USD to Host James and Deborah Fallows for ‘It’s Happening Here: American Renewal, Ingenuity and Innovation’
The event will be hosted by the USD Chiesman Center for Democracy—dedicated to advancing democracy through research, civic education and meaningful community engagement across South Dakota—with support from the USD Opportunity Center, Office of the President and Department of Political Science. The Fallows will also deliver their talk at Black Hills State University on Nov. 5.
The audience will join the Fallows as they discuss their journey across America, sharing lessons and stories from their 100,000-plus-mile adventure, including stops in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, brought to life in their book “Our Towns.”
“James and Deborah Fallows’ work in ‘Our Towns’ beautifully echoes their mission—and their exploration of how communities thrive through collaboration, innovation and local leadership reflects the very spirit we see in towns across our state, some of which are featured in the book,” said Julia Hellwege, Ph.D., director of the USD Chiesman Center for Democracy.
This event will offer a unique opportunity for both the USD community and the public to engage and gain insight into important conversations while reflecting on the stories of civic renewal and innovation that shape communities across the countryAttendees can explore how creativity, collaboration and civic engagement can drive meaningful change and expand practical ideas for developing progress in their own communities.
“By highlighting the power of local stories, we are reminded that the heart of democracy is found not in distant institutions, but in the everyday interactions and commitments of citizens working together,” said Hellwege. “We hope you will join us for this event to celebrate the optimism and resilience that define both ‘Our Towns’ and our communities here at home.”
For those interested in learning more, there will be an additional pre-event on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at 6 p.m., with a showing of the film “Our Towns” at the Coyote Twin Theatre in Vermillion, South Dakota.
About James and Deborah Fallows
Deborah and James Fallows are a husband-and-wife reporting team. Deb was trained in linguistics at Harvard and at the University of Texas, where she got her Ph.D. Before beginning the ‘Our Towns’ project, she worked in academia at Georgetown University and in internet search-engine design. Her first book, “A Mother’s Work,” was published in 1985. Her second book, “Dreaming in Chinese,” was published in 2010.
James Fallows was for many decades a staff writer and editor for the “The Atlantic,” where his articles warning of the consequences of invading Iraq won the National Magazine Award. He is also the author of 11 other books and his book, “National Defense,” won the American Book Award for non-fiction. In his twenties, he was chief White House speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter. He is a long-time instrument-rated pilot, and he and Deborah traveled for years by propeller plane across the country in the reporting for their bestselling 2018 book “Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America.”
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