FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JES announces 35 upcoming events across 7 locations; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin set May 9
Erie, Pennsylvania (March 27) – A look at a contentious 19th century presidential election, child-care policies, and a firsthand account of a Secret Service agent who was present the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated are among first events the Jefferson Educational Society will host as the think tank kicks off its 2024 Spring Term programming season.
The JES’s Spring Term also includes a special event in partnership with the Erie County Bar Association: “A Discussion with Presidential Historian and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Doris Kearns Goodwin.” Goodwin, who appeared at the JES’s Global Summits in 2016, 2018, and 2021, will be in conversation with Erie native Steve Scully, the senior vice president of communications at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Scully is also host of “The Briefing” on SiriusXM, and chairman of the JES Global Summit.
The 2024 Annual Law Day Celebration is set for Thursday, May 9 at 11 a.m. at the Warner Theatre, 811 State St. Goodwin will discuss her latest book, “An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s.”
The Spring Term at the JES begins Wednesday, April 10, with historian George Deutsch exploring “America’s Most Contentious Presidential Election: 1876.” The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. The event also features a pre-event “term kick-off” reception at 6 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required and can be made at the JES’s website; by phone at 814.459.8000; or in person at the JES offices, 3207 State St.
In all, more than 35 programs are planned during the Spring Term, including 18 presentations and two courses at the JES, and 15 programs at JES Satellite locations:
- Corry Higher Education Council in Corry: 221 N. Center St., Corry, PA 16407
- Erie Center for Arts and Technology in East Erie: 650 East Ave., Suite 120, Erie, PA 16503
- Lincoln Community Library in Fairview: 1255 Manchester Road, Erie, PA 16505
- Harborcreek Township building in Harborcreek: 5601 Buffalo Road, Harbocreek, PA 16421
- PennWest College in Edinboro: 110 Kiltie Road, Edinboro, PA 16444.
The Spring Term also includes two virtual events and continues through May 24. All events are open to the public.
“We are excited to be welcoming seven visiting speakers while continuing to showcase local experts to offer a slate of events covering a wide range of issues,” said JES President Dr. Ferki Ferati. “Our team is looking forward to building on this year’s momentum begun during our Winter Term and is excited to continue strong partnerships and develop new ones, like the one with the Erie County Bar Association.”
In addition to the special event with Goodwin, other partnership events include:
- Monday, April 15 at 7 p.m.: “A Kennedy Secret Service Agent Breaks His Silence After 60 Years,” featuring retired Special Agent Paul Landis – event in partnership with the Hagen History Center.
- Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m.: “The Promise of America: An Immigrant Story,” featuring Akbar Hossain, Pennsylvania Secretary of Policy and Planning – event in partnership with the Erie County Community College.
- Friday, April 26 at noon: “Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Erie and Pennsylvania: Examining Local- and State-Level Responses,” featuring Pennsylvania Representative Jim Struzzi (PA 62nd District) and professional public library staff members – event in partnership with the Erie County Public Library.
- Monday, May 20 at 7 p.m.: “Navigating the Caregiving Role,” featuring Dr. Belinda Stillman, board certified psychiatrist, clinical assistant professor at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) – event in partnership with LECOM Health.
Spring Term events also include the continuation of the “Community Conversations” series. Held on Fridays at noon, beginning Friday, April 12 and running through Friday, May 24, they include:
- “Game Changers for Children in Erie: How a Court Case, Pennsylvania Budget Priorities, and Advocacy Move the Needle,” with Donna Cooper, executive director of Children First and Kate Philips, chief executive officer of Parker-Philips.
- “Raising the Next Generation: Examining the Findings of the 2023 JES Civic Leadership Academy Cohort on Child Care,” featuring members of the 2023 JCLA cohort.
- “Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Erie and Pennsylvania: Examining Local- and State-Level Responses,” featuring Pennsylvania Representative Jim Struzzi (PA 62nd District) and professional public library staff members.
- “Inspiring Horizon: Erie Arts & Culture’s Next Chapter Serving Northwestern Pennsylvania,” featuring Anne O’Dell, executive director of Erie Arts & Culture.
- “Erie Water Works Historic Lead Line Removal Efforts,” featuring Craig Palmer, executive director of Erie Water Works (this event is part of National Drinking Water Week programming)
- “What’s Really Happening at the Erie International Airport?” featuring Brian Slawin, vice president of the Erie Regional Airport Authority Board.
- “The Revitalization of the Burton Elementary School Site,” featuring Gary Horton, founder and chief executive officer of Urban Erie Community Development Corporation (UECDC).
These events are free and open to the public, but a brown-bag lunch can be purchased for $5 with advanced registration. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own lunches if they wish.
