Coffee & Conversation

Join us for the ORIGINAL Coffee and Conversation at BU's Howard Thurman Center!

HTC Director Nick Bates will introduce the program plus there will be coffee and cookies! This event is open to everyone in the BU community and their guests.

Coffee and Conversation isn’t just a program of The Howard Thurman Center, it’s a Boston University tradition. It’s the pioneering platform that first brought consistent public dialogue to our campus. Established over 20 years ago as the original space for open discussion, this weekly gathering has become a cornerstone of BU’s commitment to thoughtful, inclusive conversation. Students, faculty, and staff convene at the HTC to delve into the latest headlines, pressing issues, and challenging ideas.

Grounded in Howard Thurman’s Love-Ethic, this program invites you to practice civil discourse, express your viewpoints, and learn from the diverse perspectives of others. Curious about this week’s topic? Don’t miss your chance to be part of BU’s longest-standing forum for public dialogue!

Ground Rules: We always remind participants in this program that in this space we critique ideas not people as everyone’s human existence is valid. Howard Thurman implored us to consider “love as something that can be inserted into the fabric of society.” Therefore, we ask participants to abide by the following:

1. Everything offered in this space is offered with love and grace. In return, we expect everyone to receive everything as such.
2. We will open and close each Coffee and Conversation with an offer of gratitude to an individual or community to ground us.
3. Participants will be reminded of the tenets of Howard Thurman’s Love-Ethic