T H E P I T T S B U R G H F O U N D AT I O N 6 F O R U M Executive Director of the Islamic Center of PittsburghWasiullah “Wasi” Mohamed tells conference attendees that, historically, the First Amendment has not covered all Americans. His work aims to empower, educate and unite divided communities in southwestern Pennsylvania. “We expect to work with local artists to create works that celebrate and comment on the five freedoms,” says Pearlman. “There are plans for new partnerships with local school districts to explore how the First Amendment is taught to young people. We intend to work with faith communities, cultural organizations, libraries and community centers. “We want to be in the places where people gather to engage in respectful civic dialogue,” says Pearlman. “We see this as the best way for place-based philanthropy to bring people with diverse perspectives together to use First Amendment freedoms to work for the common good.” In addition to the community program­ ming, The Pittsburgh Foundation will extend its awareness-building effort by co-hosting a second conference with Duquesne University on its campus Oct. 21–22. “A National Conference on the First Amendment: The Bedrock for American Freedoms” is intended to provide legal, academic and journalistic validation of the First Amendment as a foundational value that all Americans share and support regardless of political or ideological views. CONFRONTING THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY OUR RIGHT, IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY… AND NOTHING MAKES THAT POSSIBLE MORE THAN THE PRESS. Mickey Edwards TODAY, THE GREATEST ENEMY TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS FEAR. Wasi Mohamed Nationally known participants from the fields of journalism, law, higher education and civic advocacy include Dean P. Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times; Martin Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post; Noel Francisco, U.S. Solicitor General; Floyd Abrams, a leading authority on First Amendment law; Ohio Gov. John Kasich; and conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt. There is no charge to attend the conference. For more information on the fall program, go to www.1apittsburgh.org. By Doug Root | vice president of communications Republican Mickey Edwards, a vice president of the Aspen Institute, speaks with Indira Lakshmanan, Newark Chair in Journalism Ethics at the Poynter Institute and columnist forThe Boston Globe. She asks the former U.S. Congressman about the media’s role and Edwards says it’s the job of journalists to hold the president and Congress accountable.