On Tuesday, May 7 at 7 p.m., the JES will host visiting speakers Laurie Zierer and Dawn Frisby Beyer, the executive director and senior director of content and engagement of PA Humanities, respectively, who will in joined by Erie’s Black Wall Street Chief Operating Officer Dr. Rhonda Matthews. They will discuss “Humanities in Action: Celebrating the Stories that Shape Pennsylvania’s Communities.”
Among the term’s highlights will be presentations by several JES scholars-in-residence, including Drs. Parris Baker and Michael DeSanctis. Area history professors, Drs. Amy Carney and Jeffrey Bloodworth, will examine and explore democracy and populism at the JES.
A full list of upcoming events, including JES Satellite Events, is featured below.
For more information about the programs, memberships, or to make reservations, call 814.459.8000 or visit www.JESErie.org.
Speakers and the JES staff are available before and after lectures, discussions, and conversations for interviews. Media coverage is welcome at all events.
For comments in advance, please contact:
Ben Speggen
Vice President
Jefferson Educational Society
814.459.8000
Speggen@JESerie.org
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The Jefferson Educational Society of Erie is a nonprofit and nonpartisan institution founded to promote civic enlightenment and community progress for the Erie region through study, research, and discussion. The Jefferson offers courses, seminars, and lectures that explain the central ideas that have formed the past, assist in exploring the present, and offer guidance to enhance the civic future of the Erie region. As an Erie think tank, the Jefferson Educational Society promotes knowledge and civic pride through research, the publication of policy papers on public issues, essays, reports, and the sponsorship of civic forums.
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The following is a brief listing of the Jefferson’s Spring Term events. All programs are at the Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St., unless otherwise indicated.
2024 SPRING SCHEDULE
Lectures, Community Conversations, Panel Discussions, and Performances:
Wednesday, April 10, Term Kick-Off Reception: 6 to 7 p.m. Event: 7 to 8:30 p.m.: America’s Most Contentious Presidential Election: 1876 George Deutsch, B.A., Executive Director, Emeritus, Hagen History Center
Friday, April 12, noon to 1:30 p.m.: Game Changers for Children in Erie: How a Court Case, Pennsylvania Budget Priorities, and Advocacy Move the Needle, Donna Cooper, executive director of Children First and Kate Philips, chief executive officer of Parker-Philips.
Monday, April 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m., A Kennedy Secret Service Agent Breaks His Silence After 60 Years, Paul Landis, Former Secret Service Agent, Author
Tuesday, April 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m., The Loss of Democracy Then and Now: Threats in Germany, 1932 and 2017, Amy Carney, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History at Penn State Behrend
Friday, April 19, noon to 1:30 p.m., Raising the Next Generation: Examining the Findings of the 2023 JES Civic Leadership Academy Cohort on Child Care,” featuring members of the 2023 JCLA cohort
Wednesday, April 24, 7 to 8:30 p.m., The Persistent Allure of Gothic Church Architecture: Art, Science, and Popular Piety, Michael DeSanctis, Ph.D., JES Scholar-in-Residence
Thursday, April 25, 7 to 8:30 p.m., The Promise of America: An Immigrant Story, Akbar Hossain, Pennsylvania Secretary of Policy and Planning
Friday, April 26, noon to 1:30 p.m., Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Erie and Pennsylvania: Examining Local- and State-Level Responses, featuring Pennsylvania Representative Jim Struzzi (PA 62nd District) and professional public library staff members
Wednesday, May 1, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Paddle Pilgrimage: Erie Canal and Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty, Rev. Dave Ellingson, D.H.M, Author, “The Paddle Pilgrim”
Thursday, May 2, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Exploring “The Divide”: A Personal Story About Politics Today, Jeffrey Bloodworth, Ph.D., Professor of History, Gannon University
Friday, May 3, noon to 1:30 p.m., Inspiring Horizon: Erie Arts & Culture’s Next Chapter Serving Northwestern Pennsylvania, Anne O’Dell, executive director of Erie Arts & Culture
Tuesday, May 7, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Humanities in Action: Celebrating the Stories that Shape Pennsylvania’s Communities, Dawn Frisby Beyer, B.A.*Senior Director of Content and Engagement, & Laurie Zierer, M.A., Executive Director, PA Humanities; with Rhonda Matthews, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Erie’s Black Wall Street
Thursday, May 9, 11 a.m., Annual Law Day Celebration: A Discussion with Presidential Historian and Pulitzer-Prize-Winning Author Doris Kearns Goodwin, Moderated by Erie Native Steve Scully, held at the Warner Theatre
Friday, May 10, noon to 1:30 p.m., Erie Water Works Historic Lead Line Removal Efforts,” Craig Palmer, executive director of Erie Water Works (this event is part of National Drinking Water Week programming)
Tuesday, May 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Black Liberation Theology and Catholic Social Teaching: A Bridge to Racial Rapprochement or Means to Truth? Parris Baker, Ph.D. JES Scholar-in-Residence
Wednesday, May 15, 11 a.m. to noon, How Democracy Defenders Win Elections: A Transatlantic Discussion, Representatives from the Transforming Industrial Heartlands Initiative
Friday, May 17, noon to 1:30 p.m., What’s Really Happening at the Erie International Airport?” Brian Slawin, vice president of the Erie Regional Airport Authority Board
Monday, May 20, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Navigating the Caregiving Role, Belinda Stillman, D.O. Board Certified Psychiatrist
Wednesday, May 22, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Celebrating and Reflecting on a Life Well Served and How the Work Continues: The Rev. Charles Brock, Andrew Roth, Ph.D., JES Scholar-in-Residence, Interim Director, Brock Institute for Mega Issues Education.
