Thursday, May 9

by Peter Annin

6:45pm Social Gathering – 7:30pm Presentation Begins
Integrated Learning Center, South Haven High School
600 Elkenburg St
South Haven, MI 49090

“The Great Lakes Compact: A Decade of Lessons Learned” in the SHS Integrated Learning Center May 9.

Acknowledged as the preeminent journalist writing about the Great Lakes, Peter Annin will be presenting at the Speaker Series for a second time. He was the very first presenter when the series was launched in April 2015. This time he’ll review the successes and challenges to the Great Lakes Compact agreement.

A pre-presentation reception will be held at 6:45 p.m. Two entrances will be open to the school: the north entrance with the statue of the ram, and the south entrance to accommodate folks in the south parking lot.

Annin is looking forward to his return noting that he has “fond memories of my first visit to South Haven in 2015 as the inaugural presenter in the series, a program that has clearly flourished since then. During that same time, the Great Lakes water diversion controversy has continued to make headlines. This should make for a very engaging evening on May 9.”

The Great Lakes Water Compact, a model international and interstate agreement intended to preserve the integrity of the Great Lakes is continually challenged, especially in South West Wisconsin. Of particular note has been the Foxconn diversion project that highlights the dilemma of environmental concerns versus job creation.

Annin writes about water tensions in and around the Great Lakes Basin. In 2017 while researching a new edition of his book The Great Lakes Water Wars, he discovered that in 2010 the state of Wisconsin had granted approval for an additional 7.5 million gallons of water per day to the city of Pleasant Prairie without public hearings. No one noticed and the approval is now being challenged as a violation of the spirit of the compact if not its actual language.

Annin is the Director of the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation. Before coming to Northland College in 2015, Peter served as a reporter at Newsweek, the Associate Director of the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources, and the Managing Director of the University of Notre Dame’s Environmental Change Initiative. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin in Journalism and Columbia University in International Affairs.

His updated edition of The Great Lakes Water Wars was published in the fall of 2018. The original edition is acknowledged as the definite work on the Great Lakes on diversion projects designed to withdraw water from the Great Lakes Basin and was awarded the Great Lakes Book Award for 2007.

LOOKING AHEAD

The presentation “The Great Lakes Compact: A Decade of Lessons Learned” by Peter Annin was well attended. Here’s some photos from the event.

Thursday, April 11

by Ryan Kilpatrick

6:45pm Social Gathering – 7:30pm Presentation Begins
Integrated Learning Center, South Haven High School
600 Elkenburg St
South Haven, MI 49090

Ryan Kilpatrick, now executive director at Housing Next of Grand Rapids, will speak on Affordable Housing: Obstacles and Solutions in Lake Shore Communities in the SHS Integrated Learning Center April 11.

He worked from 2009 to 2014 in Douglas before becoming a community assistance team member for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. covering Region 4, which includes Allegan and Ottawa counties.

Ryan Kilpatrick explored the many ways in which 50 years of federal, state, and local policy decisions have contributed to the shortage. He then focuses on a variety of local and regional solutions including such factors as transportation, community design, connectivity, and quality of life.

His presentation will be the first at the Integrated Learning Center in South Haven High School, 600 Elkenburg Street. The center is located on the east side of the building. Those unfamiliar with the high school should use the main entrance with the statue of the Ram in front

“The Series grew to an average of 170 attendees in 2018 with two programs exceeding 200” explains Series Chairman Mark Odland. “We simply outgrew the available space at Lake Michigan College. We are grateful to the staff there for hosting our events during the first four years of the Speaker Series programming.”

The talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a reception with the speaker at 6:45 in the school cafeteria.

“Lakeshore communities and South Haven in particular have a huge stake in defining and developing affordable housing” comments Odland. “We believe Kilpatrick’s presentation will have a special appeal to impacted residents, employees, public officials, real estate folks, and others in the business community affected by housing and transportation issues.”

Kilpatrick, a polished speaker, is responsible for day-to-day management and strategic direction of Ottawa Country Housing Next. The project focuses on housing, economic development, land use, and transportation policy. Bridging the private and public sector, he is responsible for streamlining the development process to build more resilient communities.

He draws on a rich background including Community Assistance Specialist with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Douglas. Throughout his career he has had impressive hands-on experience in a wide variety of planning issues and projects such as: transportation planning, sustainable land use, development rights and finance, preservation and green infrastructure, tax abatement programs, brownfield redevelopment, as well as community engagement and visioning processes.

Kilpatrick earned a Masters Degree in Design from Kendall College of Art and Design with an emphasis on social innovation and community development. Working with other professionals from a variety of fields he co-created a new program at Kendall that focuses on the design process for solving systemic problems with in-depth exploration of social enterprise, design-thinking and models of innovation.

LOOKING AHEAD

The presentation “Affordable Housing” by Ryan Kilpatrick was well attended. Here’s some photos from the event.

Thursday, May 24

by Dennis Archer

6:45 pm Pre-presentation Reception with Speaker – 7:30 pm Presentation Begins
Lake Michigan College, South Haven Campus
125 Veterans Blvd.
South Haven, Michigan

Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer and member of the Michigan Supreme Court offers his inspiring perspective on perseverance and leadership. Widely known for his political service, Archer also had a distinguished legal career as a respected judge, first black president of the American Bar Association, and one of the 100 Most Powerful Attorney’s in The U.S.

The presentation “Reflections on Leadership and Perseverance” by Dennis Archer was well attended. Here’s some photos from the event.

