Free Educational Topics in Chicago

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  • The Shifting Balance: Supreme Court Rulings and Their Impact on American Democracy

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

    The US Supreme Court is not just ensuring the laws are applied properly, and that they are constitutional, but the court is enacting policies they think are useful for our country - whether they are based on our constitution or not. MORE >

    Presidential Immunity and Accountability: One of the most consequential rulings was the Court's decision on presidential immunity. In a 6-3 judgment, the Court ruled that former President Donald Trump could be tried for actions taken as a candidate, but not for those taken while in office.

    Federal Regulatory Authority: In another significant ruling, the Court limited the regulatory authority of federal agencies. By overturning a precedent that had guided federal regulations for decades, the Court has made it easier for regulations to be challenged in court.

    Gun Control and the Second Amendment: The Supreme Court also made headlines with its decision to send several gun control cases back to lower courts for reconsideration. This move followed a major ruling that expanded Second Amendment rights, allowing for broader interpretations of gun ownership and use.

    Implications for American Democracy: These rulings collectively reflect a shift towards a more conservative interpretation of the law. The impact on American democracy is profound; will undoubtedly shape the future of American democracy for years to come.

    This presentation details the problems that SCOTUS is causing for our nation, and discusses what we can do about it.

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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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  • The New Women: From Gibson Girls to Flappers in the early 1900s

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

    In the early days of the 20th century, New Women caused a media sensation in newspapers and magazines by threatening standards of sexual propriety, living alone while single, pursuing careers, and engaging in politics even before given the right to vote. These college-educated young women in their 20s forced a reconsideration of sexual roles in America that contributed to women's suffrage and the free expression existing several years later in the flapper movement. MORE >

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  • 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
    MORE >

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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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  • Making Cents of College Costs

    Joseph Orsolini, President, College Aid Planners, Inc.

    For most families college tuition is the largest expense they will face. Unfortunately, many families go into this stage in life uninformed and unprepared. Learn strategies that enable families of all income levels (not just low or moderate‐income) to make a college education more affordable and less of a financial burden.

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  • What’s an Assault Weapon, and why are they so deadly?

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

    There's been a lot of discussion lately about tighter regulations on assault weapons like the AR-15. If we are going to regulate these weapons, we will need a legal definition describing them. And instead of a definition that depends upon specific configurations or cosmetic appearance, we propose a definition based on the factors that make this class of weapons so deadly. MORE >

    This presentation focuses on the development of this class of weapons, the factors that make them so deadly, and how we can use those factors to legally define an "assault weapon" for future regulation thereof.
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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 >

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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.
    MORE >

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  • Not Another Workshop: What School Leaders Actually Need

    Susan Close, LCPC, LMHC, Owner | Psychotherapist, Susan Close Psychotherapy & Wellness

    School leaders are often asked to attend one more training, one more initiative, one more workshop—while already running on empty. This is different. A restorative, practical experience designed to help school leaders exhale, reconnect with themselves, and leave feeling lighter than they arrived. Through reflection, nervous system reset tools, meaningful connection, and realistic strategies for boundaries and sustainability, participants receive what they rarely get: support. MORE >

    No endless slides. No performative participation. No added burden. Just something genuinely helpful.
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