Friday, May 24, noon to 1:30 p.m., The Revitalization of the Burton Elementary School Site, Gary Horton, founder and chief executive officer of Urban Erie Community Development Corporation (UECDC)
Courses at the Jefferson:
Weekly – Tuesdays, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. - Great Conversations Continued with Christine Riehl, M.P.P., former Foreign Service Officer, Discussion Group Sessions continuing March 19 through May 7
Monthly – Third Thursday, from noon to 1:30 p.m. - Great Decisions 2024 with Christine Riehl, M.P.P., former Foreign Service Officer and Diane Chido, M.S., M.A., Political Science Professor. Discussion Group Sessions continuing Feb. 15 through Sept.19.
Jefferson Satellite Programming:
Corry - Corry Higher Education Council
April 2, 6 p.m., Political Participation in Corry: Why You Should Get Involved and How to Start, Doris Gernovich, Ph.D., Community Leader Corry Area School Director
April 9, 6 p.m., Uncovering Rural Poverty: Data, Statistics, and Analysis, Ken Louie, Ph.D., Director, Economic Research Institute of Erie
May 21, 6 p.m., Addressing Mental Healthcare in Rural Communities, Brenton J. Song, D.O. General & Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist, LECOM
East Erie - Erie Center for Arts & Technology (ECAT)
March 28, 6 p.m., “Whose Vote Counts”: A Discussion on Addressing Claims of Voter Disenfranchisement & Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election, Zakaria Sharif, B.S. Community Leader Erie School Board Director Gary Horton, B.A., community leader and President, NAACP of Erie
April 11, 7 p.m., Tackling Erie’s Childcare Crisis - Early Childcare Investment Policy Initiative, Elana Como, Court Gould, Michelle Harkins, Rina Irwin, Tiffany Lavette, ECIPI Policy Experts
May 16, 7 p.m., Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration, Erie Asian Pacific American Association
May 23, 7 p.m., Cultural Crossroads: Navigating Child Refugee Mental Health, David Figueroa, D.O., Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist, LECOM
Edinboro – PennWest (Edinboro)
April 3, 6 p.m., Women’s Reproductive Rights at the Ballot Box, James Fisher, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, PennWest Edinboro
April 17, 6 p.m., There's a Co-op for That! - Exploring the Cooperative Business Model and Its Applications in NWPA, Autumn Vogel, B.A. Cooperative Developer, KDC Meadville City Council Member
Fairview – Lincoln Community Library
April 1, 6 p.m., Life Without Voice: The Role of Voting in America’s Democracy, Parris Baker, Ph.D., JES Scholar-in-Residence
April 29, 6 p.m., Our Native North American Neighbors: Echoes of the Eriez, David Frew, Ph.D., JES Scholar-in-Residence
May 6, 6 p.m., Autism 101: What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? Tish Bartlett, Executive Director, Autism Society of NWPA
May 13, 6 p.m., American Holidays Series: Anna Jarvis, Mother’s Day, & Flowers, Flowers, Flowers, Andrew Roth, Ph.D., JES Scholar-in-Residence
Harborcreek – Harborcreek Township Building:
March 27, 6 p.m., Gerrymandering: How It’s Done, Why It’s Done, Where It’s Done, Robert Speel, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, Penn State Behrend
May 8, 6 p.m., What is Self-Harm? – How to Recognize It, and How and When to Get Help, Mark Strazisar, D.O. Instructor of Psychiatry, LECOM Psychiatrist, Millcreek Community Hospital
