Connecticut Forum
Founded in 1992 by Richard and Doris Sugarman, the Connecticut Forum is a nationally recognized, one-of-a-kind 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Hartford, CT. The Forum serves Connecticut and beyond with live, unscripted Panel Discussions among renowned experts, celebrities, and leaders in public policy, the arts, science, technology, popular culture, the media, current events, and more. Forums are presented four times per year to audiences of more than 10,000 annually at the historic Bushnell Theater in Hartford,CT.
In 1993, in an effort to promote and encourage community outreach, the Connecticut Forum created The Connecticut YOUTH Forum that connects teenagers across geographic, economic, social, and racial divides to engage in meaningful discussion. The YOUTH Forum currently brings together nearly 800 students from over 40 high schools and community organizations that serve youth in discussion of important issues, sharing, learning, and interaction, in monthly meetings and a Leadership Network that includes field trips as well as workplace and college visits.
The Forum’s Ticket Outreach Program which offers 250 tickets per theater event to individuals who might not otherwise take part in Forum evenings. Tickets are offered to YOUTH Forum members, to other youth and to community residents through community based organizations, civic associations, and grassroots neighborhood groups.
The Mission of The Connecticut Forum
The Connecticut Forum's mission is to encourage the free and active exchange of ideas in Forums that inform, challenge, entertain, inspire, and build bridges among all people and organizations in our community.
History of Connecticut Forum Guests
2008-2009
SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 The Presidency Elizabeth Edwards, Joseph Ellis, Matthew Dowd Moderator: Michel Martin
NOVEMBER 21, 2008 Story Tellers & The Stories They Tell Tony Kushner, David Simon, Suzan Lori-Parks Moderator: Bob Edwards
JANUARY 29, 2009 God Rabbi Harold Kushner, Christopher Hitchens, Rev. Peter Gomes Moderator: Connie Schultz
MAY 14, 2009 Food For Thought Anthony Bourdain, Duff Goldman, Alice Waters Moderator: Colin McEnroe
2007-2008
October 03, 2007 The Tech Revolution Jimmy Wales, Craig Newmark, Danah Boyd Moderator: Jonathan Zittrain
November 07, 2007 The Great Global Debate Richard Armitage, Reza Aslan, Richard Holbrook, Sheryl WuDunn Moderator: Nora O’Donnell
February 09, 2008 The American Dream: Going, Going, Gone? Barbara Ehrenreich, Roland Fryer, Laura Ingraham Moderator: Ray Suarez
May 01, 2008 Talking Authors Amy Tan, Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket, Alexander McCall Smith Moderator: Colin McEnroe
2006-2007
October 13, 2006 A Conversation Between Bill Moyers & Andrew Sullivan Moderator: Norah O’Donnell
November 29, 2006 Leaders & Winners Wendy Kopp, Randal Pinkett, John Read, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld Moderator: Ed Gordon
February 8, 2007 Saving The World Clark Kent Ervin, Rory Kennedy, Nicholas Kristof, Tim Robbins Moderator: Calvin Sims
April 27, 2007 A Funny Thing Happened… Nancy Giles, Mo Rocca, Bob Saget Moderator: Peter Sagal
2005-2006
October 14, 2005 Hope & Human Spirit Bo Jackson, Mia Farrow, Kyle Maynard, Rev. James Forbes, Jr. Moderator: Frank Deford
December 01, 2005 Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation Ben Bradlee, Sue Bird, Omar Wasow, Tina Brown Moderator: Alison Stewart
February 04, 2006 An Evening With Our Favorite Writers Joyce Carol Oates, Kurt Vonnegut, Jennifer Weiner Moderator: Colin McEnroe
April 05, 2006 A Conversation Between Thomas Friedman & Malcolm Gladwell Moderator: Rita Braver
