“Ideas Have Consequences.” In 2024 these words ring as true as they did when Richard Weaver penned his famous book with this title just after WWII.

On September 19th, come hear economist, New Trier High School graduate, and current and former Donald Trump economic advisor Stephen Moorediscuss what’s at stake in November’s election. Pastor Corey Brooks of Project HOOD on Chicago’s South Side will join Steve to discuss education, energy, economic policy and more, and how policy decisions after the elections will play out for Americans across the demographic spectrum.

Net proceeds from this event will support deserving students from Woodlawn’s Project HOOD who are going on to post-secondary education. We will make two grants on September 19th in our second year of issuing the GameChangers NewTrier Neighbors grants — plus we’ll share updates on past grant recipients.

Past Events hosted by New Trier Neighbors

The Power of Agency: Lessons in Transformation from the South Bronx

The past few years have demonstrated the increasing need for school choice options as many have realized their local public schools are simply not the best fit for their children. Falling achievement scores in reading and math across Illinois underscore this need, with even formerly “good” school districts losing ground. Recent announcements by Chicago Public Schools to end selective enrollment and charter schools will only accelerate the demand for school choice.

New Trier Neighbors, with a grant from the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, is pleased to bring a leading voice in the school choice movement, Ian Rowe, to the North Shore on January 22, 2024, at Loyola Academy for a discussion with Ted Dabrowski, President of Wirepoints and board member of New Trier Neighbors.

Ian Rowe is the founder of Vertex Partnership Academies, a network of character-based International Baccalaureate high schools in the Bronx. For ten years before that, Ian was CEO of Public Prep, a nonprofit network of public charter schools based in the South Bronx and Lower East Side of Manhattan. He is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and at the Woodson Center, and is the author of Agency. Register now here!

Unsettled Science: Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents and Young Adults

Thank you for joining us November 13 at the Wilmette Public Library in the auditorium for “Unsettled Science: Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents and Young Adults,” a live discussion with Dr. Michael Bailey and Dr. Lisa Littman.

Video available here.

“The Chicago Way” Returns to the North Shore!

“The Chicago Way” returned to the North Shore on Sunday, September 17, from 4-7 pm in Wilmette for BBQ and insightful and entertaining commentary from legendary Chicago Tribune news columnist John Kass, now of johnkassnews.com, joined by AM 560’s Dan Proft.

200+ came to hear John and Dan tackle the pressing issues facing Chicago and Illinois.

John Kass is a columnist and former editorial board member for the Chicago Tribune. He is now principal of JohnKassNews.com and host of the popular “The Chicago Way” podcast on WGN+.

Dan Proft is an entrepreneur, former Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, and host of Chicago’s Morning Answer, a drive time radio show on Salem Radio AM 560.

What are your Rights in the Classroom?

On Tuesday, May 16, at 6:30 – 8 :30 p.m. we welcomed Will Estrada, attorney and President of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation, two nationwide nonprofits headquartered in Loudoun County, Virginia that have advocated at the local, state, and federal levels to protect children by empowering parents.

We also discussed the reappearance of the controversial novel Two Boys Kissing at NewTrier and how some have obtained an alternative assignment. To read more about the book Two Boys Kissing at New Trier click here.

Cancel Culture, Free Speech and Meritocracy on Campus

On April 20 at the Bottle Shop in Wilmette Dr. Dorian Abbot, University of Chicago professor and fearless defender of freedom of speech and meritocracy on college campuses discussed the state of both on college campuses.

Dr. Abbot’s day job involves the use of mathematical and computational models to explain fundamental problems in Earth and planetary sciences.

But he ignited a firestorm in late 2021 when MIT canceled a public lecture he was scheduled to give on climate and the potential for life on other planets. You’ll hear about that experience and others, as well as progress he’s made to preserve free inquiry and the rewarding of academic excellence as crucial to the mission of the university.

Dr. Abbot is a founding member of the Academic Freedom Alliance, and co-founder of The Heterodox Academy STEM Community and UChicago Free.

