Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning launched its 47th season in January with its hard-hitting Global Issues series in Sarasota, Venice and Lakewood Ranch. Internationally acclaimed experts explore the challenges and dilemmas we face at home and around the world in this engaging series of lectures and lively conversations.
(Sarasota, Florida) Internationally renowned experts discuss a vast range of domestic and global issues as part of Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning’s (SILL) 2018 “Global Issues” series. The new season features 72 programs in Sarasota, Venice and Lakewood Ranch, and runs from January through March. Speakers will explore dozens of topics, including the opioid crisis, artificial intelligence, America’s volatile politics, and topical issues in China, Korea, Russia and the Middle East.
Upcoming lectures include (See more in attached release):
Tuesday, March 6: “Green Card Stories” with Stephen Yale-Loehr. Immigration expert Prof. Stephen Yale-Loehr will put a human face on immigration, moving the debate beyond divisive politics and into the landscape of everyday America. He will look at individual cases to illustrate how immigrants are contributing to our nation today. Prof. Steve Yale-Loehr has practiced immigration law for over 30 years. He teaches at Cornell Law School as professor of immigration practice. He is also a non-resident Fellow at the Migration Policy Institute and chairs the asylum committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., in Sarasota; and 2:30 p.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Wednesday, March 7: “Our Broken Immigration System and How to Fix It” with Stephen Yale-Loehr. Immigration is at the forefront of U.S. politics. President Trump has called for building walls and imposing bans on Muslim immigrants. Does immigration help or hurt America? Immigration expert Prof. Stephen Yale-Loehr will explain why our current immigration system doesn’t work and what you can do to help fix it. Prof. Steve Yale-Loehr has practiced immigration law for over 30 years. He teaches at Cornell Law School as professor of immigration practice. He is also a non-resident Fellow at the Migration Policy Institute and chairs the asylum committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., in Sarasota.
Thursday, March 8: “Climate Change and Stability in the Mid-East and N. Africa: Getting Hotter?” With Robert Ford. The Middle East and North Africa face projections of temperature rise, diminished rainfall and sea level rise which could trigger domestic instability and wars between states over diminishing water resources. Amb. Robert Ford will discuss how countries in the region are likely to react to climate change pressures and how they might reduce them. Amb. Ford completed a 30-year career with the Peace Corps and the U.S. Department of State in 2014 and now teaches at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Studies. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Syria (2011-2014). In 2014, he received the Distinguished Service award, the State Department’s highest award. He received the Profile in Courage award in 2012 from the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston for his human rights work and a Presidential Honor award in 2012 for his stewardship of the American Embassy in Damascus during a crisis period. Amb. Ford was the U.S. Ambassador to Algeria (2006-2008) and served five years in Iraq, helping the Iraqis establish their permanent government through three rounds of elections. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., in Sarasota; and 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch.
Friday, March 9: “Climate Change and Stability in the Mid-East and N. Africa: Getting Hotter?” With Robert Ford. The Middle East and North Africa face projections of temperature rise, diminished rainfall and sea level rise which could trigger domestic instability and wars between states over diminishing water resources Amb. Ford completed a 30-year career with the Peace Corps and the U.S. Department of State in 2014 and now teaches at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Studies. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Syria (2011-2014). In 2014, he received the Distinguished Service award, the State Department’s highest award. He received the Profile in Courage award in 2012 from the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston for his human rights work and a Presidential Honor award in 2012 for his stewardship of the American Embassy in Damascus during a crisis period. Amb. Ford was the U.S. Ambassador to Algeria (2006-2008) and served five years in Iraq, helping the Iraqis establish their permanent government through three rounds of elections. 10 a.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Tuesday, March 13: “How We Win” with Farah Pandith. Farah Pandith will describe the challenging environment that has allowed extremist ideologies to propagate and garner adherents. Based on her experience in government and the private sector, she will describe how entrepreneurs, political visionaries, enlightened business leaders, and social media mavens can defeat this extremist threat. Farah Pandith is a diplomatic entrepreneur, foreign policy strategist and author. She is a world-leading expert and pioneer on how to halt extremist recruitment of Muslim youth. Appointed the first-ever special representative to Muslim communities in 2009, she served under both Secretary Clinton and Secretary John Kerry. In this role, she was responsible for engagement with Muslims around the world. She served as a political appointee in the George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack H. Obama administrations at the National Security Council, U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of State. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., in Sarasota; and 2:30 p.m. at the Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice.
Wednesday, March 14: “Countering Violent Extremism During the Trump Administration” with Farah Pandith. Farah Pandith has spent over a decade developing strategies to prevent and defend against the spread of extremist ideology. Ms. Pandith will analyze the programs under the Trump administration for countering violent extremist actions. Farah Pandith is a diplomatic entrepreneur, foreign policy strategist and author. She is a world-leading expert and pioneer on how to halt extremist recruitment of Muslim youth. Appointed the first-ever special representative to Muslim communities in 2009, she served under both Secretary Clinton and Secretary John Kerry. In this role, she was responsible for engagement with Muslims around the world. She served as a political appointee in the George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack H. Obama administrations at the National Security Council, U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of State. 10:30 a.m. at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., in Sarasota.
SILL’s Global Issues lectures are 40 to 50 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of audience questions. The lectures are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., at First Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave., in Sarasota; Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m., at the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., in Venice; and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way in Lakewood Ranch. Doors open 40 minutes prior to the start of the lecture. Season subscriptions are $85 for a 12-lecture series. If seating is available, single lecture tickets are $10. To purchase subscriptions, or learn about the program in more detail visit www.sillsarasota.org. For more information, call 941-365-6404.
About the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning
The Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning (SILL) is a non-profit organization that offers an expert lecture series to provide information on and discussion of the arts and contemporary global issues. SILL is guided by an all-volunteer board committed to modest pricing and enhanced outreach. Visit www.sillsarasota.org.