CNN Dialogues
As Associate Director of the James Weldon Johnson Institute (JWJI) for the Study of Race and Difference at Emory University, Lee helped to develop and then managed this collaboration between Emory, CNN, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. This series of public discussions featured prominent figures debating the major issues that defined the early 2010s. With a budget of $1 million, CNN Dialogues was conceived to provide forums to discuss urgent, often controversial issues, in a comfortable and mutually respectful space.
Driven by a desire to create opportunities for civil dialogue and to apply academic scholarship to community needs, we aimed to foster an environment where individuals could engage in meaningful conversations across political and identity-rooted divides. The impact of this initiative on the community was profound, as it created space for civil dialogue and facilitated understanding among diverse groups.