Current Issues and Politics

Iowa's Childcare Predicament | An Obermann Conversation

Quality childcare is an elemental need. It allows parents to work at paid jobs, which in turn helps to support the economic well-being of our communities. Equally as crucial, it provides early...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

The Impact of Schools on Mental Health | An Obermann Conversation

Schools play a crucial role in young people's mental health, something that became extremely clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the CDC, in 2021, 37% of high school students...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Labor Trafficking: A Brief Overview | Iowa City Public Library

Lauren Wilson graduated with her MA in Global Health from Arizona State University in 2021 where her research and advocacy focused on human trafficking. She will provide an introductory lecture on...

Current Issues and Politics

Invisible Neighbors: Latinx Immigrants in Iowa City | An Obermann Conversation

Every week, new arrivals come to our area from Mexico and Central America. Many come with few possessions and only the thinnest personal network. These largely invisible newcomers to our community...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Igniting Change One Wall at a Time | An Obermann Conversation

When two large figures took shape on Burlington Street in Iowa City last summer, passersby had to contend with messages that went beyond the colorful, playful images of other downtown murals....

Arts, Music, and Hobbies, Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Ukraine and Russia: Deciphering the Current Situation | An Obermann Conversation

As the news cycle continues to focus on tensions at the Ukraine-Russia border, we've reached out to three people who know the region well to help us better understand current events and what...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Reproductive Justice: An Obermann Conversation

In the fight surrounding Roe v. Wade, it's easy to lose sight of the many other ways that access to reproductive healthcare can be limited or denied. Two Obermann scholars, Lina-Maria Murillo...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Economic Development as Social Justice: An Obermann Conversation

This summer, a new Story Map of Black-owned businesses in Johnson County was created. It connects users to a rich and ever-growing directory of businesses and entrepreneurs in the eastern Iowa...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Why Anne Frank Still Matters: An Obermann Conversation

For several generations, Anne Frank has been a household name—the WWII diarist whose posthumously published book has been translated into more than 70 languages. But do younger generations know...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Teen Works - Career Exploration: Non-profits, Museum, and Library Sciences

Get a feel for different careers from community members who work in different fields! Each month we’ll feature two community members from a different employment sector. This is a great way to find...

Current Issues and Politics Teen Works