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About Our Events
Programs include discussions on presidential history, our democracy, and celebrations of national holidays like Constitution Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents' Day.
Common Ground events invite leaders and scholars to engage in dialogue across political and ideological divides and model the common ground approach for our community.
These events feature a brilliant group of regional, state, and national leaders spanning generations, fields, and experiences.
Invites thoughtful conversation on books that seek to understand and serve the needs of our democratic society.
Past Events
2025-2026 Academic Year
September 3, 2025: Why World War II Still Matters featuring Garrett Graff
September 17, 2025: Making the Rules: The Presidency, the Courts, and the Constitution featuring Ilan Wurman
November 11, 2025: Veterans Day Luncheon featuring Ingrid Tighe
November 13, 2025: One Man's Freedom: The Struggle Over an American Ideal featuring Nicholas Buccola
January 29, 2026: Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution featuring Molly Beer
February 16, 2026: Seeking Monsters to Destroy: How America Goes to War featuring Jeffrey Engel
March 19, 2026: See Jane Run: How Women Politicians Matter for Young People
April 9, 2026: The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence
October 2, 2025: Eyeing the Bench: Supreme Court Update
October 30, 2025: Our American Allies: Nato and the Future of U.S. Power
February 26, 2026: Common Ground: Addressing Affordability
November 7, 2025: The Wheelhouse Talks featuring Daniel Williams
April 30, 2026: Celebration of Graduates
2024-2025 Academic Year
September 17, 2024: Constitution Day: The Constitution vs. Democracy
October 10, 2024: How President Bill Clinton's Campaigns Reshaped Modern Presidential Politics
November 11, 2024: Veterans Day: Lisa Jaster
February 18, 2025: Presidents' Day Celebration
October 15, 2024: Progressive / Conservative Summit: The Myth of Left and Right
October 21, 2024: Election Foreign Policy Public Forum
March 13, 2025: Is the Party Over? The Present and Future of American Party Politics
April 10, 2025: Justice For All: Faith Leaders and the Non-Violent Fight Against Poverty
October 11, 2024: Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy Alumni Panel
November 8, 2024: A Conversation with Dee Bradley Baker
January 24, 2025: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Event with Joe Jones
February 21, 2025: Frederik Meijer Lecture Series featuring Vetr Health
April 24, 2025: Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy Celebration of Graduates
2023-2024 Academic Year
September 19, 2023: Constitution Day: Freedom From Religion or Freedom For Religion? with Vincent Phillip Muñoz
November 10, 2023: Celebration of Veterans Day: Lieutenant Jason Redman
February 20, 2024: Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture
March 14: 2024: King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father
May 23, 2024: The Hidden Wounds of War Conference
September 7, 2023: Citizenship in Crisis: Re-Empowering The American Citizen with Victor Davis Hanson and Eric Liu
October 12, 2023: Citizens of the World: Global Citizenship & U.S. Foreign Relations
November 1, 2023: Pour le Peuple Documentary Screening
January 25, 2024: Bipartisan Policy Panel: Immigration
February 29, 2024: 2024 Progressive / Conservative Summit: Constitutional Reform
April 18, 2024: Reflections on Patriotism
September 29, 2023: Faye Richardson-Green
October 27, 2023: Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy Alumni Panel
December 1, 2023: Stepping Into Leadership: Tricia Thomas
January 18, 2024: TaRita Johnson: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration
February 20, 2024: Khalilah Burt Gaston