The Jefferson Educational Society's Global Summit XVI
Erie's think tank provides plenty of opportunities to ponder
BEGINNING SUNDAY OCT. 20
A two-and-a-half-day affair with five events in 2009 has grown to 14 events spanning weeks. However, the Jefferson Educational Society's Global Summit's mission remains the same — capturing the power of knowledge. For Global Summit XVI, 22 invited guests will go beyond current events and address those issues most pressing to people in the area.
"In a U.S. presidential election year, of course, we're focused on U.S. politics and the future and fate of democracy. But we're also looking at other pressing issues of the day — from artificial intelligence to leadership, from the housing crisis to immigration, from the future of sports to the state of the economy," said Jefferson Educational Society (JES) Vice President Ben Speggen.
Still, as the program grows, Speggen said they've spaced out the events to create a more sustainable pace for those who would like to attend all the events. "As we've grown, we know 'right-sizing' matters, because we've heard attendees in the past say 'there is just so much to choose from!' Rather than forcing people to choose between events, the JES team has worked this year to create a pace that we believe is sustainable so that if someone wants to attend all 14 events and learn from all 22 invited guests, they can without becoming exhausted or overwhelmed."
The JES offers programming year-round, and Speggen said the Global Summit is a great way to get people who might be apprehensive in the door. "The JES team's focus this year, like in years past, was not just to have 'something for everyone' but to excite everyone about something — at least just once. We've found that when folks who've never attended JES programming come through the door for the first time to an event of specific interest to them, the nature of the experience — the shared learning experience being shoulder-to-shoulder with folks who may or not agree with them together at a platform for civil, civic dialogue — helps open the door to curiosity and pique an interest in attending more events," he said.
From looking at how President Abraham Lincoln would see immigration today to exploring counter-arguments about how population growth leads to an abundance of resources globally rather than a drain, JES hopes to intrigue and inspire members of its audience while keeping them up-to-date with the latest happenings.
"We strive to ensure a lineup of speakers that aren't just entertaining; they're informative. Whether it is their life's story or their bleeding-edge research or their expert analysis and commentary, these speakers are here to help advance conversations occurring with global-level significance and local-level implications. And that is something northwestern Pennsylvania residents can participate in in their own backyard," Speggen shares.
"A hallmark of our events is opening a dialogue between the people on stage and the audience in front of them," Speggen continued. "By being able to ask these folks questions, we're creating an information highway that isn't just a one-lane road. So, I hope folks will gain more insights and knowledge about the topics of interest to them, while also being active participants in these critical conversations shaping and informing the future of our region and beyond."
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 many more. Early bird ticket pricing starts at $25. Tickets for these events are on sale now at JESerie.org or by calling (814) 459-8000. As in previous years, all students will be admitted free with pre-registration through JES.
A Conversation with Liz Cheney and Sister Joan Chittister
Thursday, Oct. 17 // 7:30 p.m. // Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier
During the height of a politically fraught time, Liz Cheney comes to town to converse with Erie's own Sister Joan Chittister. Cheney chaired the House Republican Conference and was a U.S. representative until her opinions on the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol led to her party largely turning on her. She served as Wyoming's at-large congressional district representative from 2017-23. She now finds herself in the position to fight for democracy rather than for one party or another.
Chittister has written and spoken extensively about women in the church and society, along with human rights, peace, and justice. She has served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and for 12 years was a prioress of her community, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. She has authored over 60 books and hundreds of articles and has been featured on shows like Oprah's Super Soul Sunday.
Sunday, Oct. 20 // 7:30 p.m. // Cathedral Prep auditorium, 250 W. 10th St.
The JES welcomes back Jon Wertheim, accomplished journalist and CBS 60 Minutes correspondent who made his Global Summit debut in 2022, to moderate a conversation about the future of sports.
The talk will feature Stephen A. Smith and his best-selling memoir, Straight Shooter; A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes. Smith is a well-known sportscaster, journalist, actor, author, and podcaster who comments on everything from basketball to global affairs.
Monday, Oct. 21 // 7:30 p.m. // Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
Although a necessity, housing has become a source of anxiety for many as pricing continues to skyrocket. Founder of Strong Towns — a nonprofit that advocates for financially resilient cities — Charles "Chuck" Marohn covers the history of housing policy and how urban land use and civil engineering can create stronger communities. His main focus centers around the development of dense towns and the restructuring of suburban America in response to the ongoing housing crisis.
News platform Planetizen named Marohn one of the 15 Most Influential Urbanists of all time in 2017 and 2023.
Tuesday, Oct. 22 // 7:30 p.m. // Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
As artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT find their way into every part of life and business, Tristan Hoag unpacks what that means for the future. Hoag is the North American regional co-chair for BCG X, Boston Consulting Group's tech build and design unit.
Hoag leads global efforts in building AI and digital systems that transform clients' core businesses. He has led several initiatives to transform businesses' structures using information technology (IT) to cut down on costs and increase efficiency, including a global newspaper.
An Evening with Heather Cox Richardson and Tom Nichols
Tuesday, Oct. 29 // 7:30 pm. // Collegiate Academy auditorium, 2825 State St.
Back for more, author Tom Nichols is a returning speaker from the 2023 Global Summit. Nichols, a staff writer for The Atlantic and author of The Atlantic's daily newsletter, will converse with historian Heather Cox Richardson. Cox Richardson's narrated newsletter/podcast Letters from an American tackles the history behind today's politics and reaches millions of Substack subscribers.
Nichols is known for his commentary on the decline of modern society and threats to democracy, as highlighted in his new book The Death of Expertise. Cox Richardson's latest book, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America covers how unrealistic ideals could have led America to this point. In her book, Cox Richardson does more than detail history, though; she calls readers to action and reminds them to remain vigilant and continually participate in democracy.
