Through our brilliant events and festivals, you’ll experience the vibrance of the Champaign-Urbana area! Discover something new every day!
Note: Fundraisers, sales, and meetings related to membership-based groups are not included on the calendar.
Friday Forum and Conversation Cafe
University YMCA
Category
Hours
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Please join the University YMCA and Diversity & Social Justice Education
for our Winter 2026 Friday Forum + Conversation Café series.
We will hear from community leaders tackling our most pressing public
concerns through an unwavering pursuit of social justice.
All presentations are free and open to the public.
Lunch provided by the Y Eatery.
Feb. 6: Justice Lives in Community with DeShawn Williams, City of Urbana Mayor
Feb. 13: Liberating Abortion: A Conversation with Renee Bracey Sherman, Reproductive Justice Organizer, Author, and Advocate
Feb. 20: Advancing Community and Legacy with the Divine 9, moderated by Kellie Blanden, Diversity and Social Justice Educator
Feb. 27: Faith Over Fear: Interfaith Organizing for Democracy in Chicago
Mar. 6: Collective Flourishing: Women, Community, and Shared Success, moderated by Rebecca Hodson, International Education
Mar. 27: Labor Unions and Immigration
Apr. 3: People v. Power: Litigation as a Strategy for Social and Economic Justice with Nick Sansone
Apr. 10: Indian Boundary Prairies with Debra Williams, The Nature Conservancy
Apr. 17: Where History Lives: Creating Spaces for Learning, Reflection, and Pride with Natalie Beck and Antonio Burton
All forums are radio broadcast at 6:00 p.m. on WEFT 90.1 the Wednesday following the lecture.
Urbana Public Television also provides recordings of many past Friday Forum lectures on their YouTube channel.
View our videos of the lectures on YouTube and photographs on Flickr.