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APS 2024
Season

Active. Informed. Engaged.

An informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will.

– Thomas Jefferson

In our tenth season, American Public Square at Jewell offers live events, podcasts and digital programming that encourage community members to take an active, informed and engaged role to address our society’s most pressing issues.

Join APS by attending a live or virtual event, and “Opt-In” to conversations that open hearts and minds and move our community forward. Learn more about our upcoming programs below.

22
Oct

The Influential Watchdog

6:00 PM 8:30 PM
The National WWI Museum and Memorial -  2 Memorial Drive - Kansas City, Missouri
20
Nov

2024 Presidential Election Unpacked

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Truman Presidential Library and Museum: 500 W US Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050
09
Dec

Evening at the Square 2024

5:30 PM 8:30 PM
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | 4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111

Signature Events: Our Signature Events comprise APS’ main programming and are typically offered as hybrid events, with the in-person component hosted in the KC metro. We bring in expert panelists with diverse perspectives to engage in civil, fact-based conversation on the most important issues faced by our community and nation. These topics range from healthcare to politics, faith to community, education to civic engagement, and more. To ensure these events remain civil and fact-based, APS leverages our Civility Toolkit to govern panelist and audience participation. All Signature Events are free and open to the public.

Member-Only Events: These exclusive events are only available for current American Public Square Members. They include Member socials, special speaker receptions, and our Cocktails & Politics series, which brings in high-profile speakers to talk about our government, our political system, and what you can do to affect change in your community. Additionally, APS Members also enjoy our monthly Member newsletter with exclusive content and early access to event information. You can learn more about APS Membership here. 

Civic Education Initiative: The APS Civics Education Initiative engages high school and college students in a variety of ways to impart to them the importance of civil, fact-based discourse, civic engagement, and community participation. In addition to educational lessons, internships, and special activities, participants in the effort are given the opportunity to organize APS programs – effectively these events are designed for students, by students to help their peers become more active and engaged in their community. The events are free and open to the public.

Past Events

01
Oct

Beyond the Symptoms

5:30 PM 7:15 PM
Johnson County Central Resource Library, Carmack Room, 9875 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212
19
Sep

Fall Community Film Screening: “Join or Die”

5:00 PM 7:30 PM
Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Hall at Rockhurst University: 5351 Forest Avenue, Kansas City, MO
16
Sep

Discussion Group: How to Raise a Citizen – Resurrection

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Resurrection Leawood, 13720 Roe Ave, Leawood, KS 66224
12
Sep

Discussion Group: How to Raise a Citizen – Pine Ridge Presbyterian

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Pine Ridge Presbyterian, 7600 NW Barry Rd, Kansas City, MO 64153
27
Aug

Let’s Talk Politics! An APS Members Summer Social

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
The Fire House KC at 4518 Troost Avenue Kansas City, MO
05
Aug

Ten Years After Ferguson: The State of Policing

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Resurrection Downtown: 1601 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
02
Aug

TEDxKC: APS Activation

4:30 PM 10:30 PM
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
25
Jul

Cocktails & Politics with Esther George

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
The Kauffman Foundation Conference Center: Town Square Room
27
Jun

Watch Party! Presidential Election Debate

7:30 PM 9:30 PM
Kansas City PBS Building: 125 E. 31st St., Kansas City, MO, 64108
21
May

A Happy Hour Event by APS & LIFT KC

4:30 PM 6:30 PM
Discourse Brewery and Taproom | 7211 W. 97th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212
25
Apr

Triggering Change: Engaging Community to Combat Gun Violence

06:00 PM 8:00 PM
Kansas City Library | Plaza Branch: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
09
Apr

An Evening with Adam Hochschild, author of American Midnight

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
The National World War I Museum and Memorial -  2 Memorial Drive - Kansas City, Missouri
19
Mar

The Stadium Tax Debate

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
KC Library: Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St. | Truman Forum Auditorium
08
Feb

Community Film Screening: “Join or Die”

5:15 PM 7:30 PM
UPDATED LOCATION: Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center | 8788 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212
24
Jan

Let’s Talk Politics! A Members-Only Dinner Social

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Unity Temple on the Plaza 707 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO 64112
04
Dec

Evening at the Square 2023

5:30 PM 8:30 PM
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | 4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111
26
Oct

What the Constitution Means to Me: Discussion and Show

5:00 PM
Copaken Stage (Power & Light district): 1 H&R Block Way, Kansas City, MO 64105
14
Oct

Community Event: 2023 Bridge-Building Innovation Showcase

5:00 PM 7:30 PM
Unity Temple on the Plaza 707 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO 64112
11
Oct

