Jason Koski/University Photography

Janet Shortall at the 2016 Soup and Hope series.

The 10th series of Soup and Hope talks will open Jan. 19 at noon in Sage Chapel with Soup and Hope’s founder, Janet Shortall, associate dean of students and director of Empathy, Assistance and Referral Service and University Crisis Management.

Shortall will recall how the Soup and Hope series was inspired by the anticipated visit to campus of human rights and peace activist Vincent Harding in 2008 and was created to invite “all of us who have attended to reflect on our unique life stories with greater self-awareness… and to search for how we might share in and cultivate greater compassion for self and others.”

Since it began, Soup and Hope has presented more than 50 speakers who have touched, inspired, motivated and stirred hearts. Stories have come from a wide range of Cornell staff, faculty, students, alumni and Ithaca community members who have shared their experiences of hope and courage, change and challenge.

All talks will feature hot soup (vegetarian and nonvegetarian) and bread provided at no charge by Cornell Dining. Consider bringing your own soup bowl, or purchasing one from the program for $5.

Other 2017 speakers include:

• Feb. 2: Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Herrera, who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001 and now serves as an assistant Marine officer instructor at Cornell.
• Feb. 16: Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, executive director of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center and a member of the Tompkins County Legislature, who has lived in Ithaca for 26 years.
• March 2: Tim Shenk, coordinator of the Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations, a Cornell-based social justice education organization, and foster parent with his wife, Alicia.
• March 16: Frances Yufen Lee Mehta, senior lecturer of Chinese Mandarin in the Department of Asian Studies, who has been a Cornell faculty member for more than two decades.
• March 30: Kimerly Cornish, youth and family program coordinator for graduate student families at living at Hasbrouck Apartments.

More information on each of the speakers can be found at the Soup and Hope webpage.

Soup and Hope is sponsored by Cornell Dining, Cornell United Religious Work and Gannett Health Services. Additional support comes from the Office of the Ombudsman, Engaged Learning + Research, Residential and New Student Programs and University Communications.