| Wed | ||
|---|---|---|
Start: 12:30 pm
End: 1:30 pm
 Like many other states, Illinois is facing a budget crisis. Governor Pat Quinn and the state legislature are dealing with a $7 to $9.2 billion deficit if no new revenues are forthcoming. Historically, there has always been a certain amount of wrangling over the state budget, but this time many are worried, about it happening in the very different context of a serious recession and economic downturn.
Since Illinois failed to pass a state budget before the new fiscal year began on July 1, 2009, many social services organizations that provide health care, domestic violence shelter, youth services, and other kinds of essential care were forced to close their doors. Alex Parker of the Chi-Town Daily News writes, "If state legislators and Gov. Pat Quinn are unable to resolve the budget impasse, the city would have to reduce the number of food inspections, offer fewer vaccinations for diseases like polio and measles, see fewer mental health patients, offer fewer mammograms, and reduce lead inspections and screenings." Start: 1:30 pm
Asian Human Services AmeriCorps volunteers will discuss 'II Samuel,' Hebrew Scripture
The Meaning of Service (MoS) is a reading and discussion program for Americorps volunteers featuring discussions that use short philosophical and literary texts on the nature of justice, service, and related themes. Meaning of Service presents participants with the opportunity to examine, refine, and regenerate the beliefs underlying their work. Start: 5:15 pm
Discussion of Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab, by Christine Montross
Literature & Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Healthcare is a discussion-based program that brings hospital staff together monthly to reflect on the larger mission of medicine through facilitated conversations about literature. Start: 6:00 pm
End: 8:00 pm
Four inter-related classes will focus on the urban culture of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933), a period in Germany of extraordinary political and economic turmoil as well as technological and cultural innovation. German artists and intellectuals working at this time confronted issues that are still important to our contemporary experience.
Some of the issues we will address in these seminars include the effects of technology and urban environments on individuals and society, the fragmentation and anonymity as well as the freedom and autonomy of life in a metropolis, the longing for nature and unity, the proliferation of forms of mass culture (film, newspaper, radio, illustrated magazine), the role of art in modern life and everyday life in art, the shifting status of "high" and "low" culture, as well as the idea of modern culture as alienating and "decadent." These are discussion classes and no papers will be assigned. Some readings, links to images, and films clips will be made available on the Illinois Humanities Council's website. Discussion Days and Topics: Start: 7:00 pm
End: 8:30 pm
In the U.S., we use an average of 400 liters of water a day per person. In India, the average is 4 liters. As we consider our carbon footprints, perhaps we should also consider our oil and water footprints. What do we know about how much of these resources we use? Who ultimately bears the cost of our consumption of these resources? Join us as we examine historical and ethical perspectives on our consumption of oil and water. Panelists:
Attendees will also have an opportunity to view the Field Museum's exhibit, Water, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. | ||
