The Bellarmine Forum
The LA We Are, The LA We’re Becoming
Los Angeles is a place in motion, shaped by its layered histories and ongoing transformation.
The 2025 Bellarmine Forum, presented by StudyLA, invites scholars, practitioners, students, and community members to engage in a yearlong exploration of the forces defining life in L.A. From wildfire recovery and urban planning to trust, belonging, and shifting public narratives, this series will examine the complexities and possibilities of the region’s future. Through inclusive, interdisciplinary events, the Forum aims to center the people of Los Angeles and spark meaningful civic dialogue about where L.A. has been and where it’s going.
Tentative Events Schedule
Fall 2025
- Monday, September 8 | Opening Panel Discussion: "Reframing LA: Historical Roots and Urban Imaginaries"
- September Community Roundtable: "Latinos in LA: Culture, Politics, and Power" (co-sponsored with Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies)
- October Panel Discussion: "After the Fires: Knocked Down but Never Out"
- October Town Hall: “What Does it Mean to Belong in LA?”
- November Panel Discussion: "Designing the Olympics: Planning and Legacy in LA 2028"
Spring 2026
- January Panel: "Resilience in Southern California"
- March Panel: "What Angelenos Think: Reflections from StudyLA's Polling"
- March Panel: "The Future of California: Putting LA into a Statewide Context"
- April Closing Event: Student Showcase & Panel: "Imagining LA Futures" (in conjunction with the Undergraduate Research Symposium)
About
The Bellarmine Forum is an annual celebration of the life of the mind in relation to LMU’s mission and heritage. Each year, the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts offers programming that engages an important question or theme. These conversations and events impact the education of our students, provide space and time for critical reflection for our faculty and staff, and build capacity toward future programs. Events are open to the community.