Sunday Morning Programs
Our Sunday morning programs alternate weekly between a guest speaker and one of our Community Days, which are designed to foster community engagement and social action. From June through August, all of our programs will be in-person only and will not be livestreamed, unless otherwise noted below. Some of these programs will be recorded and posted on our YouTube channel for later viewing.
Our Sunday morning programs alternate weekly between a guest speaker and one of our Community Days, which are designed to foster community engagement and social action. We hope you can attend these programs in person, and we’ll also continue livestreaming our guest speakers to our YouTube channel for those who can’t make it to our building.  All of our Community Days programs are in-person only.
Sunday, October 25, 10:30 am
Crystal Paul
“Operation Midway Blitz: The Block Club Chicago Investigation”
Crystal Paul, investigative editor for Block Club Chicago, will share details on their coverage of federal immigration enforcement efforts during Operation Midway Blitz in 2025. This past June, she and colleagues reported on the nearly 300 Border Patrol agents who came to Chicago last fall and made a torrent of arrests, deployed tear gas, tased and assaulted residents, and shot two people—one fatally. The investigation identified 271 agents by name, professional training and experience and their actions during Operation Midway Blitz. Block Club found that most of the agents had over a decade of experience, over 100 of them had training specifically in crowd control. Still agents used force against Chicagoans in dozens of incidents across the city, but often underreported those uses of force. Block Club reporters analyzed hundreds of hours of body camera footage and nearly 100 written reports. Paul will share the behind-the-scenes effort and the investigation’s findings.
Sunday, November 1, 10:30 am
Fall CleanupÂ
Join us for an outdoor service project, when we’ll clean up our outdoor spaces, plant bulbs, and prepare our flower beds for their long winter’s nap. Dress for the weather!
Our Community Days are programs designed to bring us together to learn, grow, and volunteer. They are open to the public, in-person only, and will not be livestreamed.
Sunday, November 8, 10:30 am
Mike Gebert
“The Chicago Way: An Oral History of Chicago Dining”
From a city associated with steak and the stockyards, Chicago has become a capital of innovative, even avant-garde cuisine—but how? That’s the story that James Beard-winning Chicago food journalist Michael Gebert tells in his book The Chicago Way: An Oral History of Chicago Dining. Gebert interviewed over 200 chefs, diners, and media and real estate figures, including Rick Bayless, Grant Achatz, Stephanie Izard, and Paul Kahan, to tell their story in their own words. His network throughout the Chicago food world offers a unique inside look at how our restaurants changed Chicago—and the world.
Sunday, November 15, 10:30 am
Lightning Talks : Food
As the winter holiday season approaches, our thoughts turn to food – family recipes, favorite restaurants, comfort food, cultural traditions. For this Community Day program, we’re excited to present another in our Lightning Talks series. A few members of our community will share short, prepared talks on a common theme, food. If you are interested in contributing, reach out to Carrie Ost to provide information on your talk idea no later than November 1.
Our Community Days are programs designed to bring us together to learn, grow, and volunteer. They are open to the public, in-person only, and will not be livestreamed.
the views of our speakers do not necessarily represent those of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago.Â
   Covid Policy for Attendees
For our in-person audience, we will be adhering to the following policy:
- ALL attendees must be FULLY VACCINATED.
- A face mask completely covering the nose and mouth is required for all audience members during the program whenever the CDC rates Cook County at High Risk for Covid transmission.Â
- A mask-optional social hour will follow the program.
Have you missed some of our recent programs? You’re in luck!Â
Recordings of many of our programs from the last several years reside on our YouTube channel. Click this button to see a list of our broadcasts from the past year with links to the videos.Â
FAQ
Here are answers to some common questions, but feel free to contact us if you have any others!
We welcome you to join us for any Sunday morning program! No RSVP necessary–just drop in. There will be greeters at the door to direct you to our auditorium and answer any questions you may have.Â
If you can’t make it in person, we livestream most of our Speaker Series programs so you can watch live from home! Just hit the “Join the Livestream” button under any of the programs listed above at the appointed time, or go directly to our YouTube channel.
All our Sunday programs are free and open to the public. No reservations are needed.
Although attendance is free, we do offer an opportunity during the program for freewill donations. We suggest $5, or whatever you’re comfortable with.Â
Yes! Our Humanist Kids program runs concurrently with the adult program from September through May. Your children, from infants to 8th grade, can enjoy stories, discussions, crafts, and social action projects designed to encourage living life ethically and joyfully.
Our children’s program is closed during the summer, but you’re welcome to have your children sit with you in the auditorium main floor or in the balcony.
For more information see our Humanist Kids page, or contact the Humanist Kids Program Director.
Yes! See our Activities page for other ways that we get together, or our Social Action page (Coming Soon), for upcoming projects that you can help with.Â
