We invite you to join us this fall as we, Diversity & Social Justice Education (Conversation Café) and the University YMCA (Friday Forum), partner to bring back our series:

Our Community in Action:  Advancing Social Justice in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond

We will be hearing from community leaders tackling our most pressing public concerns through an unwavering pursuit of social justice. 

This series will continue to take place on most Fridays during the Spring 2023 semester.

• Time: Noon - 1:00 PM
• Location: University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL.

Lunch will be available, at no cost, and is part of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs "Lunch on Us" series and is paid for in part, by the Student Cultural Programming Fee (SCPF).

Spring 2023 Friday Form + Conversation Café

All events from 12-1 pm at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign. Free lunch provided.

February 3 – Stories From the Center: University Y Founders Day Event

• Speakers: Cassie Carroll, Mike Doyle, Becca Guyette, and John Jordan
• Moderator: Scott Peters, Cornell  University

February 10 – Art, Healing, and Justice

• Speakers: Lou Turner, Liza Sylvestre, and Christopher Jones
• Moderator: Sam Smith, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

February 17 – Envisioning Equity and Excellence in Public Schools

• Speakers: Angela Ward, Amy Bloomberg, and Brandon Caffey
• Moderator: Imani Bazzell, Center for Civic Engagement and Social Justice

February 24 – The Importance of Interfaith in Jewish Tradition

• Speaker: Rabbi Allyson Zacharoff, New York University

March 3 – Risograph, Zines, and "Cheap" Art

• Speaker: Will Arnold, Art @ the Y exhibition on view through 3/10

March 24 – Building Anti Racist Immigrant Communities: reflections on arts mediated dialog projects

• Speaker: Ken Salo, Urban & Regional Planning

March 31 – In pursuit of intersectional equity beyond the walls of academia: Learning from the marginalized Sunni-Baluch women needleworkers in peri-urban Iran

• Speaker: Atyeh Ashtari, Urban Planning PhD Candidate

April 14 – Community Violence and Anti-Violence Efforts

• Speakers: Rachel Garthe, School of Social Work and Jorge Elvir, City of Champaign
• Moderator: Sam Smith, KCPA

April 21 – Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our Communities

• Hosts: Diversity & Social Justice Education Interns

Past Presentations

View past presentations.