Minnesota Public Radio to Host Three Free News Events at MPR's UBS Forum in St. Paul

Sep 21, 2010

WHAT: Minnesota Public Radio is hosting three upcoming free news events at MPR's The UBS Forum in St. Paul. The public is invited to attend and help spark the conversation.

Minnesota Public Radio Presents Scott Simon
Thursday, Sept. 23
7-8:30 p.m.
The UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio, 480 Cedar Ave., St. Paul
Tickets: Admission is free, but RSVP is recommended. Go to mprnewsq.org and click on "Events."

NPR's host of Weekend Edition and author Scott Simon comes to The UBS Forum to discuss adoption and how it impacts a family. Minnesota Public Radio's Phil Picardi will host the event. Simon's new book Baby, We Were Meant For Each Other is based on his wife and his journey toward creating a family with the adoption of their daughters. He takes a closer look at the stories of other adopted children and brings understanding to what truly makes a family. Simon's book will be available for purchase, and there will be a signing after the event.

More about Scott Simon: Scott Simon is the host of NPR's Weekend Edition and the author of Pretty Birds, Windy City, Home and Away, and Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball. Simon also hosts shows for PBS and appears on BBC TV. He has reported stories from all 50 states and every continent, and has won every major award in broadcasting.

"Bright Ideas" with host Stephen Smith and guest University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks
Tuesday, Sept. 28
7 p.m.
The UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio, 480 Cedar Ave., St. Paul
Tickets: Admission is free, but RSVP is recommended. Go to mprnewsq.org and click on "Events."

University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks and "Bright Ideas" host Stephen Smith will discuss the future of higher education--whether we have the capacity to dramatically increase the number of college graduates, and what could happen to the country's global competitiveness if we fail to do so.

More about Robert Bruininks: Robert Bruininks has been the President of the University of Minnesota since 2002. He began working at the University as a professor in 1968, and formerly served as the Dean of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development. He holds a B.A from Western Michigan University, and earned both his Master of Arts and doctor of philosophy degrees at George Peabody College (Vanderbilt University).

More about Stephen Smith: Steven Smith is the host of MPR's new "Bright Ideas" talk series, which pairs Smith with the state's top experts to talk business, education, and politics in front of a live audience. Smith is also the long-time editor of American RadioWorks, the du-Pont Award winning documentary unit of American Public Media.

Minnesota Public Radio Presents David Rakoff with host John Moe
Wednesday, September 29
7-8:30 p.m.
The UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio, 480 Cedar Ave., St. Paul
Tickets: Admission is free, but RSVP is recommended. Go to mprnewsq.org and click on "Events."

In his new collection of essays and stories, Half Empty, actor and author David Rakoff takes a humorous look at today's culture and why we should always assume the worst. Rakoff will be joined by host John Moe to shed light on his witty stories, which touch on everything from accepting mortality to why nerds will one day rule the world. Rakoff's book will be available for purchase, and there will be a signing after the event.

More about David Rakoff: David Rakoff is a regular contributor to public radio's This American Life and author of Fraud and Don't Get Too Comfortable. Rakoff can be seen in several films, including the Academy Award winning short film The New Tenants, and has acted in various television and stage projects.

More about John Moe: John Moe is host of Marketplace Tech Report (formerly, Future Tense) and has been featured on public radio programs such as All Things Considered, Day to Day, The Splendid Table, and on the evening edition of Marketplace. Moe is also the former host of American Public Media's Weekend America, and a long-running technology and business program at public radio station KUOW in Seattle.