History and Culture: Latest Programs by JES

The Jefferson Educational Society (JES) continues programming with its Spring Term schedule, full of influential topics touching on history, culture, linguistics, and more. The upcoming term features 20 programs at the Jefferson Educational Society and 16 at its satellite locations throughout Erie County, including  Erie Center for Arts and Technology (650 East Ave.), Corry Higher Education Council (221 N. Center St., Corry), the Lincoln Community Center Library Branch (1255 Manchester Rd., Fairview), and the Harborcreek Township Building (5601 Buffalo Rd.). Running through June 25, the term takes a deeper look into the intersections of history and culture, focusing on topics like architecture, youth in crisis, linguistics, and more. 

"Our team is excited to build on the momentum created during our winter series of events," said Dr. Ferki Ferati, President of the Jefferson Educational Society. "This upcoming slate of programming offers a wide range of topics – from issues of the day to art, to medicine, and more – and we look forward to continuing to welcome attendees to the JES to learn from some of the best and brightest in our region, as well as special events featuring visiting speakers."

See the full schedule of JES's spring programming below. More than 85 percent of the programs are free. To find more information about programs, memberships, or to make reservations, visit jeserie.org or call (814)-459-8000.

2025 SPRING SCHEDULE:

Monday, April 14 - "Lafayette in Western Pennsylvania: His Time on the Trail and Impact through History" with Richard Arthur, M.A., Historian – Lafayette Bicentennial Tour Series Lecture (Free).

Wednesday, April 16 - "Tariffs on the Horizon: Nature, Extent, and Potential Economic Impact" with Ken Louie, Ph.D., Director, Economic Research Institute of Erie.

Friday, April 25 - "Our Youth are in Crisis: How You Can Make a Difference" with Jefferson Civic Leadership Academy 2024 Cohort Representatives – Community Conversation (Free).

Tuesday, April 29 - "The Trinity of American Architecture: Richardson, Sullivan, and Wright" with Kimberly Montague, M.Arch., President and CEO, Albert Kahn Architecture. Visiting Speaker Doris Becker presented in partnership with the Hagen History Center (Free).

Thursday, May 1 - "US-Canada Comparisons and Relations in 2025: What's Happening, What's Next?" with Robert Speel, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, Penn State Behrend (Free).

Friday, May 2 – 11 a.m. tour, discussion at noon: "Main Street Economic Development: The Flagship City Food Hall as a Growth Model" with Drew Whiting, J.D., CEO, Erie Downtown Development Corporation – Community Conversation (Free; event held at Flagship City Food Hall).

Monday, May 5 - "Multi-Generational Leadership: Guiding Age-Diverse Work Groups" with Bradley Thompson, B.S., JES Raimy Fellow – Raimy Fellow Research Presentation (Virtual, Free).

Wednesday, May 7 - "Jeopardy! The Civil War Version" facilitated by enthusiasts and historians Mark Becker, George Deutsch, Deac Manross, and Rick Tome – Game Show-style Event Played in Front of a Live Audience (Free).

Thursday, May 8 - "Living Successfully, Aging Successfully" with James Lin, D.O., Geriatric Specialist and President of LECOM Institute for Successful Living – Lecture Series in Partnership with LECOM Health (Free).

Friday, May 9 - "Nurturing Hearts: Strengthening Girls with Confidence, Purpose, and Holistic Well-Being from a Brighter Future" with Shawntá Pullium-Brown, BCDNM, CD Founder, Nurturing Hearts – Community Conversation (Free).

Monday, May 12 - "Erie Insurance at 100: A Remarkable Past and Promising Future" a conversation with Tom Hagen, Erie Insurance Chairman; Tim NeCastro, Erie Insurance President and CEO; and Marty Eisert, retired Erie Insurance Executive; moderated by Steve Scully, Host of 'The Briefing' on Sirius XM – Brock Institute Panel Discussion (Free).

Wednesday, May 14 - "When Art Transcends What's 'Pleasing': Elevating Our Standards for Aesthetic Expression" with Michael DeSanctis, Ph.D., JES Scholar-in-Residence.

Thursday, May 15 - "Hidden Voices: The Unheard Struggle of Students" with Jacob Jones, M.P.A., and Katie Phillips, B.S., both JES Raimy Fellows – Raimy Fellow Research Presentation (Free).

Friday, May 16 – "Presque Isle Neighborhood Alliance: Uniting Neighbors to Build Change" with Seth Trott, J.D., JES Raimy Fellow – Community Conversation (Free).

