About

Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness—these four fundamental human values are the key to unlocking great unity and humanity. In her new book It’s Time to Give a FECK, Chaz Ebert takes us through a heartfelt journey through the most adverse circumstances, uniting strangers in the name of love. WBEZ host Sasha Ann Simons (Reset) joins Ebert for a conversation on the transformative power of universally shared values, exploring how good can come from the most frightening of circumstances and positive strides in human behavior can be made from even the most horrifying experiences.

Since her husband’s, Roger Ebert’s, death in 2013, it has been Chaz Ebert’s fervent desire for things such as forgiveness, empathy, compassion, and kindness to spread in such a viral way that they become a natural part of our lives. A next step to the work Chaz and Roger began together, It’s Time to Give a FECK is a call for the elevation of unity among humanity and a movement to transform empathy into action.

A book signing for It’s Time to Give a FECK will immediately follow the program.

Biographies

Chaz Ebert is a producer of television and movies, and the CEO of Ebert Digital LLC—publisher of the preeminent movie review site, Rogerebert.com. For twenty-four years, she shared a life with Pulitzer-prize winner, Roger Ebert. In their work to foster empathy through cinema and around the globe, they established the Ebertfest Film Festival and the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies at the University of Illinois. Chaz has passionately continued to lead all established events, while endeavoring to nurture the next generation of film writers, critics, and filmmakers through the Roger Ebert Fellowship, launched in 2014 by Sundance Institute Founder, Robert Redford. She also continues to award the Golden Thumb and Ebert Humanitarian Awards at Ebertfest, and at the Toronto and Chicago International Film Festivals to filmmakers who exhibit an unusually compassionate view of the world.

As president of the Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation, Chaz’s civic passions include programs to help break the glass ceiling for women and people of color; and to provide education and arts for women, children, and families. As the founder of “Day4Empathy,” Chaz has become celebrated in the media and Chicago community for spearheading efforts for kindness-induced change. In her pledge to foster the FECK Principles of forgiveness, empathy, compassion, and kindness, she has also become a sought-out lecturer who has touched tens of thousands of attendees at events like Cannes; Telluride Film Festival; the Palm Springs Film Festival; Toronto, Chicago and Hawaii International Film Festivals; and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Her contributions have garnered her the 2022 FACETS Legend Award, 2022 Ruby Dee Humanitarian award at the Black Reel Awards, 2011 Focus Achievement Award from Women in Film Chicago and being named a 2019 Laureate of the Beethoven Spirit Award at the 10th Annual Beethoven Birthday Bash.

Sasha-Ann Simons is an award-winning journalist and the host of WBEZ’s Reset, a daily midday talk show from Chicago's NPR station. She comes to the Windy City from Washington’s NPR station WAMU where she was a program host, regularly behind the mic on newscasts and talk shows. Sasha-Ann was also a national reporter, focused on issues of race, identity, and economic mobility. Her accolades include a regional Edward R. Murrow award, a Radio Feature award from the National Association of Black Journalists, and multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. Sasha-Ann obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University and studied film and television production at American University.

Event Overview

5:30pm | Reception Begins

6:00pm | Conversation Begins

7:00pm | Program Concludes

Attire

Club Smart/Business Casual

Parking

The nearest parking garage to the University Club is the Grant Park North Garage (25 N Michigan Ave).

About the University Club of Chicago

The University Club of Chicago is a private club with a 100+ year history of serving generations of Chicago’s civic, arts, philanthropic, and business leaders. The Club has welcomed luminaries from the world of art, architecture, literature, music, theater, science, sports, and government and recognized icons in Chicago’s cultural history from Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Tom Hanks, Mary Beard, Margaret Atwood, Pete Townsend, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Fareed Zakaria, and other visionaries.

Chaz Ebert- It's Time to Give a FECK: In Conversation with Sasha-Ann Simons