Gatherings

The institute’s community gatherings include diverse perspectives and foster innovative approaches to questions of justice.

MVP Fridays: Meaning Values Purpose. Tackling big questions.

MVP Fridays

Join us Friday afternoons on home football weekends for lectures by national leaders, journalists, and writers on questions of meaning, values, and purpose.

Bryan Stevenson on stage at the Morris Center

Rev. Bernie Clark, C.S.C., Annual Lecture

The annual Rev. Bernie Clark, C.S.C., Lecture was created by the Institute for Social Concerns in 2009 in order to highlight justice issues and themes related to the common good. Recent speakers include Bryan Stevenson, Colson Whitehead, and Clint Smith.

Junior Parents Weekend Lecture

The Junior Parents Weekend Lecture hosts national writers and journalists to speak to Notre Dame parents, their children, and other attendees. Recent speakers include Eliza Griswold and Elizabeth Bruenig.

Poverty Studies Distinguished Lecture

Our 2025 Poverty Studies Distinguished Lecture featured bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize Winner, Andrea Elliott, who spoke on “Poverty, Survival, and Hope.” Past lecturers include Matthew Desmond.