Inforum of the Commonwealth Club
Encyclopedia
Infourm is an off-shoot organization of the Commonwealth Club of California
that hosts panel discussions, debates, and social events for people in their 20s and 30s in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a current membership of 2,500, it is the largest such organization on the West Coast and one of the largest in the country.
Inforum began in 2002 with a mission to involve young professionals in the Bay Area in the arenas of politics, the arts, the environment, business, technology, and culture. Known for its innovative panels, Inforum hosts discussions with nationally and internationally known experts on the kinds of issues facing people in their 20s and 30s such as the state of music, polarized America, soldiers returning from Iraq, and the role of social networking in contemporary culture. The San Francisco Chronicle named Inforum the Best Lecture Series The Bay Area in 2006, and the San Francisco Bay Guardian claims that Inforum is "the best brainiac bonanza... for those wanting to cram more thinking under their caps."
Inforum also gives out the 21st Century Award to individuals who embody the values of the Inforum generation. Recent awardees include Spike Lee
, King Abdullah II of Jordan
, Chad Hurley
and Steve Chen
, the Founders of YouTube
.
In 2007, Inforum began a series of Salon discussions that enable members to interact with prominent writers and thinkers, including Yann Martel
, author of The Life of Pi.
Commonwealth Club of California
The Commonwealth Club of California is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization based in Northern California. Founded in 1903, it is the oldest and largest public affairs forum in the United States...
that hosts panel discussions, debates, and social events for people in their 20s and 30s in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a current membership of 2,500, it is the largest such organization on the West Coast and one of the largest in the country.
Inforum began in 2002 with a mission to involve young professionals in the Bay Area in the arenas of politics, the arts, the environment, business, technology, and culture. Known for its innovative panels, Inforum hosts discussions with nationally and internationally known experts on the kinds of issues facing people in their 20s and 30s such as the state of music, polarized America, soldiers returning from Iraq, and the role of social networking in contemporary culture. The San Francisco Chronicle named Inforum the Best Lecture Series The Bay Area in 2006, and the San Francisco Bay Guardian claims that Inforum is "the best brainiac bonanza... for those wanting to cram more thinking under their caps."
Inforum also gives out the 21st Century Award to individuals who embody the values of the Inforum generation. Recent awardees include Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
, King Abdullah II of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Chad Hurley
Chad Hurley
Chad Meredith Hurley is an American co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the popular video sharing website YouTube. In June 2006, he was voted 28th on Business 2.0's "50 People Who Matter Now" list...
and Steve Chen
Steve Chen (YouTube)
Steven Shih "Steve" Chen is a Chinese Taiwanese American and a co-founder and previous Chief Technology Officer of the popular video sharing website YouTube.- Early years and education :...
, the Founders of YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
In 2007, Inforum began a series of Salon discussions that enable members to interact with prominent writers and thinkers, including Yann Martel
Yann Martel
Yann Martel is a Canadian author best known for the Man Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi.-Early life:Martel was born in Salamanca, Spain where his father was posted as a diplomat for the Canadian government. He was raised in Costa Rica, France, Mexico, and Canada...
, author of The Life of Pi.