1. What is the goal of the CAL Forum?
The CAL Forum prepares young men to discover a professional mission in life that is best adapted to their individual talents and that will have the greatest positive impact on society. To this end, the Forum aims to provide training in the virtues and sound principles.
2. What is the format of the program?
Each session includes:
- For freshmen and sophomores: The "Big Picture" Seminar, focusing on responsibility in present decisions which impact their future, and an interactive activity to practice communication skills.
- For freshmen and sophomores: The "Big Picture" Seminar, focusing on responsibility in present decisions which impact their future, and an interactive activity to practice communication skills.
- For juniors and seniors: The Professional Seminar, focusing on specific virtues and leadership qualities. This seminar includes a presentation by a professional in which the speaker discusses his journey of professional discernment, how his work impacts society, and the virtues he has needed to accomplish his goals.
- For all grade levels: individual mentoring, through which CAL Forum students learn to set ambitious goals and hold themselves accountable to their ideals.
3. Who is organizing the CAL Forum?
The CAL Forum is sponsored by Garber House and Menlough Study Center, which are dedicated to the academic and character formation of young men. The Christian orientation of their activities is the responsibility of Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church.
4. I have another commitment at the same time as two or three of the sessions. Can I still participate in the Forum?
Yes, but each session builds on the previous one, so we strongly encourage you to attend every session. In this way you will also gain valuable experience in prioritizing your commitments. We do not pro-rate the fee based on sessions attended.
5. How can I get to Garber House?
Garber House is located at 1827 Oxford Street in Berkeley, (view map) at the corner of Oxford and Hearst, just a few blocks from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. If you want to coordinate travel plans with other boys in your area or along the same BART route, feel free to contact Mark Gibson at gibson.mark2@gmail.com or 925-451-6251 for the East and North Bay, or Matt Bowman at mattwbowman@gmail.com or 415-595-3487 for the San Francisco and South Bay areas.
6. I would have a hard time paying the full price. How can I apply for a scholarship?
Please note on the application that you would like to be considered for a scholarship, and a member of the Forum staff will contact you to discuss the details.
7. How should I dress for the CAL Forum meetings?
The appropriate dress is business casual, i.e. - button-down shirt (not t-shirt or polo shirt), slacks (not jeans or shorts), and dress or casual shoes (not athletic shoes).
Definitely. We encourage you to invite your friends to apply for The CAL Forum. When friends attend the Forum together, they reinforce each other’s commitment to prepare themselves to be the true leaders of our society in the coming years. If you would like a brief presentation of the program for you and your friends, contact Mark Gibson at gibson.mark2@gmail.com or 925-451-6251 for the East and North Bay, or Matt Bowman at mattwbowman@gmail.com or 415-595-3487 for the San Francisco and South Bay areas.
