SILL continues its 52nd season in February with its hard-hitting Global Issues series featuring acclaimed experts exploring topical issues.
Speakers include Martin Walker, acclaimed journalist, former director of the Global Business Policy Council, and author of the “Bruno, Chief of Police” mystery series; Amb. Dennis Ross, William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Yasmin Sayed, the Community Engagement Manager for the Refugee Resettlement Program at Lutheran Services in Florida; and Dr. Aron Troen, the director of the Nutrition and Brain Health Laboratory at Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
(January 28, 2023) 2023 marks the 52nd season of Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning’s (SILL) “Global Issues” series. This hard-hitting series, which runs January 10-March 31, features 25 internationally renowned experts discussing a vast range of domestic and global issues. This month’s lectures feature front-page issues examined by leading speakers. Highlights include Martin Walker, acclaimed journalist, former director of the Global Business Policy Council, and author of the “Bruno, Chief of Police” mystery series, exploring the state of affairs in the EU, which faces the double challenge of a combined energy and economic crisis and a new Cold War. Yasmin Sayed, the Community Engagement Manager for the Refugee Resettlement Program at Lutheran Services in Florida, will present an overview of refugee resettlement efforts in SW Florida. Of particular interest are the human stories of the challenges and successes for families from over 10 countries. One of the refugees may accompany Sayed to share the story of their journey to the U.S. Dr. Aron Troen, the director of the Nutrition and Brain Health Laboratory at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, will discuss the latest advances in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; and Amb. Dennis Ross, William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, will discuss the changing Middle East.
The lectures are presented on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Sarasota; Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. at the Venice Community Center in Venice; and Thursdays at 5 p.m. at the Cornerstone Church in Lakewood Ranch. Lectures will also be available for purchase on video. The 2023 season also features the popular “Music Mondays” series, which presents performances and lively conversations with renowned and emerging performers, January 9-March 27, on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Palms in Sarasota; and Mondays at 3 p.m. at Venice Presbyterian Church in Venice. Season subscriptions for the Global Issues and Music Mondays series are available for purchase now for $85 for 12 sessions. A Flex Pass for 12 tickets to be used at any SILL event throughout the season is $115. Single-day tickets for all programs are available at the door and are $10. A new “Invite a Friend” initiative offers a free ticket to all series subscribers. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit SillSarasota.org or call 941-365-6404.
Bob Deutsch, SILL’s president, says that he’s looking forward to “experiencing a full return to normal in a post-pandemic world. We have another excellent season of entertaining conversations and performances with artists of both local and national prominence for our Music Mondays series and informative presentations on topics of great interest in our Global Issues Series.” Deutsch adds that, over the years, hundreds of SILL attendees have said that SILL’s $85 series subscriptions and the $10 single entry tickets are “among the best deals in town.”
Upcoming lectures include:
Wednesday, February 1: Advancing Clean Energy to Slow Climate Change with Susan Glickman. Glickman says energy prices are skyrocketing, the cost of solar is down, and the imperative to move to clean energy is clear. How do we all transition rapidly to avoid the worst implications? The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) gets us only part of the way there. What solutions will? At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, February 2: Macron’s Europe—or Putin’s? With Martin Walker.
After President Macron’s striking loss of his parliamentary majority in June, Martin Walker contends that the EU faces the double challenge of a combined energy and economic crisis with no obvious leader and a new Cold War. But the EU has no coherent nor agreed strategy to address Putin’s menace in the East. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m., and Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; 5 p.m.
Friday, February 3: Macron’s Europe—or Putin’s? With Martin Walker.
After President Macron’s striking loss of his parliamentary majority in June, Martin Walker contends that the EU faces the double challenge of a combined energy and economic crisis with no obvious leader and a new Cold War. But the EU has no coherent nor agreed strategy to address Putin’s menace in the East. At the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 10 a.m.
Tuesday, February 7: Post Brexit: What Now? With Margaret Jay. Following the implementation of Brexit, the UK economy has worsened. Industrial strikes, declining economic growth, and the retraction of several international accords have caused concern. The war in Ukraine and subsequent supply chain problems and energy price spikes have led to inflation at a multi-decade high. Baroness Margaret Jay will elaborate on some of the current problems and potential solutions. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.; and Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 8: The Refugees in SW Florida—The Human Story with Yasmin Sayed. Yasmin Sayed will present the broad overview of refugee resettlement at Lutheran Services Florida and its efforts in SW Florida. Of particular interest are the human stories of the challenges and successes for families from over 10 countries. One of their refugees may accompany her to the lecture to share the story of their journey to the U.S. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, February 9: Civil War by Other Means with Jeremi Suri. Worries about a new civil war in America are misplaced because the Civil War never fully ended. Dr. Jeremi Suri will discuss the two decades after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, when some Americans tried to build a multiracial nation, and others refused. It shows how those years are still relevant. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m. and Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; 5 p.m.
Friday, February 10: Civil War by Other Means with Jeremi Suri. Worries about a new civil war in America are misplaced because the Civil War never fully ended. Dr. Jeremi Suri will discuss the two decades after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, when some Americans tried to build a multiracial nation, and others refused. It shows how those years are still relevant. At the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 10 a.m.
