Illinois Humanities hosts roundtable at Gail Borden

A panel of local educators, community and faith leaders, parents and students will discuss the purpose and promise of public education Thursday in Elgin.

The nonprofit Illinois Humanities hosts the free roundtable discussion beginning 6:30 p.m. in the Meadows Common Room at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N Grove Ave.

Joining the conversation are: Julia McClendon, chief executive officer of YWCA of Elgin; Elgin Area School District U-46 CEO Tony Sanders; Karen Merchant, a Bartlett High School parent; Tish Calhamer, Gail Borden librarian; Madeline Villalobos, an alumna of the Parent Leadership Institute; Daylan Caldwell, a Bartlett High School student; Sharon Bush with the Grand Victoria Foundation; the Rev. Nathaniel Edmond, pastor of Second Baptist Church of Elgin; Tracy Occomy, senior organizer for Community Organizing and Family Issues; Bartlett High School Principal Mike Demovsky; and Elgin Community College President David Sam.

Panelists will use a short text by educational philosopher Robert Hutchins to launch a discussion about what actions families can take to help their schools. The discussion will be moderated by Joseph Coulson and Don Whitfield of The Great Books Foundation.

Illinois Humanities helps build dialogue among diverse groups of people in the areas of public policy, media and journalism, business and art through programming, events and grants.

Attendees will learn more about what is being done to improve K-12 public education and what they can do to make their voices heard. The event is open to the public, but RSVP is required at ilhumanities.org.