Upcoming Events
September 2018
The Balancing Act: The Illinois State Budget and the Evolving Role of the Branches of Illinois Government
For a closer look at the Illinois General Assembly, its scope, how appropriation and spending authority works in the state budget process.
Confronting the Illinois Budget Crisis: How One Person Can Make a Difference
Learn how engaged citizens armed with facts and asking hard questions can shape public opinion and help those making difficult choices be better grounded in the lives of those they represent.
John Wesley Powell: The One-Armed Naturalist from Bloomington Who Became the Nation’s Greatest Explorer
Learn about John Wesley Powell, a bigger-than-life character who spent some of his early days living and working in the Twin Cities.
October 2018
Medieval Heritage and Modern Racism
How and why have the Middle Ages become politicized and even weaponized in this country, and where we go from here?
Reading and Writing: A Trip to Newberry Library and American Writers Museum in Downtown Chicago
Explore innovative, interactive exhibits about the spoken and written word in this group trip to Newberry Library.
Foreign Involvement with U.S. Elections: Lessons Learned and Possible Remedies
Examine attempts by foreign governments to interfere in American elections and discern what can be learned from them to develop strategies for preventing future interference and preserving our democracy.
Opioid Epidemic: How Did It Start and What Can Be Done?
Learn how this national epidemic of opioid abuse is affecting our local community, and the nation at large.
The Opioid Epidemic: A Matter of Life and Death
Explore the legal aspects of the Opioid crisis. How it impacts law enforcement and safety of first responders.
We Must Do Better Than This: Dr. Seuss as a Social Critic
Dick and Charline Watts, who have been interpreting the work of Dr. Seuss in talks and classes for decades, discuss Dr. Seuss and his works that challenge us in the realm of social injustice.
The Opioid Epidemic: A Matter of Life and Death
Discover what McLean County is doing with drug court in helping addicted offenders with long-term recovery.
Pain Management in the Era of Opioid Crisis: Facts vs. Fiction
What are non-opioid, non-surgical options for pain management?
The Ashcan School: Urban Realism in Early 20th Century American Painting
Discover how the birth of Urban Realism in Early 20th Century American Painting came to be and the artists behind it.
November 2018
America in Crisis: 1968 and 1969
Gain new understanding of the issues and events that traumatized the nation in 1968 and 1969 and why those issues still plague us today.
January 2019
An Archaeological Exploration of Illinois A.D. 100
This class with Michael Wiant of Dickson Mounds Museum will highlight archaeological field work and the discovery of extraordinary objects.