• Alumni Discussion | The Battle Between Democracy and Autocracy

    Online

    "The battle between democracy and autocracy is waged not just in the polling stations or parliaments, but in the minds and hearts of the citizenry, a constant struggle between hope and fear." From The Persuaders. The division between democracy and autocracy is at the forefront of both our national and global politics. And now it is […]

  • Alumni Discussion | Aging and “Blue Zone” Principles

    Online

    There’s little doubt that all of us want quality of life as we age.   But each of us likely has a different interpretation of what that might look like.   And certainly, each of us has a different opinion about the trade-offs we are willing to make to achieve that goal.  The Netflix series “Blue Zones” […]

  • Alumni Discussion | The Israel-Hamas Conflict

    Online

    Join us for a discussion on the Israel-Hamas conflict. We will explore the historical factors surrounding the October 7th attack and its origins. Our discussion will delve into causes of the conflict, global reactions and potential paths forward. This event is designed to foster mutual understanding and civil dialogue of these emotionally charged issues. We […]

  • Field Trip to The Edward Kennedy Institute Hosted by The ADG

    Edward M. Kennedy Institute 210 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA

    Embark on a journey through American history and democracy at Boston’s Edward M. Kennedy Institute next door to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. This field trip isn’t just a walk through the past; it’s a hands-on experience where you’ll engage with the nation’s legislative process, listen to a debate on critical issues, and step into the shoes […]

  • Alumni Discussion | Insights on the Personal Use of AI

    Online

    In this session we will describe key recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) developments and show examples of several currently available versions.  As you may know, AI applications have rapidly improved and are working for a huge number of people; OpenAI alone powers more than 250 million active users every day. You will get more from this […]

  • Alumni Discussion: Navigating Life’s Shifting Priorities with Purpose

    Online

    As we journey through life, our priorities inevitably shift. What once seemed essential may lose its significance, while new pursuits and values emerge. Whether through unexpected challenges or intentional reinvention, the focus of our life evolves. Life happens: careers change, friendships fade, relationships shift, and we often find ourselves seeking deeper meaning or understanding in […]

  • Alumni Discussion | How is the New Trump Admin Doing?

    Online

    What do you think of the new Administration in its first few weeks – great, good, better than I expected, not so good, or worse? What has Trump accomplished in the first 20 days? What does that portend for his first full 100 days? What can we look to in his four years? After the […]

  • Alumni Discussion: Should Universities Contest as Government Comes Calling?

    Online

    Columbia University is threatened by the new administration with a loss of $400 million in federal grants.  It agrees to make several major changes to its operations, just in order to begin discussions about regaining these funds. The University of Pennsylvania is threatened with the loss of $175 million because of its policies regarding transgender […]

  • Alumni Discussion: Trump Redux: Change – Beneficial or Calamitous?

    Online

    The ensuing months of the new Trump administration, since we last looked post Inauguration, have brought a torrent of change. Whether the structure of government; domestic affairs, the economy, immigration, and so much more; or as America First on the world stage – change has been and is, ongoing, dramatic. In eight months Trump has […]

  • Alumni Discussion: Threats to democracy? Dem options? … or, MAGA options?

    Online

    Democrats see a looming threat to our democracy, that the current path of the Trump administration will topple us into autocracy. They cite moves to suppress speech on a number of fronts – universities, law firms, national media networks, among others. Then, with dissent muzzled, our justice system is suborned – not to dispense judgment […]

  • Alumni Discussion: Streaming Has Revolutionized TV. What Comes Next?

    Online

    Netflix. YouTube. Disney+. Hulu. And countless others. Services that 20 years ago were either little known or didn’t even exist, have now become global entertainment superpowers. Streaming has revolutionized the TV viewing experience for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Not long ago streaming meant tiny, short, grainy videos shared via email. Today […]

  • Alumni Discussion: Looking Forward: Intentional Aging

    Online

    Most of us have spent our lives designing careers, families, and financial security with intention. Yet many of us enter our later decades without the same level of conscious design — drifting into patterns shaped more by habit than by choice. In this session, we will explore what intentional aging looks like in practice: living with anticipation, intention, […]