The CT Forum Panelists - In the News!

Connecticut Forum panelists have been making lots of headlines lately. Here's a round-up of some past and future CT Forum panelists who have been featured in recent national headlines:

Kurt Vonnegut: The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library was recently the recipient of a $100,000 grant that will go towards finishing up the library's downtown Indianapolis space dedicated to the legendary American author. Vonnegut participated in our 2006 Forum, An Evening With our Favorite Writers. You can read about the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library in the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune.

Watch Vonnegut at The Forum

Tina Brown: A seasoned Forum Alum, Tina Brown has participated in not one but two Forum events - A World of Change in 2010 and Talkin' 'Bout My Generation in 2005. As the founder and editor of The Daily Beast, Brown's been making headlines this week - including this story in the New York Times - because of The Daily Beast's merger with Newsweek in a joint venture to form The Newsweek Daily Beast Company.

Watch Brown at The Forum

Jonathan Franzen: We're beyond excited that Celebrated Author Jonathan Franzen will be participating in our last Forum of the season, Forum Book Club on May 7, 2011. Franzen, who was also recently featured on the cover (the COVER!) of TIME magazine, has been showered with accolades for his new novel, Freedom, since its release earlier this year. He'll be a guest on Oprah (OPRAH!!) on December 6, where the two are expected to kiss and make-up after their publicized spat a few years back. Here's the dish: Oprah wanted to feature Franzen's first novel, The Corrections, in her book club. Franzen spoke publicly about his concerns that the opportunity might turn off potential readers (namely: males) from reading the book. Oprah subsequently un-invited him and, we can assume, many Oprah viewers added him to their black-list. Now, however, the spat seems to be over and the love-fest can begin.

Patti Smith: Rock Legend Patti Smith wowed everyone at our Forum Music Fest last May - from long time fans to high school age CT YOUTH Forum members who were just meeting her for the first time. Cool, real, and incredibly talented, we celebrate Patti's latest accomplishment: the National Book Award for nonfiction for her memoir, Just Kids.

Watch Smith at The Forum

Ever Wonder What's in Bob Woodward's Refrigerator?

Bob Woodward & Tina Brown at The Connecticut Forum. Photo by Nick Caito.

Each Forum, we ask our panelists to fill out a fun questionnaire to help us get to know them a little better. Check out what Bob Woodward, Tina Brown and Connie Schultz had to say!


What is your favorite place in the world? Why?

Bob: Venice, Italy. It reminds a visitor that time is very old.
Tina: The sofa in our house on Long Island.
Connie: Home-my favorite people tend to be there.


What is something you can't live without?

Bob: My wife, Elsa.
Tina: My Blackberry.
Connie: Optimism.


What book are you currently reading?

Bob: Wolf Hall
Tina: The Blue Sweater
Connie: Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend


What is always in your fridge?

Bob: Water.
Tina: How about ON my fridge? That would be a photo of myself 10 pounds overweight...in a bikini.
Connie: Skim milk from Ohio farmers.


What surprises people about you?

Bob: I don't know.
Tina: I am a secret introvert.
Connie: They never say.

Want more?
Clips from A World of Change
are now available on TheForumChannel!

A World of Change with Bob Woodward and Tina Brown at The CT Forum

Wow, what an evening!

Our Forum last night entitled "A World of Change" featured a conversation between legendary journalist Bob Woodward and renowned author and editor Tina Brown, moderated by Connie Schultz.







Check out these behind the scenes photos!

All photos by Nick Caito, Nick Caito Photo

The evening began with the panelist meeting. Here, our panelists meet for the first time, sign autographs, and gear up for the evening ahead. (Please note the Ohio State hat strategically placed by our Founding President, Richard Sugarman)

Then it's off to the YOUTH Forum Press Conference, where high school students from all over Greater Hartford (and beyond!) have the opportunity to ask our panelists anything that is on their minds in an intimate setting. This is often my favorite portion of the evening, and I can truly say that this may be the best press conference to date. Topics ranged from religion to human rights in foreign nations, and so much more. Bob shared insider information on the new book he is writing about the Obama Administration, and Connie shared touching, heartfelt memories of her childhood.

Bob Woodward sharing a story at the YOUTH Forum press conference.



The theater was buzzing with anticipation and excitement for the Forum to begin, and many audience members took the opportunity to vote on the topics for our next season of Forums!



The full panel onstage.




During intermission, Founding President Richard Sugarman carefully looks over the many great questions from our audience in preparation for the second half...



...and there were many to look over!

This was one of the Forums that truly speaks to our mission: 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.

It was a night full of answers, insights and inspiration-something I think that everyone is looking for in these ever changing times. Meeting Bob Woodward, someone that has been a hero of mine for so long, is something that I will cherish forever. Listening to Tina Brown, I felt empowered, and for the first time in a while, optimistic about what the future holds for me, and the world. "Trying times often provide the opportunity for great ideas to flourish" she said at one point in the evening. Working with Connie Schultz again was like seeing an old friend. I truly admire the voice she has given to "the underdog," and her ability to tackle tough subjects with compassion, balance, and just the right amount of humor and levity.

I hope this Forum provided some of the answers you were looking for. I hope it got you thinking, wondering, questioning, and looking at the changing world around you in a different way.