Events

Brexit happened: on June 23, 2016, the British people voted to leave the European Union.  Many Brits celebrated what they called their Independence Day — freedom from EU rules, fees, and, perhaps most controversially, immigration laws.  While others fear that Brexit will severely damage the British economy and their status as a world powerhouse. What does this mean for the UK, EU and… us? Why was the EU formed, and what’s it purpose? Why was the Brexit referendum was raised…

Based in Syria & Iraq, the group that calls itself the Islamic State has shocked the world with its violence, modern recruitment techniques, and growth across the Middle East. – Who is ISIS and where did it come from? – What are its goals? How does ISIS relate to Islam? – What is it like to live in the Middle East right now? – IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh, Islamic State… what do we call it? – How has the United States…

We’ve all heard of the United Nations: it’s an intergovernmental organization that works on issues like world peace, human rights, and food security… but how does it work? What, exactly, is the United Nations?  Is it a world government? What kind of power does it have? Why are some countries a part of the UN and some countries aren’t? Is it successful?  Is global diplomacy working? Get answers to all the questions you’ve had about the United Nations, and meet…

Digital currencies, blockchain, bitcoin… is this the future of money? Bitcoin has taken the world by storm.  It is the most successful digital currency, where all transactions happen online in a public ledger powered by its users, with no central authority.  This means it isn't regulated by any government, bank, or corporation.  Even though it's a digital currency, you can use it to buy real things, like gift cards at Amazon and products at Overstock.com... and you used to be able…

Join us for an update and discussion about the United States and its role in addressing climate change. In 2016, 125 countries ratified the Paris Agreement, an international commitment to take action on climate change. President Barack Obama was a huge proponent of the plan, but it's unclear what will happen under President Donald Trump: he has stated that he may pull out of the Agreement, and more recently told the New York Times that he's “looking at it very closely" and…

We know... healthcare reform is complicated. This is why we've brought together two American healthcare policy experts to help us understand it.  We'll unpack the major issues regarding health reform and insurance, and discuss existing and proposed approaches to creating affordable access to healthcare in the U.S. In this session, we'll: Break down the top health policy dilemmas and major health insurance reforms currently being debated in Congress Unpack the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) and the GOP’s “repeal and replace” proposals…

North Korea is a global anomaly -- it is the world’s only Communist dynasty; the world’s only industrialized economy to have suffered a famine during a time of peace; and the world’s largest military (in terms of manpower and defense spending proportional to population and national income).  The country has been making headlines for years for its bold displays of military strength, and recently launched missile tests in close proximity to U.S. allies, South Korea and Japan. Join us to…

Think about the last time you tried to talk with someone about politics or social issues who didn’t already agree with you. How well did it go? It’s getting harder and harder for us to have productive conversations about social issues that matter the most to us, which is widening the gap between Americans and ruining Thanksgiving dinners. (Unfortunately, Adele can’t fix everything). This will be a free, two-hour workshop. Registration is required. Hang out after the event for drinks, snacks,…

Everyone has experienced the strains of our current housing landscape in Boston. Talking about the cost of housing or observing how the neighborhood has changed is practically the Bostonian version of small talk about the weather. But how did we get here? And how can the city move forward to best serve current and future residents? With expert panelists Shelly Goehring, Program Manager for Community Assistance at Mass. Housing Partnership, and Stantec architect Aeron Hodges, we'll cover it all: -How…

Sex, consent, sexual assault and harassment. Not the easiest topics to discuss even in private conversation, let alone in broader public discourse. We wouldn't be Civic Series, though, if we didn't broach the topics that we're seeing debated - sometimes problematically - in the news, and perhaps also finding difficult to discuss in our own lives. So after a troubling end to 2017, we're kicking off 2018 by diving into the tough topic of sexual assault. We'll be joined by…

The tax bill was a big deal. But how much do you know about it? As an issue that effects our work, our nonprofits, and our paychecks, this is a terrific opportunity to get your questions answered. What will tax reform mean in the future, especially given long-term considerations like environmental and social impacts? How can we as informed and impact-oriented folks effectively engage with this topic? What shifts will there be for corporations, public services, and individuals? Add your own…

We have all seen autonomous vehicles in the news quite a bit lately. Do they make you nervous? Or are you counting the days until they are deployed? Either way, the effect they will have on our cities and streets will be huge. On one hand, autonomous vehicles may bring new opportunities as a more efficient form of transportation and less people traveling. On the other hand, if everyone has their own autonomous vehicle we may face even worse gridlock. …

American citizens are granted a number of rights in the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, including free speech and the ability to “petition the government for redress of grievances” -- this is lobbying. Advocating for a specific idea, topic, or cause--whether to a local or federal elected official--is something most of us will do at some point in our lives. And this relationship is two-way: elected officials rely on active, knowledgeable citizens to keep them abreast of specific issues. For better…

You are on your way to work when the train comes to a screeching halt. Or maybe your train has been replaced by shuttle service once again. Perhaps, the board says your train is one minute away and ten minutes later you're still standing on the platform. Public transportation can drive us crazy while also being a significantly better option than braving Boston traffic. We longingly admire European cities transit and wonder why can't Boston do the same?!  At our…

Advances in technology have revolutionized the way we shop. Instead of prowling the mall, hailing cabs, and perusing produce sections, from the comfort of our home we push a button and goods appear. Yet the changes in the retail landscape are far from linear. Just when we thought the future was online, Amazon launched brick-and-mortar stores. Data security issues at Facebook and elsewhere have us rethinking which desires we divulge online. And scandals at Uber remind us that disruptive digital…

The minimum for a job used to be a high school education. Today, the expectations of a job seeker likely start with a bachelors degree and might require additional advanced degrees and certifications. Additionally, the pressure, the prep, and the planning to even be admitted to college and university can be a job in of itself. Upon being accepted, it becomes a puzzle of financial analysis to understand how tuition, room and board, books, and living expenses will all be covered…

***THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO SNOW*** The field of genetics has advanced so rapidly that it’s no longer necessary to go to the doctor for a basic mapping of your DNA. With less than $100 and a simple swab you can be tested for specific diseases, learn your genetic makeup, and see your family tree. We’re all curious to understand where we came from and what we’re made up of! However, this easy access to information doesn’t mean…

The President of the United States declared himself a nationalist and joined an increasing number of far-right leaders in Russia, Germany, Brazil, and Turkey. For the last two decades, the focus of cooperation and globalization has helped grow economies and bring prosperity to most, but clearly not all. As countries start to build diplomatic barriers against each other, decades-old global relationships are dissolving and across the world power is shifting toward isolationism and new allegiances are being formed. Join us…

In 2016, Massachusetts voted to legalize recreational marijuana. We wanted laws that empower disenfranchised communities and grow a healthy stream of taxes. But not all of our dreams came true. Now that stores are opening, many of us are wondering about weed… What are cannabinoids and terpenes? Why are stores taking so long to open? Is it really legal? Why is my mom using it? How do I open a pot shop? What about driver safety? What about the environment?…

A quick glance at headlines is enough to tell us that America's relationship with guns is different from the rest of the world. Although gun laws and lobbyists are only pieces of a much larger puzzle, when assembled, it's clear we have a problem with reconciling the 2nd Amendment and gun violence. What are we overlooking? Let's take a closer look at gun culture from a sociological perspective to hopefully answer some of these questions: - Why do some Americans…