Heidi Lacey

MIDDLEBURY — As part of its 2021-2022 speaker series, The American Association of University Women (AAUW) invites the community to the second event of the series on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m., in Ilsley Public Library’s Jessica Swift Community Room.

Heidi Lacey, executive director of Charter House Coalition, will provide an overview of the challenges faced by persons experiencing homelessness in correlation to the inadequate housing opportunities in Addison County in her presentation, “Homelessness & Affordable Housing – Observations from an Emergency Shelter and Outreach Service Provider.”

In an honest discussion about the substantial obstacles faced by this vulnerable population and ways that our community can support the work of the agencies that are most intricately involved in providing both emergency and ongoing services, Lacey will expand upon the many challenges highlighted by Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley, the first presenter in the AAUW speaker series.

The speaker series focuses on “Polarization: What is it? How did we get here?” The current polarized climate of American culture and how it relates to challenges in Addison County and beyond will take into account social, political and sociological factors addressed through the varied lenses of five dynamic speakers.

In 2022, the AAUW speaker series will continue with three Middlebury College speakers who will delve into the reasons for and effects of polarization in the United States by looking at our trust in and understanding of science, the role that American culture plays in our polarized country and the current polarized state of politics.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m.,  Barbara Hofer, professor emerita of Psychology and author of “Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It” will speak. Linus Owens, professor of Sociology, will speak as part of the “Polarization” series on racial and ethnic polarization on Tuesday, March 15. Professor of Political Science Matt Dickinson, will close the AAUW speaker series on Tuesday, April 19, 7 p.m. by focusing on polarization from a political science perspective.

Masks are required for attendance at all AAUW community presentations. AAUW is dedicated to creating equity for all in education, health and welfare through educating the public, supporting equity legislation, and funding women’s education.