PLATO Weekly Update

March 7, 2023

THE AGORA
The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

NEXT WEEK! Submission deadline: Friday, March 17, 2023!

What is The Agora?
For those new to PLATO, The Agora is PLATO’s literary and arts journal, designed to celebrate members’ creativity and diversity of thought. The liberal arts tradition is a core value of PLATO. The Agora is a unique opportunity for PLATO members to share their talents with the membership in printed form. 

Seeking Submissions
PLATO members are invited to submit original works for the 2023 edition of The Agora, Volume 8 in the following categories: Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction (including essays) and Visual Arts (painting, sculpture, drawing and photography).

Please note: Literary works do not need to be submitted in Word Document format. Some members were finding this to be a barrier to submission. Learn more about the submission process and guidelines on The Agora webpage. 

Questions may be directed to The Agora Managing Editor, Edie Urness-Pondillo at epondillo@aol.com or to PLATO's Office Coordinator, Stephanie Steigerwaldt at info@platomadison.org.

This is a blind juried review. Click here to learn more and submit your work.

To view highlights from this past season, click on The Agora Features button below.

CURRICULUM

SPRING COURSES
Have a question about a Spring Course? Find the answer on the Courses page.

WITH GRATITUDE...
We extend a hearty thank you to our 2022 retiring coordinators – find a list of these special people in Curriculum Showcase. PLATO depends on the generosity of people like these to make our programming rich and diverse. If you have an interest in offering a course, please email Kathie Burman.

CLASS CANCELLATIONS DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
When a class session is canceled due to weather or another unforeseen situation, the course coordinator will contact the participants to let them know.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THEATER TRIPS
TWO PLAYS – this Spring at The Milwaukee Repertory Theater!

God of Carnage – “A dark and hilarious farce” and Tony award-winner for best play. Sunday, April 23, 2pm at Quadracci Powerhouse Theater. Reserve your spot now as the registration deadline is Wednesday, March 22. Learn more and register here. 

The Greatest Love for Whitney: A Whitney Houston Tribute –  A journey through her record-setting hits. Saturday, May 6, 3pm at the intimate Stackner Cabaret. 
Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST GATHERING
THIS WEEK! Second Friday, March 10 at 9:30am, join fellow PLATO members and guests for breakfast and conversation at at Lakeside Street Coffee House in the Bay Creek neighborhood. Seating is on both the main floor and downstairs levels. You will need to descend a flight of steps in order to be seated on the downstairs level. RSVP and learn more here.

LECTURES
THIS MONTH! On Wednesday, March 29 at 2pm at Capitol Lakes, author Scott Spoolman will share highlights from his new book Wisconsin Waters: The Ancient History of Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls. Learn more about this event, parking validation, and the author.

NEXT MONTH! On Wednesday, April 19 at 1pm, Martin Alvarado, Community Engagement Librarian at the Madison Public Library, will present a two-hour virtual lecture on The History of Latino Migration to Wisconsin. Learn more and register here.

As always, explore recorded PLATO Lectures on a variety of interesting and important topics.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

Select from a range of topics and formats 

for your 2023 reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

DID YOU KNOW? for March 7 – 20, 2023 

Daniel Hale Williams (January 18, 1856 – August 4, 1931) was the first African American physician admitted to the American College of Surgeons. A pioneering heart surgeon, Williams performed the first successful human open-heart surgery in 1893 at Provident Hospital in Chicago, IL. As an advocate to end racial disparities in the medical field, he co-founded the National Medical Association in 1895, a professional organization for black medical practitioners because the all-white American Medical Association did not grant membership to black doctors.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Daniel Hale Williams 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable contributions made by non-mainstream individuals you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).