Monday, May 19 - "Bay Rats to Bookworms: JES's Frew and Roth Take Their Work from the Page to Stage to Celebrate 200-plus Publications" with David Frew, Ph.D., and Andrew Roth, Ph.D., JES Scholars-in-Residence (Free).

Wednesday, May 21 - "From Erie to the Hall of Fame: Life, Legacy of Fred Biletnikoff" with Fred Biletnikoff, Pro- and College-Football Hall-of-Famer and 2024 recipient of the Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas Award – Special Global Summit Event.

Wednesday, June 25 - "The Erie Accent: What is It, How has It Changed Over the Past Century" with Keelan Evanini, Ph.D., Linguist, Artificial Intelligence Research Scientist and Manager – Hagen History Center Doris Becker Lecture – Visiting Speaker presented in partnership with the HHC (Free).

Jefferson Satellite Programming 

East Erie - Erie Center for Arts & Technology (ECAT)

Thursday, April 10 - "'OK Boomer:' How the Baby Boomers Lost a Generation, or Why Your Grandkids Stopped Talking to You" with Rhonda Matthews, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Erie's Black Wall Street, Political Science and Women's Studies Professor, PennWest; and Alycia Olivar, B.S., Community Impact manager of Data and Evaluation – Pop Culture Lecture Series (Free).

Thursday, April 24 - "Economic Inequality at the National and Local Level: Long-Run Trends and Potential Consequences" with Ken Louie, Ph.D., Director, Economic Research Institute Of Erie (Free).

Thursday, May 22 - "Lafayette: Founding Father and American Citizen" with Richard Arthur, M.A., Historian – Lafayette Bicentennial Tour Series Lecture (Free).

Thursday, May 29 - "ACL Tear Diagnosis and Management – New Treatment Approaches to an Old Problem" with Joshua Tuck, D.O., Orthopedic Sports Medicine Surgeon Practicing at LECOM Health Orthopedics and Pain Management – Lecture Series in Partnership with LECOM Health (Free).

Thursday, June 12 - "Cognitive Conception: When Men Become Fathers" with Parris Baker, Ph.D., Social Work Program Professor, Gannon University; JES Scholar-in-Residence (Free).

Fairview – Lincoln Community Library

Monday, April 21 - "'Men in Crisis: Class, Despair, and Politics' — Exploring a New Series and Why It Matters" with Jeff Bloodworth, Ph.D., Professor of Political History, Gannon University (Free).

Monday, April 28 - "Lafayette: Founding Father and American Citizen" with Richard Arthur, M.A., Historian - Lafayette Bicentennial Tour Series Lecture (Free).

Monday, May 5 - "Lake Erie Fish Wars: 'Shots Fired at Local Fishermen' Exploring a New Series and Why It Matters" with David Frew, Ph.D., Scholar-in-Residence, Gannon University (Free).

Monday, June 16 - "'America's Early Frontier: Economic History of Northwestern Pennsylvania (1753-2024)' - Exploring Fairview's Chapters" with Judy Lynch, Ph.D., JES Decadian Scholar (Free).

Monday, June 23 – Lori M. Dulabon, D.O., Surgical Specialist, Urology, Board certified in Urology by the American Board of Urology – Lecture Series in partnership with LECOM Health (Free).

Corry – Corry Higher Education Council

Tuesday, April 22 - "'America's Early Frontier: Economic History of Northwestern Pennsylvania (1753-2024)' - Exploring Corry's Chapters" with Judy Lynch, Ph.D., JES Decadian Scholar (Free).

Tuesday, May 6 - "Seeing George Washington through the Eyes of Marquis de Lafayette" with Richard Arthur, M.A., Historian - Lafayette Bicentennial Tour Series Lecture (Free).

Tuesday, June 17 - "Child Care is Workforce Development: Making the Case for Affordable and Accessible Child Care in Rural Pennsylvania" with Matthew Platz, Ph.D., JES Raimy Fellow – Raimy Fellow Research Presentation (Free).

East County/Harborcreek

Wednesday, April 23 - "Beyond the Headlines: Understanding Gaza, Hamas, and What Lies Ahead" with Baher Ghosheh, Ph.D., JES Scholar-in-Residence, JES Board of Trustees Chairman (Free).

Wednesday, April 30 - "'America's Early Frontier: Economic History of Northwestern Pennsylvania (1753-2024)' - Exploring Harborcreek's Chapters" with Judy Lynch, Ph.D., JES Decadian Scholar (Free).

Wednesday, May 28 - "Seeing George Washington through the Eyes of Marquis de Lafayette" with Richard Arthur, M.A., Historian - Lafayette Bicentennial Tour Series Lecture (Free).