Afternoon Academics   

Explore far reaching civic concerns vital in 2021. Examine issues that are both current and controversial in in the public sector, focusing on the democratic system of governance. Topics include healthcare reform, climate change, systemic racism and economic disparity, national accountability standards in policing, how the judicial system works, housing the unhoused, election rights, and more! Engage in facilitated dialogue with others.

The Adriatic Sea borders the Italian coast for over 800 miles and touches seven provinces of the country. It has 1300 islands, thousands of sandy beaches and its waters are warm all year. It stretches down the eastern side of the country, from Trieste and the Gulf of Venice in the north to the Capo d' Otranto in Puglia. Yet despite all of its potential appeal it is rarely visited by foreigners. The reason why it is not so well known; Italians like to keep it a closely-guarded secret! Join this adventure starting in Trieste, stop in Venice and the Po Delta. Explore the provinces of La Marche and Abruzzo and marvel at stunning cliffs and sandy beaches before sampling the fine food and wines in Molise and Pulgia. Leave the crowds in Florence, Rome and Naples and discover Italy's best kept secret.

We will explore the start, formation, and spread of the three world religions of Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism and contrast their history with that of non-universalistic religions. Special focus will be on the rise of Islam in the past few decades, the fracture within Christianity between national or ethnic-oriented denominations from the developing world and the more "social-oriented" non-ethnically constructed denominations in the post-industrial world, and the confrontation between Christianity and the return of partially reconstructed pre-Christian belief systems.