we find anchors for ethical decision-making on the job, where situations are more often gray than black-and-white?

For those whose job it is to impart knowledge and provide guidance—teachers, principals, librarians, and other educators—bureaucracy, societal expectations, and limited time and resources frequently lead to disenchantment and even burnout. What should the boundaries of the classroom be? How do teachers rekindle their own love of learning and inspire others to do the same?