Free Educational Topics in Chicago

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Now the speaker will contact you in the next few days to coordinate details.

SORT: MOST RECENT | A - Z

  • Decarbonizing Your Home

    Ivonne Rychwa, Director of Outreach, Citizens Utility Board (CUB)

    CUB will dive into ways renters and homeowners can access energy efficiency and cost-saving programs and appliances. During this presentation, you will receive information on: Building Decarbonization, The benefits of building electrification, New tax credits and rebates for home energy improvements available through the Inflation Reduction Act, Alternatives to gas appliances, and Free programs designed to save you energy and money
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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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  • Cable Options and Reducing Robocalls

    Ivonne Rychwa, Director of Outreach, Citizens Utility Board (CUB)

    A presentation about your cable options and reducing robocalls. During the program, a CUB representative will discuss: The different choices in the TV market, ways to cut your cable costs, streaming services available to consumers, how to avoid common robocall scams, call-blocking services and what they mean for your pocket, and new federal legislation passed helping to reduce robocalls.
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  • Deportation Nation

    Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible

    In "Deportation Nation: America's Immigration Crossroads," Ed will analyze
    unprecedented changes in federal immigration policy, shedding light on how
    these actions impact families, communities, and the very fabric of our society. MORE >

    The Trump administration's approach to immigration marks a sharp departure
    from historic norms. With an enormous escalation in funding directed at
    enforcement measures, the federal debt continues to rise as resources are
    diverted towards policies that disrupt lives and separate families—including
    many U.S. citizens. These measures have not only caused immense personal
    suffering but have affected businesses, labor markets, and the broader
    economy, undermining the stability upon which our nation thrives.

    In this interactive session, Ed will present a contextual overview, showing how
    our nation's current actions stand apart from prior policy and tradition. By
    examining the history of American immigration, we'll explore the roots of our
    nation's strength: inclusion, opportunity, and the promise of a better life. Ed will
    pose thoughtful alternatives and policy ideas that align with our founding
    values and point toward a more humane and pragmatic future.

    All who care about the direction of our country and the well-being of our
    neighbors are encouraged to attend.

    Equip yourself with truth and perspective so that together, we can advocate for
    policies that reflect our best traditions and put an end to destructive, divisive
    practices. Bring your questions—and your hope for a more just America—to
    what is sure to be an enlightening and empowering event.

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  • Rethinking the Colonizing of North America

    Mark McGarvie, J.D., Ph.D.,, Retired Professor of History and Law, College of William and Mary

    European colonialism recently has been presented, both popularly and scholastically, as an evil that decimated native populations, destroyed native cultures, precipitated extensive wars, and caused irreparable environmental harm. Avoiding judgment in favor of understanding, Professor McGarvie will develop the context for European discovery of the New World in the intellectual, technological, political, and cultural contexts of both the Native Americans and the European explorers in the 16th - 18th centuries. MORE >

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  • Get It, Check It, Know Who Has Seen It

    Chris Heuman, Practice Leader, RISC Management and Consulting, LLC

    The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 or HIPAA is a federal law that sets rules about who can view and receive your Protected Health Information or PHI. This law gives you rights over your health information and when it can be shared. MORE >

    In addition, HIPAA requires your physicians, pharmacists and other health care providers, and your health plan to explain your rights and how your health information can be used or shared. Most of us believe that our medical and other health information is private and should be protected, and we want to know who has this information.

    You will learn about historical information, important terminology, sharing health information with family members and friends, and understand your health information privacy as a consumer.

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  • Targeting Colleges for Affordability

    Joseph Orsolini, President, College Aid Planners, Inc.

    The presentation will focus on strategies to target colleges for merit-based financial aid. Armed with this understanding and knowledge of the college aid process, a college education may become more affordable.

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  • Start Early, Start Smart: How to Choose a Motivating College Major

    Georgia Koch, Community Outreach Coordinator, Career Vision

    Is it possible for students to identify potential college majors and career directions while still in high school? You bet! Students and parents will learn what they need to know before choosing a college, and how identifying a college major and career direction can build a student's motivation and confidence while reducing college expenses. MORE >

    Receive information and resources to guide your student and take the stress out of making these important decisions. This program is for parents and students of high school and college age.
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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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  • Trump’s Tariffs – a social media dialogue

    Ed Spire, Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible

    This presentation focuses on Trump's tariffs and their impact on our country -
    not only the economic consequences, but also how they play out in the larger
    picture of trade, manufacturing, and everyday costs for families. MORE >

    In addition to exploring the topic of tariffs, Ed Spire will be sharing a look
    "behind the scenes" at how he use social media and artificial intelligence tools
    to develop presentations like this one. These digital strategies make it easier to
    gather solid information, sharpen our messages, and connect more effectively
    with the communities we serve.

    I hope you'll join us for a session that's part civic education, part skills-building,
    and fully focused on empowering us all to better understand the challenges—
    and opportunities—we face.

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