Gannon READS — Try to Love the Questions: From Debate to Dialogue in Classrooms and Life
Wednesday, Oct. 30 // 7 p.m. // Warner Theatre, 811 State St.
Gannon READS (Reading to Enhance Awareness of a Diverse Society) is returning to the JES guest list as well this year, as its public reading series relates to global issues at the Summit.
In an era when civil discourse is inherently important, professor Lara Schwartz outlines a framework in her book Try to Love the Questions where educators and students can engage with discussions pertaining to civil discourse, effectively setting up college communities to navigate the intersection of free speech and inclusion.
Schwartz is a lawyer, past civil rights strategist, and a professor in the School of Public Affairs at American University, where she is also the founding director of the Project on Civil Dialogue.
Jefferson Educational Society Vice President Ben Speggen (right) is excited to bring a streamlined, staggered event schedule to the Global Summit this year – making attending 14 individual events possible for attendees. (Photo: JES)
The American Dream is Not Dead (But Populism Could Kill It)
Monday, Nov. 4 // 7:30 p.m. // Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
Dr. Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, will speak on his book The American Dream is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It), which examines long-term trends in economics that affect typical workers and households and challenges a pessimistic narrative presented by both parties.
Strain is an accomplished researcher and scholar in labor markets, public finance, social policy, and macroeconomics. His essays and op-eds have been published by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, and others. He is regularly interviewed by CNBC, MSNBC, and NPR, and has testified before Congress.
The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain
Wednesday, Nov. 6 // 7:30 pm. //Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
It's said that teamwork makes the dream work, and strong leadership stems from actions like generous communication, listening, inclusion, allies, development, moments, and vulnerability. Joe Davis, managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), will share insights from his book The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain, which enabled him to solve challenges through collaboration. The book focuses on Davis' testimony and experiences of CEOs from recognizable companies that reveal what mistakes and actions informed their success.
Davis was a regional chair for BCG and oversaw operations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He also co-founded the firm's Washington, D.C. office and was instrumental in advancing BCG's diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda.
Thursday, Nov. 7 // 7:30 p.m. // Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State. St.
Superabundance is a concept that examines why population growth and freedom to innovate is a valuable resource rather than a drain on traditional resources. Marian L. Tupy, founder and editor of HumanProgress.org, speaks about the concepts in the book he co-authored, drawing on statistics and his expertise in philosophy and history.
After analyzing the prices of hundreds of commodities, goods, and services spanning two centuries to quantify the human resource footprint, the authors found that the more people, the more innovation. The only thing more significant than growth is the ability to speak, publish, share, invest, profit, etc. — to be free.
Friday, Nov. 8 // 7:30 p.m. // Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
Frederick "Fred" Biletnikoff, former professional football player and coach, was born in Erie and is this year's recipient of the Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas Award. Learn about his time as one of the most sure-handed and consistent receivers of his day with a propensity for making spectacular catches. He was known for running smooth and precise pass routes and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. He played as a wideout for the Oakland Raiders and was later an assistant coach for the team.
Monday, Nov. 11 // 7:30 p.m. // Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
Speaking on a diverse workforce is a diverse panel, featuring industry leaders passionate about advocacy. The panel includes Edward L. Bolton Jr., last year's Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas award recipient, a retired U.S. Air Force Major General, and a senior advisor to the Aerospace Corporation CEO; Dr. Karen Bolton, a tenured professor (emeritus), elected school board director, and equity and inclusion advocate; Angelia G. Neal, an HR executive with over two decades of knowledge in leveraging positive impact; and Via Van Lieu, principal director and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at the Aerospace Corporation.
Lincoln and the Un-Civil War on Immigration
Tuesday, Nov. 12 // 7:30 p.m. // Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St.
As immigration issues land on the radar of many residents, it's a topic ripe for discussion at the Global Summit. Harold Holzer plans to tackle it from a historical perspective, drawing from his most recently published book Brought Forth on this Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration. Holzer is the Jonathan F. Fanton Director of The Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College in New York and author, co-author, or editor of 56 books on President Lincoln and the Civil War.
Post-Election Analysis: Washington Insiders Weigh in on 2024 Presidential Election
Thursday, Nov. 14 // 7:30 p.m. // Cathedral Prep auditorium, 250 W. 10th St.
As the clock ticks down to a presidential election of incredible historical significance, the Global Summit sticks to its core values of analyzing how today's global impacts have local implications. Join a handful of D.C. insiders after the election to unpack what it means for the country and beyond, including political commentator Chris Matthews who will join lobbyist and CNN political commentator David Urban, and CNN political commentator, ABC news political contributor, and former communication director on Capitol Hill, Tara Setmayer. Erie's own Steve Scully, long-time Global Summit chairman and host of SiriusXM's The Briefing will moderate the discussion.
We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For
Friday, Nov. 15 // 7:30 p.m. // Gannon University's Yehl Ballroom, 628 Peach St.
Eddie Glaude Jr. believes that ordinary Black Americans can shake off their reliance on a small group of professional politicians and pursue avenues like grassroots movements and self-cultivation to achieve a more just democracy. In his speech, Glaude — an author, political commentator, public intellectual, and educator — will draw on his latest book (We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For), released in April, that addresses the very notion that individuals don't have to look further than themselves. Glaude is a distinguished professor at Princeton University and was the inaugural chair of Princeton's Center for African American Studies and served over 14 years in that position.
For more information and for tickets to any of these events, visit: jeserie.org/global-summit-XVI
Ben Speggen can be reached at speggen@jeserie.org
Chloe Forbes can be reached at chloeforbes14@gmail.com.
