Monthly Dialogue Sessions

The forum, which will convene on a monthly basis, will feature a variety of speakers on a number of topics.  Presenters will include prominent and recognized practitioners in diverse fields, as well as emerging leaders.  Frank Talk’s target audience will be young professionals between the ages of 25 and 40.  These individuals will represent an array of areas within the private, public, academic and non-governmental arenas.

Beyond providing attendees with an opportunity to hear various perspectives on current trends and developments, the structure of Frank Talk will allow for its constituents to be active participants.  First, by creating opportunities for genuine dialogue within each of the monthly sessions; then via a Frank Talk website, that will provide participants with an ongoing avenue for daily dialogue. 

A sampling of Frank Talk discussion topics include:

• BEE & Affirmative Action, Still Necessary?
• The Relevance of land reform in an urban environment
• Black Consciousness in the 21st Century

Frank Talk Website

The Steve Biko Foundation will develop a website as a component of this initiative.  The Frank Talk Website will serve as a vehicle through which program participants can interact with one another on a continuous basis.  Beyond the chat function, the website will also feature original articles and sourced material of relevance to South African development.  In creating linkages to relevant information and institutions, the site will seek to highlight resources that are often overlooked by Frank Talk Constituents, particularly those relating to policy formulation.  Finally, the website will also feature webcasts of the quarterly Frank Talk Workshops, allowing individuals who are unable to attend the forums to remotely participate and register their input.

Frank Talk Journal

Alongside the aforementioned Frank Talk Online, linked to the Frank Talk dialogue series will be the Frank Talk Journal.  As conceptualized, the Frank Talk Journal will be published on a quarterly basis.  Not only will the journal be available to Frank Talk attendees, participants will also have an opportunity to contribute.  While Frank Talk is intended to be a scholarly publication, it creates opportunities for “lay” people, or those not recognized by the academic establishment, to contribute thoughtful pieces on topics of their choice. Generally, there are few outlets which allow members of the public an opportunity to publish their perspectives in any great length or depth.  Frank Talk Journal will help to meet this need.