The Contemporary Issues Series

The Contemporary Issues Series (Ci:Series) is a periodic exploration by leading experts of critical topics shaping contemporary life, culture, and community. These experts share their wisdom in community-wide forums designed to stimulate dialogue, spark debate, and promote critical thinking about issues that are important to us all.

Sonoma Country Day School (SCDS) offers a progressive, values-based education in grades K-8 focusing not only on academics, the arts and athletics, but also on environmental science, philanthropy, ethics, cultural literacy, social responsibility, and leadership skills-essential tools for 21st century citizenship. This Ci:Series is in keeping with the premise of our mission, "Our search is for those moments and situations when we are most alive."

For information about current and future Contemporary Issues Events and for tickets sales please click here.

Listed below are descriptions of past events

Ci10: Factory farms or grass-raised animals: Putting the CAFO out to pasture
A conversation with Dan Imhoff

Ci9: An evening with Bill McKibben sharing the 350 message
Presented in partnership with Climate Protection Campaign, Post Carbon Institute, Sierra Club Sonoma Group, Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County and the Network for Spiritual Progressives of Sonoma County

Ci8: Why Biodynamic? A conversation with a farmer, chef, and winegrower
A conversation with Paul Dolan, Jeremy Fox, and Alan York, moderated by Jeff Cox. Presented in partnership with the Sonoma County Wine Library

Ci7: An evening with Vandana Shiva
Author of Soil Not Oil–Securing Our Food in Times of Climate Change. Presented in partnership with Occidental Arts and Ecology Center and the International Forum on Globalization

Ci6: A conversation with Fritjof Capra
Author of The Science of Leonardo: Inside the Mind of the Great Genius of the Renaissance. Presented in partnership with the Center for Ecoliteracy

Ci5: Sustainability in Business, Doing well by doing right
Panel: Paul Dolan, Jib Ellison, and Geof Syphers, moderated by Tina Poles

Ci4: California Supreme Court
Special educational sessions where the justices heard oral arguments in actual civil and criminal cases

Ci3: Khaled Hosseini
In conversation with SCDS Headmaster Philip Nix. Presented in partnership with Copperfield’s Books

Ci2: Hidden Kitchens with The Kitchen Sisters
A night of radio, readings, special guests, and some secret, below-the-radar, local hidden kitchen cooking

Ci1: Sustainable Agriculture vs. Industrial Food
A conversation with Dan Imhoff & Dan Barber, moderated by Clark Wolf