ULCC Podcasts
On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, the ULCC Public Affairs’ Subcommittee on Race Relations presented a forum with a distinguished panel discussing the unique challenges faced by women and minority entrepreneurs. Our panelists: Robert Blackwell (EKI-Digital); Shirley Evans-Wofford (Lambent Risk Management); Jason Johnson (Chicago Urban League); and Charles Myart (Illinois Finance Authority). Our conversation was moderated by Andrea Zopp, President and CEO of World Business Chicago.”
Violence in Chicago: How Many More Must Die? (February 20, 2019)
On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, Lunch@65West welcomed to the clubhouse Dr. Jens Ludwig, Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, and Rafael Mangual, Fellow and Deputy Director of Legal Policy at the Manhattan Institute for a frank discussion of crime and gun violence in Chicago. Jens Ludwig’s work at the crossroads of economics, crime, and social policy includes initiatives at Georgetown University, The Brookings Institute, Johns Hopkins, the MacArthur Foundation, and the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. Rafael Mangual is the author of Manhattan Institute reports and innumerable op-eds on urban crime, prison violence, and criminal and civil justice reform. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Boston Herald, and Philadelphia Inquirer.
Presentation on Possible Correlations Between Police “Stop and Frisk” Practices and Gun Violence
On April 5, 2018, the ULCC Public Affairs Subcommittee on Administration of Justice co-hosted with the Illinois Academy of Criminology a presentation by Professors Paul Cassell and Richard Fowles of the Univ. of Utah Law School and Economics Department (respectively). They reviewed their research that posits a correlation between the August 2015 agreement between the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Chicago Police Department (CPD) – requiring officers to report details of any investigative stop and/or patdown of individuals – and the subsequent spike in gun violence that arose in Chicago following implementation of this agreement in 2016. You may view this presentation at https://youtu.be/939zuZl3GDs.
Because the research presented by Professors Cassell and Fowles concerns police practices addressed in the draft Consent Decree recently developed to reform CPD procedures, we also commend to your attention details about the proposed Decree provided by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General: http://chicagopoliceconsentdecree.org/faq. Please note that the federal judge overseeing the case has announced that the court will accept written comments on the draft consent decree until 4:30 p.m. on October 12, 2018 and will hold public hearings on October 24 and 25, 2018.
Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program Debate (August 14, 2018)
In partnership with the Liberty Justice Center, on Tuesday, August 14 the ULCC’s Public Affairs Committee and its Breakfast@65West program series presented a forum addressing the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Enacted In 2017, this program offers a 75% income tax credit for contributions to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). The SGOs then provide scholarships for students whose families meet income requirements to attend qualified, non-public schools in Illinois.
We invited a distinguished panel to debate the merits of this program:
• State Representative Thomas Morrison (R-54th District)
• Kristen McQueary, Chicago Tribune Editorial Board
• State Representative Robert Martwick (D-19th District)
• State Representative David Harris (R-53rd District)
Justice Salim Joubran (March 15, 2018)
On Thursday, March 15, 2018, Lunch@65West (in partnership with the Decalogue Society) welcomed to a special luncheon Justice Salim Joubran, who retired this past summer after many years of service as Israel's first Arab Supreme Court justice. Justice Joubran shared with our audience his perspectives on his remarkable tenure on Israel's Supreme Court and reflections on the state of jurisprudence in Israel and throughout the region.
Illinois Attorney General Forum (March 7, 2018)
On Wednesday, March 7, ULCC Public Affairs, in partnership with the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, presented a forum featuring candidates seeking to serve as Illinois' next Attorney General. Moderated by NBC 5’s Carol Marin, the forum included all ten candidates seeking this office: Hon. Scott Drury (D), Sharon Fairley (D), Aaron Goldstein (D), Renato Mariotti (D), Hon. Kwame Raoul (D), Hon. Nancy Rotering (D), Jesse Ruiz (D), Hon. Pat Quinn (D), Hon. Gary Grasso (R), and Erika Harold (R).
