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LINEUP LIFE
Upwardly Mobile: INFORUM at The Commonwealth Club
EpiCenter at Yerba Buena
SINGLES and Doubles
Upwardly Mobile...
Staff Report
INFORUM at The Commonwealth Club
 (Interviewee:
Nicole Grant - Director of INFORUM, The Commonwealth Club of California, 415/597-6719)
What is your organization's mission and how is it achieved?
INFORUM's mission is to be the leading platform for the open discussion of issues relevant to young adults. As a division of The Commonwealth Club, INFORUM is infusing the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum with active
and engaged young people who want to come face to face with opinion leaders and be informed about issues of the day. In the past month INFORUM has hosted events that have examined the U.S. media's coverage of the Iraqi war, visited the
underground world of DJ culture and explored trends in spoken word.
Describe the makeup of your organization, i.e. who you want, who you get, and who would you like more of? Why do people join, vs why should they join?
 INFORUM attracts people who strive to broaden their understanding of the world around them. Bay Area 21-35 year-olds come to INFORUM to see A-List
speakers- from rock stars to CEOs to political activists – but also to engage in open discussion and meet others. INFORUM members enjoy special access to members-only events and reduced-cost general events.
In what aspect are you most successful? Tell us about your biggest success to date. How do you measure success?
A successful event inspires action. Our most successful programs garner audiences of over 300 people and serve as a catalyst for direct community involvement with the issues. INFORUM launched in February of 2002 with a membership of 500.
Since that time, membership has ballooned to 1500. We attribute this rapid growth to our ability to offer a range of thought-provoking and quality programming.
Tell us about something new and exciting that your organization is doing.
This year, The Commonwealth Club is celebrating its 100th birthday and honoring the people who shaped the last century. To mark the occasion INFORUM will host a special speaker series, in which we will recognize and honor young leaders 40
who will shape the 21st century. The series will be kicked off with a party in September. Stay tuned for details.
Are all of your events in San Francisco? Do you participate in community outreach programs?
INFORUM has events in both San Francisco and Silicon Valley. In addition to our ongoing events, INFORUM organizes a number of community-focused programs that address issues of concern to the Bay Area community. These special programs are
free to the public. In the last year we presented "Voices of Hunters Point" and "Mobilizing the Community to Improve the Homeless Condition."
What is the biggest myth that people have about the art field or parent group that you are affiliated with? What is the most common misperception?
The legacy of a 100-year-old Club, that has hosted everyone from the Dalai Lama to Martin Luther King Jr. to Madeline Albright, can make it feel inaccessible. INFORUM is increasing access to the Club, by providing bold, cutting-edge
programming that appeals to a younger audience. Recently SF Magazine deemed INFORUM the best place to meet singles if you are looking for a "good policy wonking," and the LA Times referred to The Commonwealth Club as a "presidential forum
and singles hangout."
What is the best way to "test the waters" with your group? If I attend one of your events, what should I expect?
 Visit us online and check out our upcoming calendar! June 4, we met with artists, curators and gallery owners to explore the new "Mission School,"
San Francisco's hottest visual arts export. On June 11, INFORUM will host a wine tasting at the new Bambuddha Lounge at the Phoenix Hotel. On June 25, INFORUM presents "Jews and Arabs: Can They Live Together?" in Part Two of our Middle
East Conflict Series. At INFORUM events you can expect a high level of interaction and intense dialogue.
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