Programs of The Kennedy Forum Illinois: Recent Episodes
The Kennedy Forum Illinois
The programs of The Kennedy Forum highlight the challenges and triumphs of people from all walks of life. Research shows the most effective way to eliminate stigma is through a face-to-face interaction with someone with lived experience. This format provides those stories.
Founded by Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI), The Kennedy Forum's mission is to eliminate the stigma and discrimination against those living with mental health and substance use disorders.
www.thekennedyforum.org
The education system has served millions of students in this country across generations, but never before has there been more uncertainty. The world continues to grapple with COVID-19 and the ensuing fallout, and disparities in education were exacerbated during the pandemic. This life-changing event has forever altered the way that we understand education, and it is our responsibility to recognize and support the mental health and wellbeing of students, faculty, staff, educational institutions, and the communities they serve. We must rise to the challenge as students go back to school.
Welcome - Patrick J. Kennedy, Former Congressman (D-RI); Founder, The Kennedy Forum
Panel Discussion Featuring:
- Susie An (Moderator), Education Reporter, WBEZ Chicago
- Dr. Janice Beal, Owner, Beal Consulting Services; Advisor, The Steve Fund
- Amy Kennedy, Education Director, The Kennedy Forum
- Juan Salgado, Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago
- Dr. Jose Torres, Interim CEO, Chicago Public School
Closing - Dr. Teresa Garate, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Engagement, Gateway Foundation; Board Member, The Kennedy Forum Illinois
The Kennedy Forum's January 2018 Annual Meeting - “Bending Towards Justice: A Summit for Mental Health Equity” - was attended by over 800 individuals and generated 1.7 billion media impressions across the globe. This was driven, among other things, by the extensive media coverage of Michael Phelps and David Axelrod discussing Phelps’ mental health challenges and suicidal ideation during and after his swimming career.
Phelps and Axelrod continue to be advocates and champions for the importance of mental health. Phelps has been outspoken and publicly supportive of Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and many others publicly and privately.
The world has been rocked in the last year with a pandemic, and political and social strife. Much of the country has experienced an awakening related to racial disparities due to the pandemic and civil unrest. Communities of color were and continue to be disproportionately impacted by these events. The Kennedy Forum remains dedicated to highlighting the realities of these inequalities but also to consider thoughtful and impactful solutions to breakdown stigma and discrimination related to mental health and increase access to information and resources. We convene on the celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, for he always stood for justice and equity, and recognized the unique and heartbreaking truth of the intersections of race, health, and wellbeing.
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Originally recorded on January 18, 2021.