Past Event

Our School II - What the City's Done, What It Can Do

The culminating event of Illinois Humanities’ yearlong, statewide series Continuing Ed. will be a roundtable at the Union League Club with a panel of thirteen local elected officials, journalists, nonprofit leaders, students, and community leaders that uses a short text by Robert Hutchins to ask:

What should we expect from public education and what can families do to help their local schools achieve that promise?

This free event will be moderated by Joseph Coulson of The Great Books Foundation.

The evening will also feature scenes from a new documentary on the statewide story of public education produced by Free Spirit Media as well as the print release of “What About Us? A Compendium on Equity in Public Education” – a resource for those looking to become more active in their local school.

Please note that Union League Club requires Business Casual dress code (i.e., no denim, t-shirts, or athletic wear).

Panelists

  • Bill Ayers – retired education professor, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Carol Ross Barney – Founder and President, ross barney architects
  • Joseph Bast – President and CEO, The Heartland Institute
  • Mary Beck – Principal, Senn High School
  • Patrick Brosnan – Executive Director, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
  • Peggy Davis – Chief Officer of Programs & Strategic Integration, Chicago Community Trust
  • Laura Freveletti – Senior Manager Community Engagement, Allstate Insurance Company
  • Nayla Hale – student, Kenwood Academy High School
  • Alex Kotlowitz – author and journalist
  • Laurence Minter – student, Kenwood Academy High School
  • Alderman Ameya Pawar – Chicago Ward 47
  • Beatriz Ponce de Leon – Executive Director, Generation All
  • Elizabeth S. Todd-Breland – Assistant Professor of History, University of Illinois at Chicago

More on Continuing Ed.

Continuing Ed. is a yearlong, statewide series working with parents, schools, and communities across the state – in Chicago, Decatur, Elgin, and southern Illinois to move the conversation about public education back to parents. All roundtable discussions will be moderated by Joseph Coulson and Don Whitfield of The Great Books Foundation. For the complete schedule and more information, see www.ILhumanities.org/education.

If you require a sign interpreter or any other arrangements to fully participate in this program, please contact info@ilhumanities.org at least 72 hours in advance of the event. For more information, please call (312) 422-5580.