Cocktails & Politics with Governor Eric Holcomb

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Truman Presidential Library: 500 W US Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050
19
Sep

Partner Program: Yascha Mounk, Ph.D. at Park University

6:30 PM
Park University (Parkville): Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall
09
Aug

Members Event: Cocktails & Politics with Margaret Talev

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Boulevard Brewing Co. | Brewhouse 2-Heim Room, 2501 Southwest Boulevard Kansas City, MO 64108
18
Jul

Civics Education Initiative: 2023 Educator Workshop

William Jewell College campus | Liberty, MO
11
Jul

Discussion Group: Women in Politics

5:00 PM 7:00 PM
Plexpod Westport Annex: 300 East 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64111
07
Jun

Reparations in KC

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
University Academy, 6801 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO 64131
25
Apr

Life and Legislation: America’s BIG Divide on Abortion

05:30 PM 7:30 PM
Kansas City Library | Plaza Branch: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
17
Apr

APS Discussion Group: Is America As Divided As It Seems?

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
The Pilgrim Chapel, 3801 Gillham Road Kansas City, MO 64111
21
Mar

CANCELED, CENSORED, BANNED

05:30 PM 7:30 PM
National WWI Museum and Memorial
01
Mar

RESCHEDULED – Discussion Group: “Women. Life. Freedom.”

8:30 AM 10:00 AM
Diastole Scholars Center
01
Mar

Discussion Group: “Women. Life. Freedom.”

8:30 AM 10:00 AM
Diastole Scholars Center
15
Feb

Cocktails and Politics with Phil Allen, Jr.

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
2000 Vine Street Kansas City, MO 64108
26
Jan

Movie & Discussion: “Class of COVID-19”

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Johnson County Central Resource Library, Carmack Room, 9875 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212
13
Dec

Cocktails and Politics

5:30 PM 7:30 PM
J. Rieger & Co. 2700 Guinotte Avenue Kansas City, MO 64120
29
Nov

Evening at the Square 2022

5:30 PM 8:30 PM
The National World War I Museum and Memorial -  2 Memorial Drive - Kansas City, Missouri
27
Oct

Courageous Discomfort – Conversations about Race and Racism

6:30 PM
Unity Temple on the Plaza Sanctuary
25
Oct

The Politics of Gen Z

6:00 PM
UMKC, Pierson Auditorium
28
Sep

APS Discussion Group: Are You a Feminist?

6:00 PM
Amigoni Urban Winery
27
Sep

KCMC: Exclusive Brew Launch

5:00 PM 7: 00 PM
Crane Brewing | 6515 Railroad Street | Raytown, MO 64133
13
Sep

Big Ideas. Big Challenges: What’s America’s global end game?

6:00 PM 7:30 PM
Kansas City Public Library: Plaza Branch
17
Aug

Addressing Gun Violence in Public Spaces

6:00 PM 7:30 PM
Johnson County Central Resource Library, Carmack Room, 9875 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212
26
Jul
24
May

The Politics of Mother Nature

6:00 PM 7:30 PM
The Community Event Center at Donnelly College
28
Apr

Erasing the Red Lines

6:30 PM 8:00 PM
Kansas City Library | Plaza Branch: 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
06
Apr

Protect and Serve Kansas City

6:00 PM 7:30 PM
Country Club Christian Church: 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO
22
Feb

Cocktails & Politics with Katherine Gehl

6:00 PM 7:30 PM
In-person (Members Only) and Livestream (General Public)
27
Jan

Disrupting American Politics

6:00 PM 7:30 PM
Virtual
28
Oct

APS Discussion Group: The Upswing

5:30 PM 6:30 PM
Webinar via Zoom
05
Oct

Evening at the Square 2021

6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Virtual
02
Sep

The Rise of Antisemitism From the Left and the Right

6:30 PM
Union Station Kansas City | Regnier Extreme Screen
04
Aug
30
Jun
26
May

Gun Violence in Missouri: Seeking Solutions

12:30 PM CST 1:00 PM CST
Webinar
19
May
28
Apr

Coming Together: APS Discussion Group #3

5:30 PM CST 6:30 PM CST
Webinar via Zoom
08
Apr

Student Loan Debt: Where do we go from here?

