Third Coast Percussion
Perspectives For fifteen years, Third Coast Percussion, a Chicago-based ensemble has forged a path in the musical landscape with virtuosic, energetic performances that celebrate the extraordinary depth and breadth of musical possibilities in the world of percussion. Introduction Dr. Thomas Ahrens, Director of Convocation
Desmond Meade
Putting in the Work: A Journey of Second Chances Desmond Meade, President and Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) will share his journey from homelessness to leadership of the FRRC. He will address felony disfranchisement and the reshaping of criminal justice policies, including Amendment 4, which represents the largest expansion of voting […]
Karim Nagi
Drumming to be Heard and Dancing to be Seen Minority and marginalized groups are forced to push for inclusivity and equitable treatment in American society. In this interactive performance, Arab and Muslim musician and dancer Karim Nagi demonstrates how he uses the performing arts to create visibility and advocate for his misrepresented culture. Moderator Dr. Richard Cahill, […]
Dr. Rosalie Richards
Why STEM Matters In her presentation, Dr. Richards, Associate Provost, Professor of Chemistry and Education at Stetson University, and co-author of Introducing Undergraduate Research across the Curriculum, will address questions such as: Why does STEM matter? Why does it matter that STEM is intentionally inclusive (and how do we make that happen)? Why does humanizing […]
Rev. Gail Bowman
The Indisputable Power of a Really Good Question At times, Christianity can seem to be anchored in "do not," "cannot", "should not", and "never." It is possible, though, that Christianity finds its best, most transformative energy, not through prohibitions but through reflections: "What if....?" "Could we...?" "Maybe I can..." In her talk, Rev. Bowman, a Birmingham, AL-based […]
Jake Blount
Spider Tales Jake Blount is an award-winning banjoist, fiddler, singer and ethnomusicologist based in Providence, RI. He specializes in the music of Black and Native American communities in the southeastern United States, and in the regional style of Ithaca, NY. A versatile performer, Blount interpolates blues, bluegrass and spirituals into the old-time string band tradition he belongs to. He foregrounds […]
Norman J. Ornstein
Politics, Elections and Democracy in an Age of Tribalism and Pandemic Norman Ornstein is a political scientist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington D.C. think tank. He will discuss the origins and implications of political divisions in the U.S., including race, education and economics, how they are connected to Trump […]
Dr. Kathy Bullock et al
VirtualThe Women’s Suffrage Movement Through Powerful Songs and Stories Song leaders Dr. Kathy Bullock, Becky Graber, Peggo Horstmann Hodes, and Jane Lowey invite us to join them as they recount the complex, rich, and diverse history of the Women’s Suffrage Movement through powerful songs and compelling stories. This program not only commemorates the Nineteenth Amendment […]
Women of Appalachia
Women Speak The Women of Appalachia Project has, for the past 10 years, been empowering female Appalachian writers and spoken word artists of all levels. In their uncompromising mix of socio-political perspectives, the artists take stereotypes and ill-conceived impressions head on: they layer them in language, speak them, print them, and frame them behind glass. […]
Sheila Arnold
“What Freedom Means”: Oney Judge, Personal Maidservant to Martha Washington Sheila Arnold, historic character presenter, shares the life of Oney Judge as Martha Washington’s maidservant from age 10 until the end of George Washington’s second term of his presidency and into her new adventure of freedom. Arnold’s work as a George Washington’s Mount Vernon Research Fellow […]