All Topics in Chicago

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  Developing A Personal Brand for Career and Life!

  Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Self-Improvement

  Personal Branding is identifying your assets, characteristics, strengths, and skills as an individual. Understanding Personal Branding will provide advantages in your participant’s personal and professional lives. Branding is a mix of how you present yourself and how others see you. It is important to be aware of how you are viewed. MORE >

  During this lively and enlightening personal branding discussion, participants learn to uncover their vision and passions for career and life. Then, find out how to utilize this knowledge through Social Media to define and influence how others see you. You are your brand so protect it. Live it.

  Discussion Objectives:

  • Define your image.
  • Control your image.
  • Understand how to sharpen your brand.
  • Use social media appropriately.
  • Manage your brand in a crisis.
  • Develop a professional appearance.

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  Deportation Nation

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

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  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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  Demonstrating and Teaching Mental Math Methods

  Cliff Petrak, Retired Teacher, Brother Rice High School

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  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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  Democracy Under Duress

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

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  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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  Decarbonizing Your Home

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

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  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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  Data Analytics for Financial Crime Prevention

  Jiaqi Chen, Business Intelligence Analyst

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  In this comprehensive session, discover how cutting-edge data analytics transforms financial crime prevention in today's digital landscape. Jiaqi Chen demonstrates how organizations can leverage advanced analytics to detect, prevent, and respond to sophisticated financial crimes.

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  Cyber Threat Survival Guide Protecting Your Business from Harm

  Christopher Higgins, Cyber Security Analyst, CCS Technology Group

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  In this dynamic and engaging presentation, we will take a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity. Join us as we review the current threat landscape, educate you on common cyber attacks, explore the motivations behind these hacking endeavors, and, most importantly, equip you with practical strategies to protect yourself and your business from the lurking bad actors. MORE >

  With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated by the day, it is crucial to understand the risks you face. Our presentation will shed light on the tactics employed by hackers, helping you decode their methods and motives. We will explore the inner workings of various cyber attacks, from phishing scams to ransomware, all presented in a conversational and approachable manner that even non-technical audiences can grasp.

  Armed with this knowledge, you will learn how to fortify your defenses and mitigate vulnerabilities. We will share key cybersecurity best practices and actionable steps, empowering you to safeguard your digital assets. From implementing strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to educating your employees about social engineering techniques, we will cover it all.

  Join us for this eye-opening presentation and take the first step towards building a resilient cybersecurity posture. Don't wait for the bad actors to strike - together, we can overcome the cyber threats that loom in the digital realm.

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  Creating A Private Sector: Contract Law & The Constitutional Protection of the Right of Conscience

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

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  Professor McGarvie is considered one of our leading authorities on the separation of church and state. His ground-breaking thesis articulated in 2004 with the publication of One Nation Under Law has gained tremendous support and led to invitations to write successor volumes and essays for both Oxford and Cambridge University Presses and to speak on the subject across the country. MORE >

  In this presentation, Professor McGarvie will explain how the separation of church and state resulted from the Founders' creation of a private sector through the contract clause of the Constitution. Contract law revolutionized the relationships between citizens and their governments. Placing religion in the private sector required its separation from government and the removal of churches from performing public functions in education, poor relief, and record keeping, for which they had responsibility in the colonial era.

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  Courage Is The Master of Fear

  Cherise N Ragland, Producer, Actress, Public Speaker, Author

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Motivational

  Cherise Nicole speaks from a Chapter in her book "You Can Soar" on Courage Being The Master of Fear. Sometimes life's blows damage people's confidence and leave them with a broken or bruised wing? How can one soar when they've been broken on the inside? Cherise will motivate people to move out of their comfort zone and extinguish the excuses and lies that cripple people from moving forward in life. She motivates listeners to action! MORE >

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  Connecting People and Purpose: Rethinking Employee Engagement

  Anthony Bolden and Charles Cammack, Co-founders, BridgeWork LLC

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  What if employee engagement isn’t about perks or productivity but about authentic investment? In this interactive session, we walk through the BridgeWork Framework to explore how people-centered workplaces are built when employees feel seen, supported, and connected to purpose. Participants will reflect on what they carry into the workplace, both personally and professionally, and how that shapes their contributions. Together, we’ll examine what it means to invest in work at a shallow or deep level and offer practical tools for building cultures where people thrive. Whether you’re leading a team or just finding your footing, this talk offers a fresh path forward that connects who we are with how we work. MORE >

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