5^TH Sunday Forums

Sponsored By

The Gary Historical & Cultural Society

Stephen C. Currie

Host / Lead Moderator

Stephen graduated from Indiana University with Dean's List Scholar honors, and has previously been a leader in the public speaking organization, Toastmasters International, and has also acted as a manager and mentor for many sales and marketing professionals. He has resided in San Diego, California and North Charleston, South Carolina before returning to Gary.

Brief History

Sponsored by the Gary Historical and Cultural Society, which was founded in 1976 by Dharathula "Dolly" Millender, the "5th Sunday Community Forums" were formerly hosted and moderated by the late Clarence R. Currie, father of Stephen and Alan, beginning with the late 80s, and throughout most of the 1990s. Currie was very active with the GHCS, as well as a number of other civic and community-oriented organizations prior to his passing in March of 2002.

The purpose of the Forums is to give the citizens of Gary, Indiana, and the surrounding areas, an opportunity to engage in dialogue with prominent, active members of the community that act as selected panelists for a wide variety of pertinent, relevant issues that directly or indirectly affect our daily lives.

Next Forum:

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Time: 2:30pm - 5:00pm CDT

Location: Gary Public Library (Main Branch)

220 W. 5th Avenue

Gary, Indiana 46402-1215

(219) 886-2484

Topic of Discussion:

"Does The Media Help ... or Hurt ...
Race Relations in America?"

Scheduled Panelists:

- Mr. Ben Clement

- Ms. Rachelle Morgan-Ceaser

- Mr. Todd McCain

- Ms. Chelsea Stalling

******************************************

Past Forum Discussions & Panelists:

**April 30, 2006**

"High School Scholars:

What Is Your Vision of Gary
for the next 100 Years?"

Panelists:

- Ms. Amanda Bryant

- Mr. Michael Scott, Jr.

- Ms. Lauren Thompson

**January 29, 2006**

"How Can Gary Best Preserve and Utilize Our

Historical Landmarks & Buildings"

Panelists:

- Dr. Ronald D. Cohen

- Ms. McKenya Dilworth

- Mr. Kenneth Stalling

- Ms. Erica Taylor

**May 29, 2005**

"Gary's Own Michael Jackson On Trial:
Is he 'Prey', or 'Predator'?? "

Panelists:

- Mr. Garrard McClendon

- Mr. Eric Johnson

- Ms. Logan-Tinae Thomas, Esq.

**January 30, 2005**

"Who Is The Biggest Threat To The Black Family: The ‘Down Low’ Brother, or The ‘Low Down’ Brother?? "

Panelists:

- Ms. McKenya Dilworth

- Ms. Alicia Simmons

- Mr. Kenneth Stalling

- Mr. Darren Washington

**October 31, 2004**

"Young, Educated, Professional Women:

Are Many In Society Single By 'Choice' . . .

. . . or by 'Circumstance'?? "

Panelists:

- Ms. Kenya Jones, J.D.

- Mr. Garrard McClendon

- Ms. Chelsea Stalling

- Ms. Denise Travis, Ph.D., M.W.S.

**August 29, 2004**

"Bill Cosby's chastisement of members of the Black Community: Do you think Dr. Cosby's public criticisms were beneficial, or detrimental, to the Black Community as a whole?? "

Panelists:

- Ms. Tammi Davis

- Mr. Ron Gholson

- Mr. William Gillespie

- Mrs. Rachelle Morgan-Ceaser

- Mr. Ray Taylor, Jr.

**May 30, 2004**

"Can The Creative and Performing Arts act as a Catalyst for Change in the Urban Community?"

Panelists:

- Mr. Ben Clement

- Ms. McKenya Dilworth

- Mr. Mark Spencer

- Mrs. Charla Booth-Thomas

**February 29, 2004**

"Is Black History Month resonating with the Community?"

Panelists:

- Ms. Tammi Davis

- Ms. Rachelle Hatcher

- Mr. Cheddrick Jacob

- Mr. Kenneth Stalling

**November 30, 2003**

"30th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's Assassination: Is The JFK legacy worth remembering?"

Panelists:

- Ms. Jacqueline Gipson, J.D.

- Honorable Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher

- Mr. Eric Johnson

- Dr. Nikita E. Pokrovsky

**June 29, 2003**

"The June 23, 2003 Supreme Court ruling regarding Affirmative Action: Who won? Who lost?"

Panelists:

- Ms. Tammi Davis

- Mr. Eric Johnson

- Ms. Kenya Jones, J.D.

- Mr. Kenneth Stalling

**December 29, 2002**

"Should Professional Athletes and Entertainment Celebrities continue to be regarded as 'role models' for our children?"

Panelists:

- Mr. Lanel Chambers

- Ms. Tammi Davis

- Ms. Chelsea Stalling

- Mr. Michael Tillotson

**September 29, 2002**

"Was the ABC Peter Jennings Special on 'Race' an accurate portrayal of Gary, Indiana?"

Panelists:

- Ms. McKenya Dilworth

- Mr. Ron Gholson

- Ms. Naomi Millender

- Mr. Darren Washington

"Of All Of Our Studies, History is Best Qualified To Reward Our Research." Malcolm X

Alan R. Currie

Co-Host / Moderator

Alan graduated from Indiana University with Dean's List Scholar honors, and has acted on stage, and in television commercials, and he also briefly performed as a stand-up comedian in the general Chicago area in the late 80s and early 90s; He worked at NBC West Coast Studios and 20th Century Fox Film Studios while residing in Los Angeles before returning to Gary.

Relevant Links

Gary Historical & Cultural Society

Gary Public Library

WJPN Public Access Channel

WYIN Channel 56

Post-Tribune

Gary Crusader

City of Gary

Gary Chamber of Commerce

Indiana University

Northwest

Purdue University

Calumet

Gary Community

School Corporation

Northwest Indiana

Information Connection

The McClendon Report