Communication and secrecy were key to the successful operation of the Underground Railroad. Safety was more important than quickness. Both fugitive slaves and members of the Underground Railroad learned to code and decode hidden messages, and to disguise signs to avoid capture. There were code names for routes and code numbers for towns. A quilt […]
Native Americans in the U.S. are diverse, and their contributions have enriched our lives in countless ways. People do not always realize the origins of Native contributions to the language, culture, and traditions of the U.S. What are Native signs and symbols? What do they mean? Where do they appear? They can represent animals, astrological […]
Artistry in its many forms makes us think, sing, dance, and enjoy the wonders of our surroundings. The arts also allow us to document the lives of our ancestors and learn from the past. Some of the finest early Arizona artists were women who wrote, painted, photographed, and vocalized the magnificence and history of their […]
During WWII a group of young Navajo men enlisted in the Marines without knowing that they would be called on to develop a secret code against the Japanese military. This select group of Code Talkers devised a Navajo language code that was accurate, quick, never broken, and saved many American lives. This talk profiles 4 […]
What is an ally? As a White person, do you struggle with how to respond to racism at work, at home or in your community? If so, you are not alone. Many allies seek effective tools to engage in honest and productive conversations about race. How do you talk to White friends, relatives and neighbors […]
The issue of the US/Mexico border, or any border today, is of central importance. This presentation takes the history of the Berlin Wall as a starting point to address what walls have done to people and cultures throughout time. Can the Berlin Wall help Arizonans understand the critical issues better? Even if that might not […]
The issue of the US/Mexico border, or any border today, is of central importance. This presentation takes the history of the Berlin Wall as a starting point to address what walls have done to people and cultures throughout time. Can the Berlin Wall help Arizonans understand the critical issues better? Even if that might not […]
We are thrilled to host Professor Rosemarie Dombrowski for an intimate evening of poetry. Dr. Dombrowski is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Phoenix. She is the founding editor of rinky dink press (a publisher of micro-collections of micro-poetry) and The Revolution (Relaunch), a radical and creative resurgence of the official newspaper of the National Woman's Suffrage Association. Her collections include The […]
Water is necessary for life, but as supply shrinks, choices must be made about who is given access to water and who isn’t. Communities across Arizona are going dry. This means that some residents may have no choice except to move. How do we decide who gets access to water, and who does not? Should […]
What is the experience of Native Americans in the U.S.? What is Native? What is Indian? What is Indigenous? The experiences of Native Americans in the U.S. are complex, and filled with a rich history marked simultaneously by pride, honor and achievement, and by political, religious and racial disparity. How does social media perpetuate stereotypes […]
We come from different places and backgrounds. Our life experiences and backgrounds can affect the way we see the world and each other, for better or worse. What is implicit bias, and how does it shape our attitudes and actions towards others? How do stereotypes affect our understanding, actions, and decisions? “Implicit bias” can cause […]