Forum speakers Donisha Rita Claire Prendergast, Ndaba Mandela, and Jasmine Rand.

As daily headlines demonstrate, the movement for civil rights and justice in the world has not been consigned for the history books. It’s a long-term struggle that requires the participation, in large and small ways, of countless human beings – starting with you. I Am the Change is the theme of the opening program of UW-Eau Claire’s 74th annual Forum series. The presentation will be delivered by a trio of contemporary human rights activists: Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of late South African president and anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela; Donisha Rita Claire Prendergast, granddaughter of musicians and activists Bob and Rita Marley; and Jasmine Rand, the attorney for the family of Trayvon Martin, the teen whose death at a hand of a neighborhood watch volunteer stirred renewed debate over how American society treats young black men. The speakers will discuss how all of us – young, old, rich, poor – can mobilize to improve our communities. The presentation is billed as a “once-in-a-lifetime event (that) inspires audiences to pursue meaningful change in their own lives and in the lives of others.” The 2015-16 Forum season includes four other stimulating speakers: On Nov. 17, filmmaker and digital privacy expert Cullen Hoback will present “Terms and Conditions May Apply,” exploring how we have “opted-in” to surveillance by governments and corporations. Former NFL quarterback Eric Hipple’s Feb. 3 lecture, “Real Men Do Cry,” will focus on mental health and his experiences since his 15-year-old son’s suicide. Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig will deliver “Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress – And a Plan to Stop It” on March 2. Lessig contends that lobbying and campaign contributions have subverted our democracy, and calls for a new Constitution Convention to restore the republic. Finally, scholar Reza Aslan will present “Beyond Fundamentalism: Religion, Tolerance and the Modern World” on April 6. Aslan will explore the ideology of al-Qaida and other religious militant groups, as well as the history of violence in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. All Forum events are held in Schofield Auditorium, and typically feature a 60-minute lecture followed by a 30-minute Q-and-A session. Mark you calendars, buy your tickets, and open your minds.

I Am the Change, part of UW-Eau Claire’s Forum Series • Thursday, Sept. 24, 7:30pm • Schofield Auditorium, UW-Eau Claire • Tickets: $8 general admission; $6 for senior citizens, UWEC/CVTC staff; $4 for UWEC/CVTC students and those under 17 • (715) 836-3727 • www.uwec.edu/Servicecenter/tickets/