Fall 2026 Series

Please join the University YMCA and Center for Civic Education & Justice for our Friday Forum + Conversation Café series. We will hear from community leaders tackling our most pressing public concerns through an unwavering pursuit of social justice.

All presentations are open to the public and free on Fridays at 12 PM in Latzer Hall at the University YMCA.

Additional Information

Friday Forum is a weekly lecture series held during the fall and spring semesters that strives to raise awareness about national and international trends and events. It has been continuously running for 99 years at the University YMCA, adapting to the times while remaining committed to providing talks that address topics of relevance and urgency in our society.

The views expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the views of the University YMCA, co-sponsors, or the Friday Forum committee. A sign language interpreter is available with a 72 hours notice (contact us at 217-337-1500).

All forums are radio broadcast at 6:00 p.m. on WEFT 90.1 the Wednesday following the lecture. Urbana Public Television also provides recordings of many past Friday Forum lectures on their YouTube channel.

View our videos of the lectures on YouTube and photographs on Flickr.

Thank You!

Friday Forum could not happen without the generous support of local individuals, organizations, and departments. We would like to thank all the members of our Friday Forum committee, and the following sponsors for helping to bring us this fall’s series!

Our Fall 2026 Sponsors

• Center for Advanced Study
• Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity
• Channing Murray Foundation
• College of ACES
• First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana
• First Presbyterian Church, Champaign
• Humanities Research Institute
• Office of the Provost

‍Our Spring 2026 Sponsors

• Center for Advanced Study
• Center for Global Studies and the US Department of Education Title VI Grant
• Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
• Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity
• College of ACES
• Counseling Center
• Department of African American Studies
• Department of Urban & Regional Planning
• First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana
• First Presbyterian Church, Champaign
• Humanities Research Institute
• Illini Union Bookstore
• International Education
• League of Women Voters of Champaign County
• Office of the Provost
• Prairie Research Institute
• Social Action Council of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Urbana Champaign
• Student Affairs
• Urbana-Champaign Friends Meeting
• Wesley United Methodist Church and Foundation
• Women's Resources Center

Check out these resources to continue exploring and engaging!

Listen to audio recordings of each talk.

This series is supported in part through our McMahon Democracy Innovation Fund.

Funding

The University YMCA relies on contributions to cover costs associated with this program. Your tax-deductible donation to programs like Friday Forum benefits students and the wider community. You can donate online, in person, or by mail. Checks can be made out to “University YMCA” and sent to 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820.