Global Summit XVIII Features Lineup That Questions Nation's Past and Future
America's semiquincentennial offers time for introspection
As the nation marks its 250th year of independence from Great Britain, a number of provocative questions about the country and its future are on the docket as part of the Jefferson Educational Society's (JES) 18th annual Global Summit: How did the newly found "independence" of 1776 differ for those enslaved in the country? Can the U.S. maintain its republic for another 250 years? What are the greatest threats to our nation? How do we respond to other countries seeking independence?
Over the course of 19 events with over 25 speakers, the Global Summit will cover everything from international affairs to artificial intelligence, U.S. history, the power of storytelling in film and graphic novels, and much more.
"What makes the story of America both complex and complicated is that the telling of that story for so long has been limited to a few rather than the many," said JES Vice President Ben Speggen. "To better know our present, it's best that we come to know and understand the fullest version of our past."
"In a time when people often claim that the Constitution is 'under attack,' it becomes necessary to revisit our broader history, the challenges that have faced this republic and others, and what challenges are still ahead of us," Speggen remarked, adding that "hope and education are critical to improving the nation."
"We remain still far from a 'perfect union,'" he said. "Yet, that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue striving forward, creating space for more people to find more pathways to education in the spirit of helping to improve their lives at the individual level and the collective whole of the community."
His hope for this year is that people continue to use this access to world-class thinkers as a way to become better informed, more active participants in democracy and in their own communities.
Already, American conservative Hugh Hewitt and Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw tackled the first events of the Summit, as Hewitt spoke about President Donald Trump, the MAGA movement, and 2028 as the GOP prepares for what's next, and Bradshaw talked about everything football, drawing from his multifaceted and highly successful career.
The events include numerous collaborations this year, focusing attention both globally and locally. On Sept. 29, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor joined Logistics Plus CEO and founder Jim Berlin for "Making a Difference: How One Erie-based Company Is Working to Shape Ukraine's Future" to talk about how Logistics Plus is working to rebuild Ukraine due to the ongoing war, including support through humanitarian fundraising, procuring and outfitting mobile medical units, creating economic investment partnerships, and assisting with energy logistics.
The Global Summit is hosted each year by the JES in cooperation with numerous sponsors, including Erie Insurance, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and more. Find tickets and more information for these events at JESerie.org or by calling (814) 459-8000. As in previous years, students will be admitted for free with preregistration and proof of enrollment through the JES. The remaining events are planned through Nov. 19.
2026 Recipient of the Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas Award
Thursday, Oct. 1 // 7 p.m.
Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
This year's Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas honoree, Episcopal Bishop Sean W. Rowe was elected in 2024 at the age of 49 to serve as the church's chief pastor and CEO. He's not only known as the youngest to hold the position, but has also gained attention for his fresh perspectives. The Erie resident earned a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership from Gannon University and is known for his organizational reform that has focused on empowering local ministries and has also taken strong, high-profile stances centered on racial justice and civic resistance against government overreach.
The 'Godfather' of AI: Geoffrey Hinton on the New Frontier of Technology
Monday, Oct. 5 // 7 p.m.
Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
The "Godfather" of AI himself, Geoffrey Hinton was the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering work in AI and is considered one of the most important thought leaders on the emergence of AI and its implications for business and society.
His lecture comes during a faceoff between AI developers and political leaders over whether the technology is evolving beyond our ability to control it.
A Moderated Conversation with Michelle Obama
Monday, Oct. 12 // 6 p.m.
Erie Insurance Arena, 809 French St.
After the sold-out success of former President Barack Obama last year, former First Lady Michelle Obama will join the lineup of Summit speakers this year. Ever since she stepped foot in the White House, she has been an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating, supporting children and their families. She continues to share her story to inspire others, earning her the title of bestselling author and media mogul.
The US Constitution and Our Republic: Will We Keep It?
Monday, Oct. 19 // 7 p.m.
Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
In a time when the nation's attention is turning toward the founding fathers, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center and law professor Jeffrey Rosen returns to Erie to talk about one of the most impactful founding documents, the U.S. Constitution. Rosen first appeared at the Summit 2021 and has since published The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton Vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America and The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America, which he will draw on in his presentation.
The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life
Tuesday, Oct. 20 // 7 p.m.
Warner Theatre, 811 State St.
Simran Jeet Singh, author and executive director of the Religion and Society Program at the Aspen Institute, will expand on his book, The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life which explores the use of ancient spiritual principles to confront hate with love, find inner peace, and practice activism without burnout. This is a Gannon READS event.
Why the Transatlantic Alliance Matters: Protecting Ukraine's Children and Europe's Next Generation
Wednesday, Oct. 21 // 7 p.m.
Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
When the war escalated in Ukraine in 2022, Mariam Lambert left her job at the European Patent Office and co-founded Emile Foundation, a non-government organization focused on returning Ukrainian children it says Russia forcibly deported. Sally Painter, who will join Lambert in conversation about Ukraine's children and Europe's future, co-founded Blue Star Strategies, which advises global leaders on forward-looking foreign policy and has earned Erie-native Painter the title of trusted adviser in the European space.
America's Homeland Security: 25 Years After 9/11
Thursday, Oct. 22 // 7 p.m.
Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
It has been 25 years since Governor Tom Ridge got the phone call at his Erie residence that the country was under attack and that President George W. Bush needed him to lead a new agency that would become the Department of Homeland Security. Now, Jeh Johnson, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama, and Fran Townsend, assistant to Bush for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, will join Ridge to discuss how security has changed since Sept. 11, 2001.
Lake Erie Launchpad: Emerging Erie Entrepreneurs
Tuesday, Oct. 27 // 7 p.m.
Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
New to the Summit – this event is completely local, in partnership with the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership and Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and will showcase five to six Erie-based entrepreneurs making business presentations to a panel of investors and successful business owners with real funding on the line as Erie plans its next chapter.
Looking Back While Forging Ahead: Examining Erie's Economic Development
Wednesday, Oct. 28 // 7 p.m.
Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
Examine Erie's economic development through the lens of Stephen Leeper, the president and CEO of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) who spent two decades turning $2 billion into a thriving city, and Erie Insurance CEO Tim NeCastro, who has used Leeper's blueprint as a model for the Erie Downtown Development Corporation.
March, Run, Vote: Graphic Storytelling and the Fight for Democracy
Thursday, Oct. 29 // 7 p.m.
Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
Learn about the power of pen and paper in the fight for democracy and justice as Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell reflect on what makes comics especially significant in a digital age redefined by generative AI. Aydin is co-author of the March trilogy and its sequel Run alongside Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis, while Powell is the cartoonist who brought the stories to life.
The 1619 Project: Examining the Origins of American Slavery 400 Years Later
Wednesday, Nov. 4 // 7 p.m.
Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier
Join Pulitzer Prize, Peabody, and Emmy-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones as she discusses The 1619 Project, which began as a piece in the New York Times Magazine and has since become a bestselling book, which centers on the argument that slavery isn't a chapter of the American story but its foundation, and that the nation's institutions still bear its inequities.
From the Revolution to World Wars, the Battles That Defined America
Monday, Nov. 9 // 7 p.m.
Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
Growing up moving from place to place due to his father's service in the U.S. Army, Rick Atkinson had an early fascination with combat. That paired with a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism career produced narratives with some of the most granular detail ever written about the Revolutionary War and World War II. Join him as he discusses what happens when a nation must fight for survival and how that fight has shaped the U.S. for the past 250 years.
The Producers Behind Ken Burns' Award-Winning PBS Documentaries
Tuesday, Nov. 10 // 7 p.m.
Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
For decades, producer Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt have been behind the scenes of famous PBS documentarian Ken Burns' productions, shaping the body of work alongside Burns. They will expand on that work, discussing what it takes to turn archival footage and research into a medium that helps people understand history.
The Mingle Project: Restoring Civility in Our Society Through Gathering
Thursday, Nov. 12 // 7 p.m.
Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
In a time of political volatility and divisiveness, Michael Smerconish is taking his career of non-partisan politics to promote The Mingle Project, an initiative meant to bring people together again. Join him as he discusses the project further, drawing on his background in law and political commentary with research from his eight books.
A Post Election Conversation with Margaret Hoover
Tuesday, Nov. 17 // 7 p.m.
Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
The midterms this year are considered high-stakes and to be a barometer for the political temperature of the country. Political commentator, author, and television host Margaret Hoover will examine those election results, flexing her extensive background working in government then translating it in media to help the public better understand current events.
The Author of Autocracy, Inc. on How Dictators Are Working Together to Run the World
Thursday, Nov. 19 // 7 p.m.
Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, journalist, and bestselling author whose work explores authoritarianism, democracy, and global politics. Her up-close look at government corruption, campaign language, and ongoing crises internationally provides vital insights as she discusses how current dictators are forming alliances for further domination.
For more information on these events and to purchase tickets, visit jeserie.org/global-summit-XVIII.
Chloe Forbes is the assistant director of publications at the Jefferson Educational Society and is a local journalist. Reach her at chloeforbes14@gmail.com. Reach Ben Speggen at speggen@jeserie.org