2004-2005
October 06, 2004 Extreme Politics Howard Dean, Tony Blankley, Katty Kay, Walter Isaacson Moderator: Juan Williams
December 03, 2004 The Future of Human Life...And Medical Science Lisa Sowle Cahill, Arthur Caplan, Francis Fukuyama, Atul Gawande, Gina Kolata Moderator: Michael Martin
February 17, 2005 Yankees vs. Red Sox Red Sox vs. Yankees Bucky Dent, Carlton Fisk, Mike Francesa, Bob Ryan Moderator: Linda Cohn
April 22, 2005 The Culture War David Brooks, Ralph Reed, Frank Rich, Margaret Carlson Moderator: Jonathan Zittrain
2003-2004
September 18, 2003 Personal Security vs. Personal Liberties Fareed Zakaria, Richard Perle, Heather Mac Donald, Steve Shapiro Moderator: Jonathan Zittrain
November 07, 2003 Looking at Life Salman Rushdie, Julie Taymor, Louise Leakey, Story Musgrave Moderator: Leonard Lopate
March 04, 2004 Behind The Scenes With The Simpsons Al Jean, Tim Long, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer Moderator: Colin McEnroe
May 14, 2004 A Conversation Between Al Franken & Ann Coulter Moderator: Steve Roberts
2002-2003
October 11, 2002 Anatomy Of Power Erin Brockovich, Gary Wendt, Julian Bond and Kevin Phillips Moderator: Michel Martin
December 7, 2002 Scientific Journey Oliver Sacks, E.O. Wilson, Sylvia Earle and Timothy Ferris Moderator: Robert Krulwich
March 20, 2003 A Nobel Evening Elie Wiesel, Jody Williams and Oscar Arias Moderator: Juan Williams
May 1, 2003 The Forum Food Fest Jacques Pépin, Ruth Reichl, Mario Batali, Jane Stern and Michael Stern Moderator: Calvin Trillin
2001-2002
October 18, 2001 Being Black Spike Lee, Bill Russell, Anita Hill, Stanley Crouch, and Jamila Wideman Moderator: Charles Ogletree
November 29, 2001 The Power Of Music Bob Weir, Beverly Sills, Nicholas Payton, Trey Anastasio Moderator: Bill Flanagan
February 16, 2002 Our Nation Newt Gingrich, Andrew Cuomo, Jonathan Kozol, Peggy Noonan Moderator: Gwen Ifill
April 19, 2002 A Conversation P.J. O’Rourke, Bill Geist, Mort Sahl, Joe Queenan Moderator: Colin McEnroe
2000-2001
September 28, 2000 What's So Funny? Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, D.L. Hughley Moderator: Will Miller
November 30, 2000 A Historical Evening Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Halberstam, Manning Marable Moderator: Ben Wattenberg
February 16, 2001 What IS The American Family John Rosemond, Geoffrey Canada, Michelle Shinseki, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Eli Newberger Moderator: Forrest Sawyer
May 4, 2001 A Conversation Between Toni Morrison And Frank McCourt Moderator: Juan Williams
1999-2000
OCTOBER 30, 1999 Cruelty, Violence, And Morality Alec Baldwin, Gerry Spence, William Pollack, Alan Keyes, Glenda Hatchett Moderator: Charles Ogletree
DECEMBER 4, 1999 Global Issues...Global Views George Mitchell, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Benazir Bhutto, Merle Goldman Marshall Goldman Moderator: Ray Suarez
FEBRUARY 4, 2000 Explorers & Adventurers Robert Ballard, Susan Butcher, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Tom Whittaker Moderator: Diana Nyad
APRIL 27, 2000 A Conversation Between William Bennett And Robert Reich Moderator: Margaret Warner
1998-1999
NOVEMBER 12, 1998 Brave New World Or Return Of Frankenstein? Dr. David Kessler, Dr. Willard Gaylin, Rabbi Marc Gellman, Dr. Bonnie Steinbock, Dr. Gillian Woollett Moderator: Dr. Peter Salgo
FEBRUARY 6, 1999 The Wonders Of Creativity Jane Alexander, Danny Glover, Howard Gardner, Werner Pfeiffer, Gene Wilder Moderator: Kim Taylor-Thompson
APRIL 20, 1999 A World Of Business Laura D’Andrea Tyson, Todd Krizelman, Stephan Paternot, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Bill Taylor, Michael Moore Moderator: Stuart Varney
