麻豆社

Collaborative Programs

Schemel Forum events are sponsored by .
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To register for programs and for more information, please contact the Schemel Forum at 570-941-4740 or schemelforum@scranton.edu

Tuesday, October 20 ⋅ With the Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities

The 3 Degrees of Why: Moving Beyond Positions to the Stories That Shape Us

In today's polarized climate, conversations often stall at the level of positions—what people believe—without exploring the deeper layers that shape those beliefs. This interactive workshop introduces The 3 Degrees of Why, a framework that helps participants move beyond surface disagreement to understand the reasoning, values, and stories that influence how people see the world. Through guided reflection and exercises, participants will explore how beliefs are formed, including the role of both lived experiences and the stories we encounter through the wider cultural and media landscape. By learning to recognize these deeper layers, participants will gain practical tools for engaging in difficult conversations with greater curiosity, discernment, and understanding.

Peace Ike is a culture strategist, dialogue facilitator, and speaker who works across both secular and faith-based spaces to build bridges and foster cultural transformation. After earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh, she spent 15 years repairing broken bodies—only to discover her deeper calling: repairing broken bonds. In 2018, she launched her nonprofit organization, The Gathering Place Philly, a community engagement initiative promoting healthy city-wide flourishing through shared meals and courageous conversations across differences. Today, she leads Set The Table Strategies and Unoffendable Life, providing relational skills support in both the workplace and the community.

Brennan Hall, Rose Room, 509 ⋅ 6:00 p.m.

Presentation and Discussion — Complimentary and Open to the Community, Courtesy of the Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities

Thursday, November 12 ⋅ With the Friends of the Memorial Library

The Freedom to Read: A Screening and Panel Discussion of The Librarians

Across the United States, an unprecedented wave of book challenges has put librarians on the front lines of a debate over democracy, intellectual freedom, and who gets to decide what communities read. The Librarians (dir. Kim A. Snyder, Sundance 2025) follows library professionals in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and beyond as they organize, resist, and defend the freedom to read in the face of harassment, legislation, and coordinated political pressure. Following a full screening of the documentary, our panelists will reflect on its themes and open the conversation to questions from the audience.

Susan Campbell Bartoletti is an award-winning author of nonfiction for young readers whose books include the Newbery Honor title Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow, the Sibert Award-winning Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, and They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group, which was featured in the documentary. A lifelong resident of northeastern Pennsylvania and 麻豆社 alumna, she was the 2013 recipient of the Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award and has devoted her career to bringing suppressed histories to light through rigorous research and compelling narrative.

Prof. Kate Cummings is an Assistant Professor and Research & Instruction Librarian for Business & AI at the 麻豆社's Weinberg Memorial Library, where she focuses on information literacy, assessment, and intellectual freedom. Former Chair of the Pennsylvania Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee and now its elected 1st Vice President/President-Elect, she is a recognized leader in library advocacy and professional development across the Commonwealth.

Michele Legate is the District Consultant for the Northeast Library District, based out of the 麻豆社 Public Library. Her work with 25+ public libraries in Northeastern Pennsylvania helps to bring a deep institutional perspective to questions of intellectual freedom and the evolving roles of libraries in democratic life. She is a former President (2020) of the Pennsylvania Library Association and a committed advocate for open access to information and community literacy.


Brennan Hall, Pearn Auditorium, 228 ⋅ 6:00 p.m.

Documentary Film Screening and Panel Discussion with light food and refreshments — Complimentary and open to the community. Courtesy of the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library

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