Free Educational Topics in Chicago
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Now the speaker will contact you in the next few days to coordinate details.
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“Liberal” and “Conservative” – origin and evolution of these terms.
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
When and why did terms such as "liberal" and "conservative" originate? How have those terms evolved through the decades? Knowing where we come from, on both sides of the aisle, can give us the perspective necessary to chart our way forward in a manner that honors our past and leads to a useful future.
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Unveiling the Supreme Court: A Critical Look at the Highest Court in the Land
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
The US supreme court has vast power to impact our government. They can override laws passed by our democratically elected congress, dismantle regulations implemented by our elected president’s administration, and there is little recourse when they do so. As such, their impact on our democracy can be immense. MORE >
• How do cases come to their attention?
• How do they decide what cases to take up?
• What methods do they use to make their determinations?
• What have been the recent results of their deliberations?
• How can we reform this court, so that it supports our democracy, instead of damaging it?Please join us for this interesting discussion.
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Don’t Pay the College Sticker Price!
Joseph Orsolini, President, College Aid Planners, Inc.
The program will highlight the three key areas of opportunity to reduce the overall cost of a college education. The presentation will focus on strategies to maximize need-based financial aid eligibility, target the right colleges for merit-based financial aid, and exploit tax-saving opportunities.
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Why the Student Loan Bubble is Now Your Problem
Joseph Orsolini, President, College Aid Planners, Inc.
If you thought the student loan bubble was only a Millennial problem, think again! The trillion dollar student loan bubble is bursting. This eye-opening program details the depth of this country’s student loan crisis, how it is spreading beyond the millennial generation, and why it is becoming your problem as well.
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Rising Economic Inequality: how much, why it happens, why it matters, and what we can do about it.
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
Economic inequality has been rising in the US for decades, damaging our economy and society in the process. This presentation will discuss how high it has become, why it happens, how it damages our country, and what we can do about it.
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Teaching civics – how are we doing – how can we do better
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
Our national report card shows that we are not doing a good job teaching US history and civics, and that is not preparing our students to be active citizens, helping to guide our nation in directions that are useful for them. MORE >
This presentation looks into these issues, and focuses on the newly created Educating for American Democracy Roadmap, which points the way to improving this important area of education. -
Democracy Under Duress
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
Right-wing populism is rising in many western nations, but here in the US it is beginning to actually threaten our democracy. This presentation points out why this is happening uniquely here in the US: Because the country is becoming a true multi-racial democracy, a transformation that no other country is undergoing. And the US constitution actually empowers the minority that wishes to stop this transition. MORE >
We will discuss why this is happening, and what we need to change in our governmental structures to alleviate this attack on our democracy.And we must address these very thorny issues, starting now. Because the US will become a multi-racial democracy - or it won't be a democracy any more.
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Congress Doesn’t Care What You Think
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
this presentation addresses the problem of unlimited political money corrupting our democracy. We explain the problem clearly, and discuss the causes and possible solutions, including steps that we can take in our own communities to begin addressing this structural problem in our country. The presentation is non-partisan and brings issues to light which are of concern across the aisle. MORE >
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Our Antiquated Electoral College
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
Learn why we elect the US president via the Electoral College, how our Electoral College damages our demcoracy - and what we can do about it.
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Increasing Political Polarization and what we can do about it
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
Every decade, increasing gerrymandering has created more and more "safe seats", which have resulted in more and more extreme legislators on both sides of the aisle - creating a legislature where compromise is impossible, and very little legislative progress ensures. This presentation shows why this happens, and what we can do about it, using the recent example of the Alaska special election, utilizing a nonpartisan primary and a ranked choice voting general election, as an example of how to promote more moderate legislators and a more productive legislature. MORE >