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.
Events Schedule
Fall 2025
- Monday, September 8 | Opening Panel Discussion: "Reframing LA: Historical Roots and Urban Imaginaries"
- Monday, September 15 | Community Roundtable: "Latinos in LA: Culture, Politics, and Power" (co-sponsored with Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies)
- Monday, October 13 | A Dialogue with Former U.S. Secretary Xavier Becerra
- Monday, October 20 | Recollecting Los Angeles: A Conversation with Mayor Hahn
- Tuesday, October 28 | Redrawing our Future: A Discussion on Proposition 50
- Thursday, October 30 | A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant in L.A. Nourished a Community
- Tuesday, November 4 | (Every Day Is) Taco Tuesday
- Monday, November 17 | Housing Los Angeles: A Conversation with Candidates Faizah Malik, Estuardo Mazariegos, and Marissa Roy
Spring 2026
- Tuesday, March 17 | A Free Screening of "Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics"
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.