Free Educational Topics in Chicago
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3: Browse for a topic, Click the orange request button, Fill out the contact form.
Now the speaker will contact you in the next few days to coordinate details.
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A Consumer’s Guide to Going Solar
Kate Shonk, Sustainable Communities Liaison , Citizens Utility Board (CUB)
Are you interested in going solar? Learn if solar is right for your home and how to get the most value out of your solar system from consumer advocate experts. In 2019, CUB staffers gave over 70 solar presentations, and we are excited to answer all your solar questions! MORE >
CUB is very excited about new solar incentives available to homeowners in Illinois. However, we know that with all the new advertising and high pressure sales pitches it can be confusing to know what is best for you. At this presentation we will go over solar basics, including:
---why now is the best time yet to go solar,
---how solar panels work with your home and the grid,
---an overview of state and federal incentives,
---why it is almost always better to purchase, rather than lease solar panels.Please note that depending on my availability, another one of our trained outreach staff may take my place as speaker at your meeting, but I will confirm when you contact me.
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Applying for Medicaid and Protecting Assets
Matthew Margolis, Partner, Margolis Weldon LLC
Learn about Medicaid eligibility in Illinois nursing homes and how to protect assets when applying. A lot of people think that if they don't protect their assets 5 years in advance, they are out of luck. This is not the case and many people are continuing to spend down their assets in nursing homes until they have nothing when they could be protecting some for their spouse, children, or grandchildren. MORE >
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Building High Performance Teams
Bob Miller, Founder and CEO, PFCC Group
High performance teams don't just happen. They require good leadership and a good operational game plan that includes shared vision, the right people, personal commitment and accountability.
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Can we print fake mail ballots? (not really)
Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible
There's lots of talk about how easy it would be to flood an election with fake mail ballots. Let's take a look at what it would take to do that...
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Career Readiness Before College
Georgia Koch, Community Outreach Coordinator, Career Vision
College planning is not just for college but for career planning as well. Believe it or not, sophomore year of high school is not too early to start. Georgia will show audiences why.
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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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Demonstrating and Teaching Mental Math Methods
Cliff Petrak, Retired Teacher, Brother Rice High School
Learn to master a multitude of little-known, super-shortcut computational methods involving addition, subtraction, fractions, squaring and multiplication. Unfortunately, our country consistently finishes among the bottom third of industrialized countries in the annual mental math competition for students. Learning these strategies and methods will leave your calculator-dependent friends in the dust!
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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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Energy Efficiency, Utility Bills, & Your Home
Kate Shonk, Sustainable Communities Liaison , Citizens Utility Board (CUB)
Wouldn’t it be great to do your part to save the environment, and save money at the same time? Here in Illinois, it’s possible--thanks to a number of statewide policies that CUB fought long and hard for. In this talk, I’ll give you the lowdown on how you can benefit from cost saving energy efficiency programs. MORE >
CUB is a non-profit, statewide utility watchdog organization created in 1983 to work for lower gas, electric and telephone rates. CUB has been on your side for 30 years—blocking utility rate hikes, winning consumer refunds and helping to pass important consumer protection laws. Our outreach team has spoken at hundreds of community meetings across Illinois and would love to come to yours!Please note that depending on my availability, another one of our trained outreach staff may take my place as speaker at your meeting, but I will confirm when you contact me.
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Estate Planning 101: Trusts Aren’t Just for the Pritzkers
Matthew Margolis, Partner, Margolis Weldon LLC
Learn the difference between Wills and Trusts and why a will isn't enough protection. Understand the vast importance of powers of attorney and the consequences of not having them in place.