Advocates for Balance at Chautauqua

Our Mission:  "To Achieve a Balance of Speakers in a Mutually Civil and Respectful Environment Consistent with the Historic Mission of Chautauqua."
Would you like to support our mission and receive updates?

Announcing Our 2026 Lectures!!

Riley Gaines
​Monday, June 29th 3PM

In a week devoted to "Icons and Instigators: Women Who Change the World" we can think of no one more important than Riley Gaines who captivated ABC audiences during her last visit. Through her tenacity and eloquence she changed the landscape of women’s sports forever. 

Naomi Schaefer Riley
Monday, July 6th 3PM

Naomi Schaefer Riley is an American conservative commentator and author.   She is an American Enterprise Institute fellow. Writings have appeared in NYT, LA Times,the New York Post and Washington post. For the WSJ writing on religion, higher education, and philanthropy.

Jonathan Turley
​Monday July 12 3PM

George Washington University Law School professor, legal scholar, attorney, writer, commentator and legal analyst on national TV broadcasts and in print. Simon & Schuster selected his February 2026  book Rage and the Republic as their only 250th anniversary release. ​

Allen West
​Monday, July 20th 3PM

Allen B. West is a Christian constitutional conservative, combat veteran, and former member of the US Congress. His life has been defined as one of service, sacrifice, and commitment to the United States of America.  He has held many leadership roles in the Republican Party, and he believes it will be conservative, free market policies, not politics that secures a sound economic future for Americans.

Paul Kengor
​Monday, July 27th 3PM

Robert Woodson
​August 3, 2026

Founder and President of the Woodson Center, Community Development Leader and Author.  In 2020, Woodson Launched the Center’s “1776 Unites” campaign to counter the 1619 Project.

Josh Kraushaar
​Monday, August 10th 3PM

A Washington political analyst with a track record on knowing election trends before they become conventional wisdom.  Author of Axis weekly Sunday Sneak Preview newsletter. A political analyst FoxNews,  Josh is also the editor-in-chief of the Jewish  Insider.

Ben Franklin (Bryan Austin)
​Monday, August 17th 3PM

Bryan Austin is an actor and historian known for bringing historical figures to life, particularly as Benjamin Franklin in his podcast "Let's Be Frank", where he uses primary sources to humorously explore Franklin's life and times.  He's also known for portraying James Madison in Colonial Williamsburg and is a story teller who aims to connect people with history through authentic, first-person accounts. 

Ivan Pongracic
​Monday, August 24th 3PM

Ivan Pongracic, Jr. is the William E. Hibbs/Ludwig von Mises Professor of Economics at Hillsdale College, where he has been teaching since 2000.  He came to truly appreciate the importance of free markets to human liberty and prosperity because of growing up in communist Yugoslavia, where he spent the first fourteen years of his life.  He was involved with various classical liberal and conservative institutions, such as the Foundation for Economic Education, the Independent Institute and the Cato Institute among others.  His book “Employees and Entrepreneurship” came out in 2009.
The topic of his lecture is “A Century of Socialist Failures.”
​

ABC Mourns the Loss of Charlie Kirk

Dear ABC Friends,
​
At a time when our spirit can be fractured by sadness, ABC’s resolve is only growing stronger. We remain firmly committed to the principles of civil discourse. Our mission of listening with respect, engaging with open minds and believing in freedom of speech is, for us, not just a privilege, but the cornerstone of our Republic.Mutual respect is not optional, it is essential. Debate and diversity of thought can only thrive when all voices are heard without fear of disdain or shame.
Thank you for standing with us. Your support strengthens our purpose as we continue to create space where our ideas can be shared freely, and where differences can be met with dignity.
Together we renew our commitment to civil discourse with the respect and freedom that allow it to flourish.

With gratitude and resolve,
ABC Board
 ADVOCATES FOR BALANCE AT CHAUTAUQUA TESTIMONIALS
"Dear ABC,
Your meetings have been a particular pleasure to me. Can't help but wonder if it's because they confirm what I already believe. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed them. I do like to hear other sides, but not ONLY one other side. What I don't understand is the strong animosity toward the ones that you arrange. Even a close friend who happens to be a Democrat, I was shocked to hear that I attended such meetings. I told her that..."  Tell me more ... 
Your Donations and Comments are appreciated ​to continue our mission for Balance.  
Mail To
ABC, PO Box 256, Chautauqua, NY 14722
OR
Proudly powered by Weebly