MAY 21, 1999 Integrity And The Media Walter Cronkite, Mike McCurry, Ben Bradlee Moderator: Rita Braver
1997-1998
OCTOBER 4, 1997 Mood & Mental Health In America Art Buchwald, Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, George McGovern, Dr. Robert Michels Moderator: [...] Cavett
MARCH 14, 1998 Growing Up With TV Edward Asner, Florence Henderson, Flip Wilson, Henry Winkler Moderator: Will Miller
MAY 30, 1998 The Spirit In Our Lives - Search For Personal Meaning Joan Borysenko, Thomas Moore, Cornel West, M.T. Winter Moderator: Bill Moyers
JUNE 27, 1998 The Wisdom Of Sages William F. Buckley, Jr., Gordon Parks, Gloria Steinem, Studs Terkel Moderator: Pete Hamill
1996-1997
NOVEMBER 1, 1996 A Spoof On Presidential Politics Rob Bartlett, Bob Englehart, Al Franken, Jeff Greenfield
JANUARY 30, 1997 Cyberlife: Technology's Impact On All We Do Mary Catherine Bateson, Christopher Janney, Jaron Lanier, Nicholas Negroponte, Kim Polese Moderator: Michael Kinsley
MARCH 18, 1997 Heroes Among Us Morris Dees, Henry Fernandez, Dr. William Magee, Marc Rubera, Cathrine Sneed, Rachel Wheeler-Rossow, Neil Willenson Moderator: Charlie Rose
MAY 29,1997 A Conversation About Leadership Katharine Graham and Norman Schwarzkopf Moderator: Chris Wallace
1995-1996
NOVEMBER 2, 1995 90 Minutes With 60 Minutes Lesley Stahl, Morley Safer, Andy Rooney Moderator: Colin McEnroe
JANUARY 5, 1996 Values And Ethics In Today's America Joycelyn Elders, Arianna Huffington, Joe Marshall, Tony Snow, Nadine Strossen Moderator: Father Tom Hartman
MARCH 30, 1996 A Conversation Between Jack Kemp & Mario Cuomo Moderator: Judy Jarvis
MAY 31, 1996 Changing Political Landscape...The Sequel James Carville, Molly Ivins, Oliver North, Ralph Reed Moderator: Gwen Ifill
1994-1995
OCTOBER 22, 1994 Global Affairs - A Changing U.S. Role Zbigniew Brzezinski, Henry Kissinger Moderator: Hodding Carter
JANUARY 28, 1995 The Legal System On Trial Bob Bennett, Ralph Nader, Dan Quayle, Edwin Meese, III, Lani Guinier Moderator: Arthur R. Miller
MARCH 25, 1995 About Death and Dying Derek Humphry, Sherwin Nuland, Margaret Farley, Geoffrey Fieger, Paul Armstrong Moderator: Stephen Carter
MAY 19, 1995 Sports Personalities, Heroes? Role Models? Ordinary People? Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Rick Pitino, Robin Roberts, Sterling Sharpe, Chris Webber Moderator: Frank Deford
1993-1994
OCTOBER 15, 1993 Is It News Or Entertainment? Sam Donaldson, Mary Matalin, Bernard Kalb Moderator: Phil Donahue
FEBRUARY 5, 1994 Children & Education, A Look Into The Future Senator Christopher Dodd, Joseph Califano, Eddie Davis, Vincent Ferrandino Moderator: Linda Ellerbee
APRIL 7, 1994 Business Leaders - Looking Into The 21st Century Ron Compton, Michael Bloomberg, John Naisbitt, Jack Trout, Jimmy Rogers Moderator: Charlie Rose
MAY 20, 1994 American Women in Focus - Breaking New Ground Billie Jean King, Eileen Kraus, Faye Wattleton, Sarah Brady, Ellen Goodman Moderator: Deborah Norville
1992-1993
OCTOBER 16, 1992 The Changing Political Landscape Bob Beckel, Ron Brown, Pat Buchanan, Ann Lewis, William Proxmire, John Sununu Moderator: Lesley Stahl
FEBRUARY 6, 1993 Straight Talk And Honest Answers About AIDS Arthur Ashe, Mary Fisher,Larry Kramer, Dr. Robert Gallo, Jeanne White, Shepherd Smith, Jr., Dr.Victor D'Lugin Moderator: Dr.Bob Arnot
APRIL 3, 1993 Dr. Huxtable Comes To Hartford A Night of Entertainment with Bill Cosby
MAY 22, 1993 Focus On Race Relations Chuck D., William Gray, III, William F. Buckley, Jr., Dr. Betty Shabazz, Edward James Olmos, Chief Daryl Gates Moderator: Charles Ogletree