Events

Join the Arrow Foundation, a non-profit for young adults and families with multiple sclerosis, for an afternoon of purpose, connection, and community. At this meet-and-greet guests can expect warm introductions, engaging conversations, and the opportunity to learn more about our mission and upcoming initiatives. Together we aim to build partnerships, inspire collaborations, and continue making a positive impact in the community.

No registration is required.

Writer's Workshop (Led by James Pressler)

- Meeting on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month from 2:30pm-4:30pm.

Are you an aspiring author looking for tips and tricks to improve and perfect your craft? Are you interested in sharing your work with other authors for constructive criticism? Are you skeptical of the writing process and looking for answers from your peers? We've got the club for you! Join local author and writer James Pressler twice a month on designated Saturdays at the Writer's Workshop.

With all of the festivities of the season, it is easy to feel alone when sitting with difficult feelings. Join Chaplain Cassie Vaughn for an informative presentation on methods for dealing with grief during the holidays. We will utilize education and clinical knowledge to create a safe space that promotes oneness and assists in the journey of healing.

• Navigating grief
• Anticipatory grief
• Transformative struggle
• Brighter side: deconstructing grief
• Gone from my sight: processing the transition of death

There will be opportunity for shared participant reflection. 

Registration is encouraged.

Nature's Gentle Tai Chi Gong with Brian Thompson

        - Available In-Person @ 9:00am-

Join Brian Thompson, Founder/ Wellness Innovator Speaker/ Healer of Bnew4life LLC as he demonstrates and lead participants in breathing, relaxation, self-calming and gentle movement techniques. These methods help address pandemic related stress, release pain and improve quality of life. Calming music will accompany the natural environment.

Tai chi is a system of movements and positions believed to have developed in 12th Century China. Tai chi techniques aim to address the body and mind as an interconnected system and are traditionally believed to have mental and physical health benefits.

Registration is Required for each Session

Registration will open on January 6th

Craft Time for ages 60 & up

-Available in-person at 11:00AM-12:30PM

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month

Join us in partnership with DeAnna Thurmond for a cozy afternoon with coffee, cocoa and Tea. Take a break and enjoy a relaxing time of crafting, socializing and more. Bring a friend or make a new one.

All crafting materials will be provided.

Light refreshments will be served.

Registration Required

To register, please contact Katherine Goosby

Same event, new day and time! Join us for the Technicolor Teen Coloring Circle at the library! Unleash your creativity with vibrant colors, cool designs, and a fun, relaxing atmosphere. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just looking to unwind, this is the perfect space to express yourself and connect with others. All coloring materials are provided—just bring your imagination!

Registration is encouraged, but not required.

This introductory workshop for adults will give you the tools you need to start your meditation and self-care journey. This workshop is beginner-friendly and all are welcome to join, no prior experience is needed. The session will be guided and accessible.

• Enhance Well-Being: Reduce stress and cultivate calm through guided meditation and self-awareness practices.
• Improve Focus and Productivity: Mindfulness increases clarity, sharpens attention, and supports emotional regulation.
• Build Emotional Resilience: Develop greater balance and inner peace through consistent self-care and grounding techniques.
• Support a Positive Culture: Encourage open-hearted communication and deeper connection amongst one another.

Registration is encouraged.

Jonathan Eig is the bestselling author of six books, including his most recent, Pulitzer Prize-winning King: A Life. Vividly written and exhaustively researched, it is the first major biography in decades of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.―and the first to include recently declassified FBI files. In this revelatory new portrait of the preacher and activist who shook the world, Eig gives us an intimate view of King, who masterfully employed peaceful protest in the streets but was rarely at peace with himself. From the classroom to the pulpit to the streets of Birmingham, Selma, and Memphis, Eig dramatically re-creates the journey of a man who recast American race relations and became our only modern-day founding father―as well as the nation’s most mourned martyr.

Eig began his writing career at age 16, working for his hometown newspaper, The Rockland County Journal News (N.Y.). He studied journalism at Northwestern University, and went on to work as a reporter for The New Orleans Times-Picayune, The Dallas Morning News, Chicago Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.

​According to his parents, his greatest claim to fame is that his name once appeared in a Jeopardy! question. Eig lives in Chicago with his wife and children and shares office space with the laundry machines.

Mark Bazer will join Jonathan in conversation. The host of The Interview Show, Bazer also frequently moderates events for Chicago Humanities and is a contributing writer for Chicago magazine.

Register here. This event is intended for adults. Registration is required and closes at 5:00 pm on the event day. Late registrations will be processed after the live event, allowing access to the event recording. 

This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). 

ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Closed Captioning are provided for all events by default—no special request needed.

Ageless Strength & Mobility

-Available In-Person at the Library at 11:30am

Join us on designated days for an interactive, instructional fitness session with fan-favorite instructor Arlene Santiago! We've taken Chair Yoga and graduated into something even more exciting: Ageless Strength & Mobility!

This program is available in-person at the library. 

Registration is required! 

To Register for this program, please contact Katherine Goosby

Patrons who sign up are registered for classes for the entire month. 

*PLEASE NOTE: Participants must sign the waiver below prior to participating. Participants must be registered to attend.

Participants are encouraged to bring a hand towel and water with them to class.

WAIVER: https://app.waiversign.com/doc/5aa08440a7a14365b71fbd2c

Chess Club for Adults & Seniors

-Available in-person at the library-

The Park Forest Public Library is excited to announce our Chess club for adults and seniors. This is a social club designed to build a community of chess players both new to the game and long time players.

Our goal is to provide a laid back welcoming place for adults to play and connect with other adults who love the game of chess.

This club is informal and self-instructed with no guided teaching. We encourage attendees to engage in friendly competition, introduce new players to the game, and help spread the love of chess.

Chess boards and clocks will be available, or feel free to bring your own.

Chess Club will meet twice a month on designated Wednesdays

Registration is Required

Registration will open on January 2nd