Submitted by San Juan County Democrats

Join the San Juan County Democrats for a timely lecture and conversation series. The next one is at 5 p.m., Aug. 22 at Brickworks in Friday Harbor.

This “conversation” is titled “The Abandonment of U.S. International Leadership.” The discussion will be led by Susan Martin and Necia Quast, both residents of San Juan Island. Martin and Quast both have extensive experience and expertise in the subjects to be discussed.

Martin is a retired Professor Emerita in international migration at Georgetown University and an expert on immigration reform. She is working on a second edition of her book, “A Nation of Immigrants,” originally published in 2010. She is also a member of the World Refugee Council.

Quast is a retired senior foreign service officer, with 26 years of service with the U.S. State Department. She served as an economist in eight embassies on four continents, as well as in Washington, D.C.

The discussion will examine the country’s withdrawal from international agreements and institutions; the turning away from democracy; the support for authoritarian regimes; the detrimental changes in refugee and immigration policies and the numerous attacks on America’s allies and the press.

The San Juan County Democrats are honored to have these two experts to discuss these timely topics. Don’t miss this opportunity.

A $20 donation is requested at the door.