Jeremy Adams, teacher and author of “Hollowed Out”

February 7, 6:30 – 8:30 in Wilmette

Have you sensed something is amiss with young people today? Have you noticed a rising pessimism in the kids around you? Do you worry about their lack of connectedness to both the people around them and the institutions that form the basis for American life? Are you concerned about the rising tide of activism among our youth aimed at dismantling these very institutions?

Do kids today seem hollowed out? And, if so, what can we do about it?

New Trier Neighbors welcomed Jeremy Adams, California Teacher of the Year and author of “Hollowed Out: A Warning about the Next Generation,” on February 7th via livestream from California at a live event in Wilmette.

View the video here! Buy his best-selling book here!

The Facts about the SAFE-T Act, Amendment 1, and Other Issues Facing Voters on Election Day

November 2, 6:30 – 8:00 pm at Mallinckrodt

Will the SAFE-T Act (in place starting Jan 1, 2023) make Illinois more safe or more violent? What can be done about it? Is Amendment 1 – also being called the Workers’ Rights Amendment — about “workers’ rights,” or granting unparalleled power to government unions?

More than 65 New Trier Neighbors gathered to hear perspectives from Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski, Mark Glennon and Matt Rosenberg and discuss issues outlined in this recent piece by Wirepoints on the SAFE-T Act, this Amendment 1 website, and a WSJ op-ed about Amendment 1.

“The Chicago Way” Comes to the North Shore

Did you miss our sold out fall event “The Chicago Way Comes to the North Shore with John Kass and Matt Rosenberg”? Click here for video!

On September 18 we were blessed with a beautiful day in a beautiful yard with a free-thinking group of people and the entertaining and insightful musings of two long-time respected observers of Chicago, John Kass and Matt Rosenberg!

John Kass is a columnist and former editorial board member for the Chicago Tribune. He is now principal of JohnKassNews.com and host of the popular “The Chicago Way” podcast on WGN+.

Matt Rosenberg is Senior Editor at Wirepoints and author of What Next, Chicago? Notes of a Pissed-Off Native Son.

Sponsored by New Trier Neighbors and Wirepoints.

An Evening with Deirdre McCloskey

Thank you to all who filled the house at The Bottle Shop on June 27 to welcome Deirdre McCloskey, Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who shared her thoughts on freedom and innovation which as she said has made “everyone in this room wealthier than their ancestors.” Her latest book “Leave Me Alone and I’ll Make You Rich” says it all.
You can read more about Professor McCloskey’s work here.

Identity Politics: The Challenge of Our Time w/ Josh Mitchell and Dan Proft

Professor Josh Mitchell of Georgetown University spoke to a sold-out crowd on the growing danger of identity politics on March 15 at NTN Board member Betsy Hart’s Wilmette home. Radio Host Dan Proft moderated the discussion and the sold-out event barely even allowed for standing room! We were especially excited to have so many new faces join us including students, faculty, and staff from Northwestern University.

We are sorry we couldn’t accommodate everyone on the waitlist, but if you want a good sense of what Professor Mitchell discussed, you can find out by purchasing his book, “American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time.”

FAIR Illinois Holiday Party with Ted Dabrowski interviewing Dr. Jason Hill on his new book!

We enjoyed seeing many of you at the December 4th FAIR Illinois’ holiday party where Ted Dabrowski from New Trier Neighbors and Wirepoints led a wide-ranging conversation and Q&A with DePaul University professor of philosophy and 1776 Unites scholar Dr. Jason Hill about his new book, What Do White Americans Owe Black People: Racial Justice in the Age of Post-Oppression.

Did you miss the event? Watch the video here!

September 28 NTN Webinar with Bonnie Snyder, Author of “Undoctrinate”

We welcomed Bonnie (again!) to discuss her new book Undoctrinate which helps parents better understand the situation on the ground in classrooms along with practical solutions. Video of event available here.