Barbara Ballinger Lecture: Beyond the Headlines: Civics, Community & Democracy

Move past the noise of the daily news cycle and join us for a panel discussion on what active, meaningful citizenship looks like today. This year’s Barbara Ballinger Lecture brings together local leaders and thinkers to explore how strong communities build stronger democracies—and where you fit into the picture.

This event is sponsored byFriends of the Oak Park Public Library

Dr. Michael A. Spikes

Michael A. Spikes, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor and director of Teach for Chicago Journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communication. He researches the structure and impact of media literacy and news media literacy educational interventions across formal and informal learning environments, with a particular focus on building critical thinking skills to counter mis- and disinformation. He has trained educators globally and played a key role in implementing Illinois' first-in-the-nation media literacy requirement for high schools. Before joining Northwestern, he served as director of the Digital Resource Center and News Literacy & Civic Learning Project at the Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University, and has held roles as a secondary media studies and production teacher in Washington DC Public and Public Charter Schools, educational advisor at the Newseum, and a media producer and editor for NPR, the PBS NewsHour, and the Kellogg School of Management. His expertise has been cited in outlets including Science, NPR, and the Los Angeles Times.

Heather Cherone

Heather Cherone is a senior reporter for WTTW News covering Chicago and Illinois politics, based out of Chicago City Hall. A native of the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, and a graduate of Kenwood Academy, Heather has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. After covering politics in Los Angeles and Oakland, California, Heather helped launch DNAinfo Chicago and covered City Hall for the late, lamented news organization before working as The Daily Line’s City Hall reporter and managing editor.

Marie Newman

Marie Newman is a former congresswoman, nonprofit CEO, marketing executive, author of A Life Made from Scratch and When Your Child Is Being Bullied: Real Solutions, antibullying activist, former Moms Demand Action spokesperson, and national LGBTQ+ advocate. In addition to those roles, she is a mom of two adult children, WCPT radio cohost, and podcaster. Marie Newman is known for building movements and solving the toughest problems. Her motto has always been, when you do not see the solution you desperately need, make it from scratch! Her next book, a work of fiction (a legal thriller), will be out next year. You can find her column and newsletter on Substack: @marinewmanstudio. Her Livestream podcast on Substack airs on Wednesday at 7 pm CST, and her WCPT radio show airs on Sunday Mornings.

Monica Eng

Monica Eng is an award-winning, veteran Chicago reporter. She has worked in Chicago journalism for more than three decades starting at the Chicago Sun-Times and moving to the Chicago Tribune and WBEZ. She has served as an Axios Chicago reporter since the summer of 2021.