Journalism & Political Coverage in the Modern Era (November 15, 2017)
In November 2017, ULCC Public Affairs presented a forum on the challenges facing news media in the digital age and modern political environment, including evolving standards of political discourse and the proliferation of digital platforms such as Facebook and Twitter that have altered the ways in which citizens obtain information, how journalists do their jobs, and how candidates and elected officials communicate with voters. To address these issues, ULCC Executive Director of Public Affairs David Kohn moderated a conversation with two thoughtful leaders representing different parts of the media landscape: Steve Edwards, Vice-President and Chief Content Officer of WBEZ Chicago and former Chicago Tribune Editor Gerould Kern.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration (January 12, 2018)
Members and their guests attended the Union League Club of Chicago’s Annual luncheon commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day featuring keynote speaker The Rev. Dr. Michael Louis Pfleger, Senior Pastor of Saint Sabina Church.
Forum with Timuel Black (May 10, 2017) Part I
Forum with Timuel Black (May 10, 2017) Part II
On Wednesday, May 10, the ULCC Public Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Race Relations and Evenings@65West presented a conversation with civil rights leader and educator Timuel Black. Mr. Black shared his recollections of the civil rights movement and his thoughts on the state of race relations in America today in conversation with moderator Hermene Hartman, founder and publisher of N'DIGO magazine.
Investing in Chicago: Can a Job Stop a Bullet? (October 19, 2016) – Part I
Luncheon with Medal of Honor Recipient, U.S. Army Captain (ret.) Florent Groberg (December 4, 2015)
In December 2015, the ULCC proudly hosted a special luncheon with retired U.S. Army Capt. Florent “Flo” Groberg, who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on August 8, 2012 in Asadabad, Afghanistan. Capt. Groberg was interviewed by ULCC member (and President of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library) Ken Clarke.
Evenings@65West – America’s Heroin Epidemic: From the City to the Suburbs (March 30, 2016)
In March 2016, Evenings@65West presented a forum on “America’s Heroin Epidemic: From the City to the Suburbs” featuring internationally-renowned addiction specialist Mark Gold, M.D.
Forum with Dr. Janice Jackson, Chief Education Officer, Chicago Public Schools (October 3, 2016)
In October, 2016, the PAC’s Education Subcommittee presented an evening program with Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chief Education Officer for Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Dr. Jackson reviewed past CPS achievements and highlighted CPS’ vision for academic progress in 2016 – 2019.
Breakfast@65West: Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson (November 29, 2016)
This November, 2016 Breakfast@65West forum featured remarks by Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who joined us to present and discuss the Chicago Police Department’s newly-proposed revisions to its “Use of Force” policy.
Breakfast@65West: College of DuPage President Ann Rondeau (November 15, 2016)
In November 2016, Breakfast@65West welcomed to the Clubhouse new College of DuPage President Ann Rondeau (a retired Navy Vice Admiral whose resume includes service as Commander of Naval Training Center Great Lakes), who shared her vision for COD’s path to renewal following a series of crises that arose under the college’s prior administration.
Breakfast@65West: The Second Amendment in the 21st Century (June 10, 2014)
In June 2014, the ULCC’s Breakfast@65West series presented a forum examining the Second Amendment with attorney David Sigale (who represented the Second Amendment Foundation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in the landmark case, Moore v. Madigan that overturned Illinois’ ban on the carrying of concealed firearms) and Michael Waldman, President of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and author of “The Second Amendment: A Biography.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Day Luncheon (January 13, 2017)
The ULCC’s 2017 Martin Luther King Day luncheon featured a keynote address by Shari Runner, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League.
Dr. Martin Luther King Day Luncheon (January 19, 2015)
In January 2015, the Union League Club of Chicago commemorated Dr. Martin Luther King Day with a luncheon featuring an address by the Honorable Toni Preckwinkle, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners.