6:00 PM CST 7:30 PM CST
Webinar via Zoom
06
Apr

Coffee and Politics with Congressman Don Beyer

6:00 PM CST 7:00 PM CST
Webinar via Zoom
31
Mar

Coming Together: APS Discussion Group #2

5:30 PM CT 6:30 PM CST
Webinar via Zoom
31
Mar

Gun Violence in Missouri: Seeking Solutions

12:30 PM CST 1:30 PM CST
Webinar
24
Feb

APS Discussion Group – Forward Together

5:30 PM CST
Webinar via Zoom
11
Feb
08
Dec

Gun Violence in Missouri: Seeking Solutions

12:30 PM 1:30 PM CST
Webinar via Zoom
01
Dec
27
Oct
14
Jul
29
Jun
24
Jun

Cocktails & Politics featuring Kevin Yoder

6:00 PM 7:00 PM
Webinar via Zoom
15
Jun

The Oath of Commitment

5:30 PM
Webinar via Zoom
11
Jun

Cocktails & Politics featuring Margaret Talev

6:00 PM 7:00 PM
Webinar via Zoom
18
May
04
May

Are We All in this Together?

5:30 PM
Webinar via Zoom
29
Apr
25
Sep
20
Sep

Author Ken Ilgunas

2:00 PM
Kansas City, MO
09
May

Special Screening of “The Pursuit”

6:00 PM
UMKC Student Union
12
Mar

Pre-K For All?

The Robert J Mohart Multipurpose FOCUS Center
28
Feb

Lifelines: Preventing Teen Suicide

6:30 pm
United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
04
Dec

Common Good: A Model for Community Engagement & Racial Equity

6:30 pm
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
13
Nov

The Criminalization of Policy

6:30 pm 8:00 PM
Savior Pastoral Center, Kansas City, KS
01
Nov
23
Oct

The Good Fight For Resources

6:30 pm
Unity Temple on the Plaza
11
Oct

One Person, No Vote? A Conversation with Carol Anderson

6:30 pm 8:00 PM
Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel, Park University
06
Sep

Up In Arms: Kids & Guns

6:30 pm
Unity Temple on the Plaza
08
May

Healthy Minds: Mental Health & Schools

The Ball Conference Center
25
Apr

Metro-Area Student Debate Series, part 2

National World War 1 Museum & Memorial
19
Apr

East is East & West is West

Johnson County Library
26
Mar

Marriage & Millennials

6:30 pm
Boulevard Brewery
13
Mar

Fake News

Unity Temple on the Plaza
01
Feb

Insuring a Future: The ACA & American Health Care Reform

5:30 PM
Pierson Auditorium, Atterbury Student Success Center, UMKC
06
Dec

NATO: Truman to Trump

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
09
Nov

Bad Choices. No Choices. Food Insecurity

University of Missouri Kansas City
16
Oct

The Elephant and Donkey in the Room

National World War 1 Museum and Memorial
22
May

Home Sweet Home: Aging in Place

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
09
May

Eat, Drink and Be Healthy: Public Health Services

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
01
May

Evening at the Square with Matthew Dowd

6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Boulevard Brewery Company
19
Apr

Violence, Community & Faith: Connecting the Dots

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
07
Mar

Cops and Community

6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Robert J. Mohart Multi-Purpose Center Facility
21
Feb

An Eye for an Eye: Reevaluating the Death Penalty

6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch
07
Feb

Live, Work, Play: Social Determinants of Health

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
24
Jan

Live and Learn: Neighborhoods, Education and Transformation

6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Village Presbyterian Church
17
Jan

Religion and Race: Chasm or Bridge?

6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Redeemer Fellowship
15
Nov

The Neighborhood Effect

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
13
Oct

Why Can’t We Be Friends: Civility and Politics

6:30 pm 8:00 PM
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
10
Oct

Documentary Screening: Best of Enemies

7:00 PM 9:00 PM
University of Missouri Kansas City Theatre
20
Sep

The Painful Truth

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
06
Jun

Evening at the Square

6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Boulevard Brewing Company
11
May

Cents and Sensibility

6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Kansas City Library, Plaza Branch
21
Apr

Crossroads of Religion and Politics

5:00 PM 8:00 PM
Church of the Resurrection
07
Apr

Our Schools: Raising the Failing Grade

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
16
Mar

Who Can Help Johnny Read?

6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Kansas City Public Library, Central Library Branch
07
Mar

Muslim in the Metro

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
18
Feb

Varieties of Spiritual Experience: East and West

7:30 PM 9:00 PM
Village Presbyterian Church
28
Jan

All in the Family

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
10
Dec

Religious Literacy: What We Don’t Know is Hurting Us

7:30 9:00 PM
Village Presbyterian Church
02
Dec

KCI Up in the Air

6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Kansas City Public Library, Central Library Branch
22
Oct

Talking Scripture: Dialogue, Discussion and Disagreement?

6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC
07
Oct

A Dose of Reality: A Medicaid Status Report

5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Pierson Auditorium, UMKC