REGISTER

CLASSACT HR73 BRIDGE TOOLBOX SERIES:

UNLOCKING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

With Krish Bhatia and Katie Marinello

Wednesday, June 4th, 7:00 - 8:00pm ET

Have you ever wondered how artificial intelligence could support your nonprofit’s mission—but felt uncertain about where to begin? Or perhaps you’ve been hesitant to explore AI tools, unsure of how they align with your organization’s values and day-to-day realities? On June 4th, join us for a webinar on the uses and ethics of AI as it pertains to non-profits. Panelist and Digital Communications Consultant Katie Marinello will speak to the use of AI as a creative tool,  and how to balance use of AI with ethics and integrity around content creation. Krish Bhatia, Founder of the Transparent donation platform, will share a practical toolbox of AI applications designed specifically for nonprofits. From understanding the basics to seeing real examples in marketing, content creation, and donor management, you'll leave with concrete ways to implement these tools within your organization's unique structure.

REGISTER

Lindsay L. Clarkson ’73 will speak about psychoanalytic perspectives on our relationship to the natural world: reckoning with our capacity for destructiveness and our capacity for concern.

REGISTER

Wednesday, April 23rd, 7:00 - 7:45pm ET on ZOOM

Meet Our Bridges is ClassACT HR73’s way to introduce our classmates and extended community to our Bridge Partners by letting them create awareness of their mission as well as solicit volunteer help and/or donations.

This April, we feature the Cole Resource Center, an organization which offers custom guidance to those in our community who face mental health challenges: individuals living with mental health conditions and their family and friends. CRC’s free support services include referrals to resources, job coaching, and opportunities for open, stigma-free conversation. CRC staff share their lived experience and expertise as peers and allies in navigating the journey to healthy and productive living. Cole Resource Center President Ellen Faran ’73 will be joined by four of her CRC colleagues in introducing the work of this small nonprofit and discussing the unique value of non-clinical services in meeting today’s intense needs for mental health support.

REGISTER

As federal environmental laws and policies are being gutted, people fired and programs defunded, it is more important than ever for citizens to recognize their power and ability to enforce existing environmental laws. Citizen suits against private parties and suits to compel government officials to adhere to those laws can be an effective tool. Drawing on his extensive background as an attorney with US Fish and Wildlife, US Department of Justice, and the EPA, along with examples from his experience with the Potomac Riverkeeper, Defenders of Wildlife and Earthjustice, Bob Dreher '73 will talk about the role that citizens can play in the enforcement of environmental laws. He will also describe the origin of citizen suit provisions and the constraints that apply to citizen plaintiffs. After his talk, there will be time for questions and discussion.

REGISTER

This is an especially consequential and timely topic given current levels of vaccine hesitancy and shifting vaccine requirements in the United States. We plan to cover crucial impacts – past, present and future – of vaccines; technologies for developing even more effective, quick-to-market vaccines; new ways to expand vaccine supplies and increase availability; and encouraging vaccine acceptance and trust through better communication about the science of vaccines.

This forum will be moderated by Jonathan “Jono” Quick ’73, MD, MPH, Adjunct Professor of Global Health at Duke Global Health Institutes. Our panel of experts includes Joseph Martin ’73, Ph.D, Research Fellow, Pfizer Bioprocess R&D, Pharmaceutical Sciences (Retired), Pfizer Global Research and Development; Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D, Co-Director, Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Baylor College of Medicine; Francis S. Collins, MD, Ph.D, NIH Distinguished Investigator, National Human Genome Research Institute and Former Director, National Institutes of Health; Heather Lanthorn, Assistant Director, Research and Programs, Duke Global Health Innovation Center; and Michael T. Osterholm, Ph.D, MPH, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota.

Click here

Fun was had by all on the evening before Valentine’s Day as close to 70 classmates gathered online to celebrate the 10th Birthday Bash of ClassACT HR73. 

Attendees were able to share their opinions on a variety of topics in six virtual breakout rooms. These rooms were cleverly identified by the nostalgia of our days in Cambridge. The rooms included: Elsie’s (fine dining, cooking, entertaining); The Fogg Art Museum (Fine Art); The COOP (Literature); Brattle Theater (theater, film, television, and streaming; Charles River (Leisure Activities); and Soldier’s Field (Sports). People hopped from one breakout room to another, so we are in the process of compiling a summary of recommendations (ie. books, restaurants, museums, etc.) to share with all the participants. The positive reactions and responses point to future class get togethers, and we include some of the resources we received in the chat above! They include books, movies, recipes, and theatre recommendations.

REGISTER HERE

Learn at Lunch: Food and the Global Environment, With Jason Clay '73

Wed. March 5th, 12:00 - 1:00pm ET on ZOOM

Producing food has always been essential to human survival. As population and consumption have grown, food production and trade have intensified to address global demand and the need for food security. As a result, the environmental and climate impacts of providing food for the world have increased dramatically. Food production is one of the largest contributors to climate change. It is more complicated to address than either energy or transportation, yet receives only 2-4% of global climate funding. This is a danger sign. Soon food production will likely be the single largest emitter of the CO2 emissions contributing to climate change. Yet, food production, when done right, can reduce and sequester emissions. Jason will explore some of the key issues and trends in this essential human activity that need to be addressed, as well as a few of the strategies he is working on to shrink the footprint of the global food system.

REGISTER

10 years, 31 Forums, 15 Bridges, 7 BBLP Fellows, and scores of newsletters, calls to action, webinars and learn at lunches later, the ClassACT HR73 community has changed the world. Whether you are a regular volunteer, bridge sponsor, webinar/ forum attendee or are just beginning to know us, you are a part of ClassACT and we have done this TOGETHER. Now, as we move into our organization’s next decade, it’s time to celebrate US!

Please join us for a Zoom cocktail party featuring our ClassACT community of classmates.  

Beginning with the whole group gathering for toasts, you will then have an opportunity to rotate through (or stay in) breakout rooms for lively conversation based on common interests. These will include sports, entertainment, literature, and fine dining to start, but the discussions can lead wherever you want them to go. The party will end by gathering again as a whole group for final comments and toasts.

Mark your calendars for February 13th and tell us you are coming by registering here.

REGISTER

Meet Our Bridges is ClassACT HR73’s way to introduce our classmates and extended community to our Bridge Partners by letting them create awareness of their mission as well as solicit volunteer help and/or donations. In February, SACP Co-Founder and Executive Director Robert Clayton '73 introduce the Sports Analytics Club Program, which aims to expand STEM education opportunities to underserved high school and middle school students.