Forum for Change
In Richmond, celebrity sightings are the stuff of legend.
There were the stories, a few years ago, of actress Hilary Swank shopping in the Fan and Carytown. Before that, dozens of Richmonders saw Bruce Willis milling around Kings Dominion on a summer afternoon. And everyone and their brother claims to have hung out with Sir Anthony Hopkins when he was in town to film "Hannibal" back in 2000.
Yes, in Richmond celebrities roaming freely is just part of everyday life. Or so we would have you believe.
But for The Richmond Forum , connecting Richmonders with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, politics and business is all just part of the mission.
For 22 years, this nonprofit, educational organization has provided Richmond with a unique forum in which citizens can discuss issues of the day with renowned experts in a variety of fields.
"Our main goal is to offer Central Virginians the opportunity to discuss and explore the political, cultural and economic trends and issues that shape and affect our lives and our community today," said Heidi Thompson , director of patron services for The Richmond Forum.
Notable past speakers include Oprah Winfrey, Gen. Colin Powell, Robert Redford, Thomas Friedman, Benazir Bhutto, Tim Russert and Ken Burns. Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, spoke there in November.
"We always try to bring speakers who are nationally or internationally known, who are the foremost authorities in their field of expertise. We try to have a wide range of programming that would appeal to anyone who's living in the greater Richmond area," Thompson said.
The list of speakers is impressive in its own right, but what sets The Richmond Forum apart is the dialogue. Following the speaker's lecture, questions are collected from the audience and then asked onstage by a moderator.
"All of our programs are interactive," Thompson said. "Every time you attend The Forum you have an opportunity to directly interact with the speaker through your questions."
And the interaction continues beyond the walls of The Landmark Theater, where the programs are held. According to Thompson, many of the season subscribers and attendees make a point to end a Forum event with dinner, dessert and lively conversation.
"We like to hear … that the topics brought up in our programs are continuing to be discussed throughout the community," Thompson said.
The Richmond Forum of today is the third incarnation of a Richmond speakers' series that dates back to 1930s. When the first series petered out, the First Unitarian Church of Richmond revived it in the 1960s with The Richmond Public Forum, which ran until 1980.
"The current version was started [in 1986] by … Ralph Krueger and a group of dedicated volunteers," Thompson said.
More than 18,000 people attend The Forum programs each year, proof that the series might finally be here to stay.
"I give the greatest accolades to our subscribers and our sponsors. It's their continued participation year after year that makes The Forum what it is," Thompson said.
Former chairwoman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard, Carly Fiorina , is up next in The Richmond Forum 2007-08 season. Fiorina will discuss her career, her vision for the future of education and the future of business in a global marketplace on Jan. 19.
Academy-award winning actor and producer Michael Douglas will discuss his career and advocacy work on Feb. 16. On March 15, Dr . Henry Louis Gates Jr ., African-American studies scholar and author, will present his new book that traces African American history. And the season ends on April 12 with political columnist David Brooks, who will discuss current events and the upcoming presidential election.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit The Richmond Forum online at richmondforum.org or call 804-330-3993.
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