Youngstown State University’s History 4820 course, “History in the Headlines,” will host a public speaker series this fall examining major issues in the news and their effects on people in the Mahoning Valley.
The programs will be held at 6 p.m. at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, 151 W. Wood St. The series is designed to make history accessible and relevant while encouraging community conversation about contemporary issues.
The 2026 schedule includes:
- Sept 1: “Is world migration a crisis in the 21st century, and if so, what kind of crisis is it?” with Vicki Vicars of Thrive Mahoning Valley.
- Sept 15: “How have political party divisions in the U.S. become so vast, and can they be healed?” with Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, and Josh Prest, district representative for the office of U.S. Sen Rob Portman.
- Sept. 29: “Why are the U.S. and Iran at war, and does Iran have to have a nuclear weapon at its disposal in order to be a world power?” with Negin Mirzade Yazdi, a YSU international student.
- Oct. 6: “What is the war between Russia and Ukraine about, and how can it be brought to an end?” with Brian Bonhomme, a YSU professor of Russian history.
- Oct. 20: “Is the gap between rich and poor growing in the Western world to the point where there needs to be some sort of change?” with A.J. Sumell, a YSU professor of urban economics.
- Nov. 3: “Is another world pandemic coming, and will science be able to stop it?” with Dr. Dee Banks of Northeast Ohio Infectious Disease Associates.
- Nov. 17: “Will China overtake the U.S. as an economic power in the 21st century?” with Mousa Kassis, director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center Export Assistance Network.
The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, contact David Simonelli at dsimonelli@ysu.edu.
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