Dr. Ethan Kross
Shift: Managing Emotions So They Don’t Manage You.
Staying Regulated and Confident - A Guide for Parents and Kids
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
7:15pm – 8:30pm
In Person at Hinsdale Middle School
Ethan Kross is a professor at the University of Michigan, where he leads the Emotion and Self-Control Lab. He studies how people can manage their thoughts and feelings to live healthier, more balanced lives.
His research spans adults, children, and families, and he uses tools from psychology, neuroscience, and everyday life to discover strategies that really work. Ethan is also the bestselling author of Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How To Harness It and Shift: Managing Your Emotions – So They Don’t Manage You, where he shares practical ways to quiet negative self-talk and build emotional strength.
In his talks, Ethan connects science to real life, showing parents, teachers, and kids how small shifts in perspective can reduce stress, boost confidence, and strengthen relationships. From helping children learn healthy coping skills to guiding adults through everyday challenges, his work offers simple, research-backed strategies that anyone can use to feel more calm, resilient, and in control.
Jonathan B. Singer, PhD, LCSW
Youth Mental Health: Signs, Safety, and Success
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Webinar
Today's adolescents are facing more mental health challenges than any previous generation. They are managing pressures in-person and online, navigating expectations from adults and peers near and far, and are acutely aware of how their behaviors are being monitored, scrutinized and stored for the rest of time.
Rising rates of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and suicidal behaviors are a signal that we have to do better for our kids. In this webinar, parents and caregivers will gain insight into the challenges adolescents face today. Dr. Singer will discuss how to tell the difference between everyday stress and more serious conditions like anxiety or depression, how to recognize warning signs of crisis, and how to talk with kids about these sensitive topics. He will also share resources and strategies for finding the right professional help when needed.
Dr. Singer is Professor at Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work and the founder and host of the award-winning Social Work Podcast. He is a well-regarded international speaker who has given hundreds of continuing education workshops, keynote addresses, and presentations on youth suicide, ethics, technology, adolescent development and attachment-based family therapy to audiences in the USA, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
Dr. Katie Hurley
Breaking the Boy Code: The New Playbook For Raising Resilient Boys
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Webinar
Child and adolescent mental health expert and psychotherapist Dr. Katie Hurley shines a light on the urgent mental health crisis facing boys in her latest book, Breaking the Boy Code. She explores how societal pressures and toxic masculinity undermine boys’ emotional well-being, academic performance, and relationships, while also offering practical strategies to build resilience.
Aimed at parents and educators of boys ages five and older, this webinar will provide actionable guidance on fostering empathy, emotional regulation, and healthy connections.
In addition to her clinical practice in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, Dr. Hurley serves as Senior Clinical Advisor for The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to teen and young adult mental health. A sought-after speaker and parenting expert, she has addressed topics ranging from raising resilient and empathetic children to confronting teen depression.
She is the author of five other books, including the award-winning No More Mean Girls, The Happy Kid Handbook, and A Year of Positive Thinking for Teens. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, PBS Parents, and U.S. News & World Report, among others.
Jeff Selingo
Your Perfect Fit: Navigating the Path to Your Dream School
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Hinsdale Central Auditorium
In his latest book, Dream School, New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo helps families reimagine the college search process. At a time when admissions rates are historically low and the pressure to get into “top” schools feels overwhelming, Jeff offers a refreshing perspective: the best-fit college isn’t defined by rankings, but by the opportunities it provides.
Drawing on extensive research and insights from thousands of parents, he encourages students and families to broaden their view of what makes a school truly great—emphasizing career readiness, hands-on learning, and a strong sense of community.
A natural companion to his acclaimed book Who Gets In and Why, Dream School shifts the conversation from how colleges select students to how students can make smarter choices about where to apply. Jeff urges families to move beyond the “Top 25 or bust” mentality and discover hidden-gem institutions that deliver exceptional value.
The program builds on Jeff’s deep expertise as a journalist and author of three other books, including Who Gets In and Why and There Is Life After College. He is a regular contributor to The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and co-hosts the popular higher education podcast, Future U.