Watch the Video – Reflections on Leadership and Perseverance, Dennis Archer

Video by Richard Brunvand

Thursday, May 10

by Phil Power

6:45 pm Pre-presentation Reception with Speaker – 7:30 pm Presentation Begins
Lake Michigan College, South Haven Campus
125 Veterans Blvd.
South Haven, Michigan

Phil Power, Founder and Chairman of the Center for Michigan and Bridge magazine, offers insightful reflections on 2018 issues affecting Michigan including the 2018 mid- term elections. A former owner of a chain of community newspapers, Power has been a strong proponent of economic development in Michigan.

The presentation “Why Our Political System is Behaving So Oddly” by Phil Power was well attended. Here’s some photos from the event.

Watch the Video – Presentation “Why Our Political System is Behaving So Oddly” by Phil Power

Video by Richard Brunvand

Thursday, April 19

by Dr. Fred L. Johnson III

6:45 pm Pre-presentation Reception with Speaker – 7:30 pm Presentation Begins
Lake Michigan College, South Haven Campus
125 Veterans Blvd.
South Haven, Michigan

Professor Fred Johnson, one of Hope College’s most celebrated teachers, discusses how centuries old patterns of discrimination play out in new forms and challenges. He will offer action steps that need to be taken to secure the diminished benefits of citizenship for African Americans.

Speakers Series of South Haven Launches 2018 Season on Thursday, April 19 with “While Black People Slept” by Dr. Fred L. Johnson III.

While Black People Slept will be the subject for the opening presentation of the 2018 Speakers Series of South Haven on Thursday, April 19 at Lake Michigan College in South Haven. The speaker, Professor Fred Johnson, is one of Hope College’s most celebrated teachers, a seven-time semi-finalist in the Toastmaster’s World Series of Public Speaking, and a former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. A pre-presentation reception with the speaker will be held at 6:45 p.m. followed by the talk at 7:30.

Johnson will assess how the much hoped for post-racial America heralded by Barack Obama’s 2008 election has been eroded. Changes that led many to presume that great leaps of progress had been achieved were actually retrenched patterns of discrimination and marginalization that have gained momentum. “They are the nation’s dirty secrets hiding in plain sight” he says.

Although 21st Century America affords more benefits and opportunities for Black Americans than previous generations, Johnson says that “Blacks in the 21st Century have been lulled by the achievements of their forebears and now confront old problems in the guise of new challenges.” He will discuss areas of old and new discrimination that persist in diminishing benefits of citizenship for African Americans while addressing strategies for resolution.

Recognized as a vibrant speaker and effective teacher, Johnson has advanced seven times to the Toastmaster’s World Series of Public Speaking and last year won 2nd place in the semi-final round. He has received the Hope Outstanding Professor Educator Award and Hope students voted him their Favorite Professor Award. Johnson also draws full houses at his regular adult lectures and programs at Hope, Calvin, and Aquinas Colleges and Grand Valley State University.

He brings a wealth of practical experience to his teaching from his service as a U.S. Marine Corps Officer and working in the automotive, telecommunications, and aerospace industries. In 2008 and 2010, he ran for the House of Representatives from Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District.

Johnson earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees from Kent State University in Ohio. His primary field of study is 19th Century U.S. History, specifically the Civil War. His other areas of expertise include U.S. Military History, History of U.S. Foreign Policy, 20th Century U.S. History, and Africa.

He is the author of numerous articles and book reviews, three novels published by Random House, and co-author of a biography of the late actor and Hip-Hop artist Tupac Shakur.

The presentation “While Black People Slept” by Dr. Fred L. Johnson III was well attended. Here’s some photos from the event.

Watch the Video – While Black People Slept, Dr. Fred L. Johnson III

Video by Richard Brunvand

Thursday, September 27

by Jack Segal

6:45 pm Pre-presentation Reception with Speaker – 7:30 pm Presentation Begins
Lake Michigan College, South Haven Campus
125 Veterans Blvd.
South Haven, Michigan

Jack Segal, retired diplomat, White House Security Council Member and nuclear arms negotiator offers an insider’s perspective on foreign policy challenges that may seem fraught and complicated to most people. Segal retired to Traverse City where he directs the popular International Affairs Forum.

Central to Segal’s unique perspective is his experience in Russia. He speaks Russian and was posted to Moscow to help implement strategic and nuclear arms control and chemical weapons destruction. He also opened a consulate in Siberia with the mission to help spread democracy and make contacts for American business
opportunities.

Segal also draws on his experience in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Europe. At the U.S State Department he specialized in nuclear security and disarmament. Among his notable assignments are the White House National Security Council from 1998 to 2000; Political Advisor to the NATO Commander for Afghanistan; Military and Political adviser in Israel during the Palestinian uprising and the Gulf War; and a State Department representative to the START nuclear arms reduction negotiations with Russia.

Segal moved to Traverse City in 2010 where he now directs the International Affairs Forum with his wife, Karen Puschel, also an experienced diplomat.

Segal is a Vietnam infantry and paratrooper veteran who earned a Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medals. After his years of diplomatic service, he’s a firm believer that diplomacy usually trumps bullets.

Segal will be the fourth of the 2018 Speaker Series presentations which so far this year have drawn an average of 170 attendees, a significant increase over the last year and a measure of the Series continuing growth through its first four years.

The doors will open at 6:45 with a wine and cheese reception with the speaker followed by the presentation and a question and answer session. Admission is $10 at the door. There is no charge for students, teachers, and clergy.

The presentation “Foreign Policy Challenges in 2018 and Beyond” by Jack Segal was well attended.

Watch the Video – Foreign Policy Challenges in 2018 and Beyond, Jack Segal

Video by Richard Brunvand