PLATO Weekly Update 

March 19, 2024

CURRICULUM

SPECIAL EVENTS

THEATER TRIP

Nina Simone: Four Women – Join us for a matinee performance at The Milwaukee Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse Theater on Sunday, May 5 at 2pm. Nina Simone created some of our most powerful Civil Rights anthems. This play with music shines a light on how she found her true calling and gave voice to a movement through impactful and inspirational songs. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST GATHERING
THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee on March 22 from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café on Madison's near east side. Enjoy a cuppa your favorite morning beverage and lively conversation with fellow PLATO members. RSVP as usual with Catherine Masi, but please note that Mary Kirn will be filling in as the host on this date. Learn more and RSVP here.

VIRTUAL SCREENING
NEXT MONTH! On Friday, April 5 @ 1:30pm, Madison Committee on Foreign Relations will host a virtual screening via Zoom of "An Overview of the Rise of Authoritarians: Is It the Future Or Does It Present a Phase That Democracies Must Tolerate?" This previously-recorded lecture was presented by Dr. Jeremi Suri, a former UW-Madison professor from 2001 to 2011 who currently hosts his own popular weekly podcast called "This is Democracy".  Register here to receive the Zoom link and feel free to invite a friend!

STAY IN THE KNOW WITH PLATO
Survey responses showed 95% would renew their membership!

BIG THANKS to all the members who participated in PLATO’s 2023 Annual Member Satisfaction Survey late last year – the results are in and the news is good!
PLATO continues to be a vibrant organization with hundreds of active members eager to share ideas for future programming and growth. Rest assured, your suggestions have been shared with PLATO leadership for active consideration.

Download the 2023 Survey's Key Findings here!

– Your PLATO Membership and Communications Committee

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is If I Were French, a poem written and recited by Susan Hoffman, which inspires the imagination and evokes the senses – très bon! 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your Spring reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for March 19 – April 1, 2024

Did you know that one of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is Literacy Network? PLATO's annual donation supports the program resources budget which includes textbooks for English language learning (ELL) and digital and online resources to enhance the ELL experience.

Literacy Network provides free literacy and English language education to Dane County adults. Their English as a Second Language, basic literacy, citizenship, and GED/HSED programs help participants build skills to reach their personal goals. Following a record-breaking 2023 (with 1,445 students served!), 2024 marks another milestone: Literacy Network’s 50th anniversary!

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Literacy Network and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

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