Last Wednesday, Melody Barnes, U.S. President Barack Obama's domestic policy adviser, spoke at the second Eli J. Segal Leadership Lecture about the importance of public service and civic leadership. She highlighted Segal's significant career accomplishments and urged the audience to try to emulate Segal in their own lives and careers. The lecture was followed by a question-and-answer session mediated by University President Frederick Lawrence. Barnes' lecture was organized by the Segal Citizen Leadership Program, which was founded in honor of the late Eli J. Segal '64. According to its website, the Segal Program is a foundation that "seeks to carry on [Segal's] legacy for inspiring leadership and community networking." Barnes is the second high-profile politician to speak at the Segal leadership lecture, the first being former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2007.

The Segal Program was started at Brandeis in 2007 by friends and family of Segal. In its first year, eight Fellows were accepted into the program. Within 4 years, the number of Segal Fellows has risen to 44, including a group of eight Brandeis undergraduate students and students from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management Master in Public Policy program who were accepted this semester. Segal Fellows also include AmeriCorps alums and members of the Center for Youth and Communities, the Corporation for National and Community Service and City Year.

Lawrence began the evening by talking about the late Segal, praising the work that he did as a leader and community organizer. He then allowed 2009 Segal Fellow Brian Schon MPP '10, to formally introduce Barnes to the audience of what he estimated to be 300 to 400 people.

Schon, one of the primary organizers of the event, gave a brief history of the distinguished political career of Barnes. He listed many of the various positions within the government that Barnes has held, including director of legislative affairs for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and assistant council for the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

"We are here tonight so that we can inspire each other," said Schon. "Tonight is for all of us to grow together as citizen leaders, and most of all, tonight is for Eli."

Barnes cited a number of Segal's achievements during the Clinton administration, including his creation of AmeriCorps during a time when the U.S. was politically divided and his establishment of City Year South Africa in Johannesburg, a program that united black and white youth through the idea of national service.

"Coast to coast, country to country, Eli believed that ordinary citizens could be the change agents with the power to strengthen their communities, their countries and the world," said Barnes.

Barnes talked about the importance of understanding that government cannot solve all of America's current issues and the need for everyone to unite in striving to create a better society.

"We are still coming out of one of the toughest recessions we have ever known. ... If we are going to find why we share economic security and well-being for all Americans, we are required to see this as a moment of opportunity and commit ourselves to building the community and society that we want," Barnes said.

"Service will help America educate her people, it will help us build an infrastructure and spark our nation," continued Barnes. "Indeed, this is our Sputnik moment."

"Each of us must find that place where our talents and purpose meet for lifelong service. ... You don't have to redefine who you are, you must simply be more intentional about what you do," said Barnes.

Speaking directly to those involved in the Segal Program, Barnes encouraged the Segal Fellows to move forward and take hold of the many opportunities within the prestigious program.

"As Segal Fellows, you are part of a wonderful community to build on shared values of citizen leadership and service. It is a community that can sustain you and help you grow. ... Take advantage of that community and develop that next big idea," Barnes said.

Barnes left the audience with these questions: "What hurdles are you going to jump? What barriers will you break down? How will you take on the wholly impossible?"

During the question-and-answer period, Lawrence first asked Barnes who had made an impact on her early in life and made her who she is today.

In addition to civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., whom she called her "heroes," Barnes attributed the reason for much of her service-geared mindset to her parents.

To complete the event, Phyllis Segal '66, the late Segal's wife, thanked Barnes and Lawrence.

"The idea that we should go forward and specialize in the wholly impossible excites me, and I hope it excites everyone here as well. ... I am excited about and confident about our future and our opportunity to win the future," said Segal.

After the event, Stephanie Johnson '13, an undergraduate student who was accepted into the Segal Program this semester, said, "Barnes is a very inspirational woman, and she offered a lot of insight into leadership and civil engagement. I took a lot from her, and I am definitely going to implement her suggestions into my set of leadership skills."

Eli Schaffer '11 said, "As a Peace Corps hopeful, I really valued what she said about directing your life to live for service every day. ... That is how change is made, not by superficial changes but by making real meaningful changes at your core."

Gabi Sanchez-Stern '12, a 2010 Segal Fellow who was deeply involved with the logistics of the event, said afterward, "This lecture is a cornerstone of the program, and it was great to see it come to fruition. I thought she did a phenomenal job. ... I was totally captivated by her speech, and I really appreciated her honesty and her directness.