A new initiative aimed at bringing Montclair residents together for face-to-face conversation and shared experiences will launch Sunday, Oct. 4, at Lackawanna Station.

Montclair Forum, created by longtime resident Corinna Sager, will hold its inaugural event, “Where Cultures Connect,” from 3 to 5 p.m. at Keep Creating and The RecRoom, 1 Lackawanna Plaza. The event is free and open to the public.

Organizers say the Forum is intended to provide a space for residents to meet, exchange ideas and learn from one another. The initiative takes its inspiration from the ancient Roman Forum, a gathering place for exchanging news, hearing speakers, debating ideas and conducting business.

“Today, we discuss almost everything online. We text instead of calling. We post instead of talking. And now we even have AI as a companion,” Sager said. “But real connection begins with curiosity. It means wanting to understand someone else.”

Sager, an Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated producer and director, communications coach and professor, has worked in communication across cultures and audiences for more than 25 years.

The Oct. 4 event will focus on Montclair’s cultural diversity. Attendees are invited to bring a food item or wear something connected to their culture, heritage or country.

“I’ve been hoping for something like Montclair Forum for a long time, a place where we can come together and experience the richness of this community,” said Madeline Gale, a Forum committee member and co-founder of Out Montclair.

Montclair Forum grew out of a smaller gathering held at The Space for Art in June. Sager developed the initiative with a committee that includes Deborah Rivers, Gale and Jacqui Chazen. Designer Marco de Mel Pedersen created the Forum’s visual identity.

Event details

Montclair Forum: Where Cultures Connect
Sunday, Oct. 4, 3–5 p.m.
Keep Creating and The RecRoom at Lackawanna Station
1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair
Free and open to the public.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP through Eventbrite to help organizers plan for attendance.