Tuesday, February 14: How Are the Great Powers Responding to Africa’s Population Growth and Economic Emergence? With Jimmy Kolker. African economies are diversifying, populations and cities are booming and growing. Britain and France long held influence with elites, and during the Cold War, Russia and the United States competed. Now, China is the leading trade partner. Amb. Jimmy Kolker will discuss what that means for the U.S., other great powers and for Africa’s future. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.; and Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 15: Lessons Learned from Fighting AIDS and Ebola in Africa. Did We Apply Them to Covid? Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? With Jimmy Kolker. A 20-year effort, led by the U.S., brought AIDS under control in Africa. Ending the Ebola outbreak required an intense emergency response in three countries. But the response to Covid 19 was slow and poorly focused. Amb. Jimmy Kolker will explain what we have learned is that health security is national security for the United States. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, February 16: The Sneaky War: Russia, China, the U.S. and the Emerging Strategic Paradigm. With Sean McFate. Russia invades Ukraine. China covets Taiwan. Iran wants the Middle East. Everywhere, autocracies are bullying democracies. Wars are no longer won by the strong but by the sneaky, who employ an arsenal of dark arts. Dr. Sean McFate will explain what “sneaky war” entails, why it succeeds, and how the U.S. can use it to defend freedom globally. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m. and Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; 5 p.m.
Friday, February 17: The Sneaky War: Russia, China, the U.S. and the Emerging Strategic Paradigm. With Sean McFate. Russia invades Ukraine. China covets Taiwan. Iran wants the Middle East. Everywhere, autocracies are bullying democracies. Wars are no longer won by the strong but by the sneaky, who employ an arsenal of dark arts. Dr. Sean McFate will explain what “sneaky war” entails, why it succeeds, and how the U.S. can use it to defend freedom globally. At the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 10 a.m.
Tuesday, February 21: Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: When Will We Find a Cure? With Aron Troen. 120 years after Alois Alzheimer first described the eponymous brain disease, the culmination of three decades of research into the “Amyloid Hypothesis” with the first FDA approved immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease, is mired in controversy. Dr. Aron Troen will explain why this is and explore current barriers to finding a cure. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.; and Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 22: Can Dementia be Prevented? The Role of Diet and Lifestyle with Aron Troen. If we can’t yet cure dementia, can we at least prevent it? Public health guidelines advise diet and life-style approaches to lower one’s risk of developing dementia. Dr. Aron Troen will explain how the evidence for potential “risk reduction” is obtained and evaluated and what the current evidence says. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, February 23: Changing World: Changing Middle East with Dennis Ross. The Biden administration is facing simultaneous geopolitical crises. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens the stability of the post-Cold War World Order, Iran’s nuclear program continues to advance, and China’s increasing hostility and power requires strenuous US competition. Amb. Dennis Ross will discuss the implications for US policy and the Middle East. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m. and Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; 5 p.m.
Friday, February 24: Changing World: Changing Middle East with Dennis Ross. The Biden administration is facing simultaneous geopolitical crises. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens the stability of the post-Cold War World Order, Iran’s nuclear program continues to advance, and China’s increasing hostility and power requires strenuous US competition. Amb. Dennis Ross will discuss the implications for US policy and the Middle East. At the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 10 a.m.
Tuesday, February 28: Rivers of Iron: High-Speed Railroads and Chinese Power in Southeast Asia with David Lampton. At the turn of this Millennium, China had no high-speed railway industry or network at home. By 2020, China had developed an advanced domestic high-speed rail industry, laid 30,000 miles of track at home, and began to export systems abroad, targeting Southeast Asia. Is this “debt-trap diplomacy”? Dr. David Lampton will discuss: What are the implications of China’s infrastructure push abroad? At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.; and Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 2:30 p.m.
To learn more about the programs in more detail, visit www.sillsarasota.org or call 941-365-6404.
General Information
Lecture Locations and Times:
Sarasota
- Monday Music sessions are held at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota; sessions start at 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Global Issues lectures are held at
First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; lectures start at 10:30 a.m.
Venice
- Monday Music sessions are held at Venice Presbyterian Church, 825 The Rialto; sessions start at 3 p.m.
- Tuesday and Friday Global Issues lectures are held in the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; lectures start at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Fridays.
Lakewood Ranch
- Global Issues lectures are held at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; lectures start at 5 p.m.
Ticket and Subscription Information
- Series Tickets: The purchase of a $85 series ticket entitles the holder to attend all of the lectures in that series. It cannot be used for lectures in other series. To order tickets using your credit card, visit SillSarasota.org. All ticket sales are final.
- Flex Pass: A $115 flex pass provides for 12 individual entries to any SILL event during the season. Purchase at SillSarasota.org.
- Single Day Admissions: Daily tickets to all lectures are $10 at the door. Payment may be made by cash or check only.
- Video On Demand: For those unable or uncomfortable attending in person, the Music Mondays Sarasota series and two Sarasota Global Issues series will be available for purchase. Each series costs $120 and can be purchased at SillSarasota.org. For those interested in viewing videos of specific events, they can also be purchased on SILL’s website for $15 each.
- Lecture Audio Recordings: Flash drives and compact discs of all of the Sarasota lectures are available for $10 each. Guests can order past, present, and future lectures in the lobby at the end of each lecture. Also available are box sets of 12 lectures of your choice for $85.
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 SillSarasota.org.