Spring 2025 Series

The Spring 2025 Friday Forum + Conversation Café series will begin on February 7, and conclude on April 18. Details are still being finalized. Check back soon to see our full list of speakers!

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Fall 2024 Series

Please join the University YMCA and Diversity & Social Justice Education for our Fall 2024 Friday Forum + Conversation Café series. We will hear from community leaders tackling our most pressing public concerns through an unwavering pursuit of social justice. We are excited to focus the fall series towards Democracy.

All presentations are open to the public and free on Fridays at 12 PM in Latzer Hall at the University YMCA.

• 9/13 - Sean Morales-Doyle, The Brennan Center for Justice - Voting Rights and Democracy in 2024
• 9/20 - New American Welcome Center - Champaign County Welcoming Plan in Action
• 9/27 - Braver Angels - Bridging the Partisan Divide
• 10/4 - Clerk Aaron Ammons, Champaign County - Elections and Voting: 2024 and Beyond
• 10/11 - Harry Boyte & Marie Ström, Institute of Public Life and Work - Democracy as a Way of Life
• 10/18 - Jeremy Hobson, 'The Middle' podcast
• 10/25 - Rev. Terrance Thomas & Pr. Michael Crosby, Bethel AME and First Mennonite of C-U - Understanding White Christian Nationalism
• 11/1 - Steve Schwinn, University of Illinois Chicago College of Law - The Supreme Court and Democracy
• 11/8 - Ilana Redstone, University of Illinois Sociology - The Certainty Trap: Democracy's Existential Threat
• 11/15 - Provost John Coleman, University of Illinois - Election 2024 on Campus and Across the Country

Check out these resources to continue exploring and engaging in Democracy!

Listen to audio recordings of each talk

This series is supported in part through our McMahon Democracy Innovation Fund.

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Additional Information

Friday Forum is a weekly lecture series held during the fall and spring semesters that strives to raise awareness about national and international trends and events. It has been continuously running for 97 years at the University YMCA, adapting to the times while remaining committed to providing talks that address topics of relevance and urgency in our society.

The views expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the views of the University YMCA, co-sponsors, or the Friday Forum committee. A sign language interpreter is available with a 72 hours notice (contact us at 217-337-1500).

All forums are radio broadcast at 6:00 p.m. on WEFT 90.1 the Wednesday following the lecture. Urbana Public Television also provides recordings of past Friday Forum lectures on their YouTube channel.

View our videos of the lectures on YouTube and photographs on Flickr.

Thank You!

Friday Forum could not happen without the generous support of local individuals, organizations, and departments. We would like to thank all the members of our Friday Forum committee, and the following sponsors for helping to bring us this fall’s series!

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Our Spring 2025 Sponsors

• Center for Global Studies and the US Department of Education Title VI Grant
• First Presbyterian Church, Champaign
• Humanities Research Institute
• Joan Wells Lathrap Trust
• Social Action Council of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Urbana Champaign
• Urbana-Champaign Friends Meeting
• Women & Gender in Global Perspectives Program

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Our Fall 2024 Sponsors

• Center for Advanced Study
• Center for Global Studies and the US Department of Education Title VI Grant
• Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
• Channing-Murray Foundation
• College of ACES
• Counseling Center
• Department of Anthropology
• Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
• Department of Urban & Regional Planning
• Education Justice Project
• First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana
• First Presbyterian Church, Champaign
• Humanities Research Institute
• Joan Wells Lathrap Trust
• League of Women Voters
• Office of the Provost
• School of Social Work
• Social Action Council of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Urbana Champaign
• Urbana-Champaign Friends Meeting
• Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice
• Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Program

Funding

The University YMCA relies on contributions to cover costs associated with this program. Your tax-deductible donation to programs like Friday Forum benefits students and the wider community. You can donate online, in person, or by mail. Checks can be made out to “University YMCA” and sent to 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820.