Jazz is a highly democratic art form that is deeply concerned with participation and community, where risk, collaboration, and individual voice are all highly valued. How might jazz as a "community of memory" inspire us to embrace cooperation once again as an important cornerstone of our culture?

This is the focus of “The Art of the Possible: Jazz and Community-Building,” a conversation with independent scholar and professional jazz musician Tim DuRoche on Sunday, April 29th, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at theTower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St. Bend, Ore 97701. The nonprofit Tower Theatre Foundation is partnering with Oregon Humanities and the Deschutes Public Library to make this event possible. This event is free and open to the public.

DuRoche is the director of programs for the World Affairs Council of Oregon. Prior to his work with the council, he worked for Portland Center Stage, where he developed initiatives and programs connecting sustainability, civic engagement, historic preservation and the arts. DuRoche is a frequent public speaker, interviewer, and moderator for cultural organizations including Wordstock, the City of Portland, Portland Center for Public Humanities, Multnomah County Library, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland Jazz Festival, and LiveWire Radio.

Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, challenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state's future. For more information about this free community discussion, please contact Lisa McGean at 541-312-1034 or lisam@deschuteslibrary.org.

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Lisa McGean at 541/312-1034.