Obermann Conversations

Imagining Community in 2030: An Obermann Conversation | Iowa City Public Library

What will our community be like in 2030? How are local nonprofits shaping the Iowa City area, and what are their visions for the future? How can we break down the silos of “city” and “neighborhood...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Labor Strikes: An Obermann Conversation | Iowa City Public Library

This summer, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) both went on strike, something that hadn’t happened...

Current Issues and Politics Obermann Conversations

Scrutinizing the Shelves: Banned Books | An Obermann Conversation | Intellectual Freedom Festival

Recently, there has been an escalation of book bans and censorship in public school classrooms and libraries across the U.S. Many of the current book ban campaigns target books by or about LGBTQIA...

Current Issues and Politics Intellectual Freedom Festival, Obermann Conversations

Women’s Basketball in Iowa: From 6-on-6 to NCAA | An Obermann Conversation

Obermann Conversations series returns with an event focusing on the tradition of women's basketball in the state of Iowa. Learning from each other and delighting in the combined knowledge of...

Local History Obermann Conversations

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

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