First Friday Club of Chicago podcast

A lawyer first, an author second: A reflection on the development of the law in his lifetime and its impact on society and his books. For more than 30 years, Scott Turow has been fortunate to be a bestselling author.. Beginning with Presumed Innocent published in 1987 to his to his current legal thriller, Suspect, he has written 14 novels, all New York Times bestsellers, which have been translated...

Sometimes it causes me to tremble: Let Lent lead us through our fears for the future of the church The Catholic Church in the US faces some daunting realities: falling attendance, suspicion of the institution, and young people who are opting out of religion altogether. How does Sister Barbara Reid , who heads up a school that trains seminarians and lay religious leaders, prepare these students to...

Rooftop Pastor works to break the cycle of violence, poverty and racism in Woodlawn Pastor Corey Brooks of New Beginnings Church and founder of Project Hood is leading the Woodlawn neighborhood as they create a safer place and give their children the tools to reach for a brighter future.  Spending nearly a year on a Woodlawn rooftop, raising awareness of critical deficits in his own backyard, past...

A Wild Ride: How the Holy Spirit Propelled me from Business School to the Boardroom to Battling Poverty Heralded by her peers as a "natural change agent," Sally Blount has made her mark not only in the corporate world but in the field of academia—she served as dean at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management for eight years. Her ability to pivot, helping organizations do more and better, has al...

Rediscovering Awe and Mystery: What Science and Faith Can Tell Us This Advent Long before he became a priest, Chicago's Father John Kartje was a scientist, getting a Ph. D. in  astrophysics from the University of Chicago. What's the one constant between these two vocations? "Both the scientist and the person of faith are always engaging with mystery," he says.  Kartje describes Advent as that preg...

Friday, November 4, 2022 12:00 PM    1:15 PM Union League Club Chicago  (map) It's a Whole New Ballgame: Guiding Our Next Generation Through Anxious Times As depression rates increase dramatically, especially among teens and young adults, learn why it's important for everyone to understand what's happening. What young people face today looks nothing like what most of us experienced during adolesce...

The First Friday Club welcomes Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries

On May 20th, 2019, Ms. Lori Lightfoot succeeded in becoming the first black female and openly gay Mayor of Chicago. We welcomed her to be our March 2020 speaker.

In May 1988, Phil Andrew, then a 20-year-old college student, was shot in the chest in the aftermath of the Hubbard Woods elementary school shooting in Winnetka—one of the nation's first modern mass school shootings. Andrew survived his injuries, but the experience would ultimately shape his priorities and his career. In the 30 years since the shooting, he has dedicated his life to fighting violen...

"Suicide: The Aftermath" The painful reality of suicide has become too prevalent in our culture today. It has been said that one soldier in our military takes his life every day. The rate of suicide among veterans is not far behind. There is also an alarming rise in the number of police officers and first responders who choose to end their lives. And finally, the number of school age kids who comm...

On Friday, December 6, 2019, at Noon, in the President's Hall : 2nd Floor of the Union League Club The First Friday Club Welcomes Fr. Edward Foley Duns Scotus Professor of Spirituality, Professor of Liturgy and Music at Catholic Theological Union "Advent: The Art of Paying Attention" Most Christians think that Advent is preparation for the "birth of Jesus," but we cannot prepare for a past event....

The First Friday Club Welcomes Edward J. Wehmer Founder, President & CEO of Wintrust "Faith at Work...Let's Talk About It" A great champion of local business and advocate for entrepreneurs, Wehmer will discuss the challenges of maintaining faith and values while growing professionally. Please join us as we welcome Edward J. Wehmer, Founder, President & CEO of Wintrust, to the podium on November 1s...

Alan Krashesky walked through the door of Channel 7 in Chicago as a 21 year old. Now, 37 years later, he has become the dean of broadcast journalists in the Chicago television market. He is considered one of the top reporters in the Chicago market, and has been praised for his coverage of the Catholic Church.

In a conversation format Rick Kogan will chat with Fr. Cusick about the issues he raises in his recently released book,  "Never Be Ordinary – Wisdom from My Father."

"Challenging One of the Last Social Taboos – Discrimination Against Mental Health, Addiction, and Other Brain Diseases"

The First Friday Club of Chicago in Cooperation with the Authors Group (Union League Club)   Welcomes Ms. Joy Loverde Author:  Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?  and The Complete Eldercare Planner   Who will address the topic: "Caring for Aging Parents and Loved Ones while Planning for Your Future Self - Are You Ready?"   The Baby Boom Generation has become the new senior citizen generation,...

On Friday, February 1, at Noon, in the Presidents Hall of the Union League Club, The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes Ms. Mary Meg McCarthy Executive Director National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) Who will address the topic: The Statue of Liberty Every Immigrant's Dream of a Better Life  

We welcome Arne Duncan as our January 2019 speaker.

We welcome Auxiliary Bishop Ron Hicks, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago

The First Friday Club welcomes our guest, Fr. Thomas Hurley

The First Friday Club of Chicago Welcomes Ms. Maureen Maher Award-Winning Investigative Journalist for the CBS News Magazine, 48 Hours Who Will Address the Topic "The World I want for my Daughter...and Son. Using Lessons from Our Time to Create a Better Future."

On Friday, April 6, 2018 in the Main Lounge of the Union League Club The First Friday Club Welcomes Mr. Kenneth L. Woodward Former Religion Editor, Newsweek Magazine Who will address the Topic? "Religion and American Politics: The Recent History of a Stormy Relationship" We have been told to avoid two topics in our conversations: religion and politics. On April 6 th our speaker, Ken Woodward, will...

Violence is a Three-Sided Coin The out-of- control violence that plagues so many pockets of Chicago focuses on two elements: the perpetrators and the victims. Often they are described as opposite sides of the same coin, the 2 sides of a violent action. Yet there is another element that very often encircles those two sides. Violence between perpetrator and victim often occurs in the same territory,...

On the first Friday in February we are dealing with the issue of Homelessness. We want to get beyond the stereotype and, look deeply and honestly at this growing sad cultural issue that surrounds all of us. Too many social issues have become the victims of dishonest and unfair stereotypes.  Yes. There are homeless people who beg on many of the street corners in downtown Chicago.   But did you know...

The first Friday Club welcomes Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries