Participate in the important questions of our time. The Forum is a conversation and speaker series that brings people together to explore challenges and opportunities that affect human flourishing through the lens of the humanities and civic imagination.

You’re invited to the June 24, 2025 gathering of The Forum featuring Michelle Icard.

Parents are raising their children under more scrutiny than any previous generation. Raising a family, once a personal and private endeavor, is now subject to a slew of expert opinions, algorithms, targeted advertising, community feedback, and peer judgment. While research and opinions can be helpful, and transparency can be cleansing, we can't deny the added stress they bring to the already tough job of raising kids. Earlier this year, the Surgeon General issued the first ever public health warning about the mounting crisis of stressed out parents.

Michelle Icard is a parenting author who has studied children, teens, parents and parenting trends for over twenty years. Her work is rooted in practical experience, a fascination with good research, and empathy for families who feel pressure to curate parenthood to fit the new "industry" of child rearing. Michelle has a background in education and curriculum development, has authored three best-selling parenting books, is a regular contributor to national news outlets, and travels the country to speak at schools and community organizations about raising tweens and teens.

Join us for an evening of cutting through the noise, confusion, and stress of modern parenting and leave understanding which parenting pressures are based on “myth” and which parenting practices actually give “meaning” to raising, happy, resilient kids and becoming a satisfied parent and person along the way.

Connect. Consider. Ignite. Doors open at 6:00 to mix and mingle. The program runs from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM including time for conversation, connections, and Q&A.

The Forum has a three-part structure:

• First third: Participants connect in small break-out groups prompted by a question;

• Middle third: Participants consider a presentation by a guest speaker that ends with a question posed to the audience;

• Final third: Participants discuss the question, igniting new ideas and possibilities.

Event ticket is $40. This is an in-person event with limited seating.

Location: Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207

About The Charlotte Center

The Charlotte Center is a community forum and civic action catalyst that invites curious people into meaningful connection and problem-solving informed by deep consideration of the human experience. Our mission is to help people and communities flourish.

The Charlotte Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. We are supported by individual donors, grants, sponsorships, and revenue from our programs. We invite you to join us.

thecharlottecenter.org