The Other Epidemic: Gun Violence and Mass Shootings in America with Dr. Matthew Whitaker

Glendale Public Library - Foothills Library - Roadrunner Room 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, United States

Patriotism has been defined as loyalty to or defense of one’s country. What do political leaders and social activists mean when they use the term “patriot”? What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism? Throughout history people have demonstrated patriotism through military service, government service, protests, marches, sit-ins and more. How is patriotism expressed now? […]

FREE

They Beat the Heat: How Arizonans Survived the Desert Heat in the Days Before Air Conditioning with Christine Reid

Glendale Public Library - Foothills Library - Roadrunner Room 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, United States

Drawing from multi-cultural influences of the variety of people who helped build Arizona, discover how creative adaptations in lifestyle, architecture, building materials, town planning and even humor all contributed to surviving intense desert temperatures. What have we forgotten and what can we learn from the wisdom of those who came before as climate becomes a […]

FREE

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: What Is It and How Do We Do It? with Derek Keith

Glendale Public Library - Foothills Library - Roadrunner Room 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, United States

In many organizations, institutions and corporations across the country, the words diversity, equity and inclusion, often referred to as DEI, are being incorporated into mission statements, workplace trainings, and sometimes day-to-day practices. So, what is diversity, equity and inclusion? Are the terms interchangeable, or do they address different issues? Do the definitions change when going […]

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A Free Press: Cornerstone of Democracy with Gail Rhodes

Glendale Public Library - Foothills Library - Roadrunner Room 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, United States

The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects press freedom. Freedom of the press is important because it plays a vital role in informing citizens about public affairs and monitoring the actions of government. But what happens when public trust in the media is eroded by sensationalism, foreign influences or bots, fake news, and business […]

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Specters of the Past-Ghost Towns That Built Arizona with Jay Mark

Glendale Public Library - Foothills Library - Roadrunner Room 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, United States

In addition to an entertaining, visual display of the communities, towns and settlements that contributed to the early growth of the state, this presentation also focuses on respect for these diminishing historic resources. Most of the photographs represent a comprehensive exploration of Arizona ghost towns made by Mr. Mark in the 1960’s and 1970’s. This […]

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Set in Stone but Not in Meaning: Southwestern Rock Art with Allen Dart

Glendale Public Library - Foothills Library - Roadrunner Room 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, United States

Ancient American Indian petroglyphs (symbols carved or pecked on rocks) and pictographs (rock paintings) are claimed by some to be forms of writing for which meanings are known. But are such claims supported by archaeology or by Native Americans? Archaeologist Allen Dart illustrates how petroglyph and pictograph styles changed through time and over different parts […]

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Voting Access: What If Voting Were Mandatory? with Mathew Nevarez

Foothills Library 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, AZ, United States

Voting is an essential part of the electoral process. How do we vote? Where do we vote? What is the process for voting? Join us for an interactive thought exercise: Imagine a scenario where all Arizonans are required to vote. You are responsible for voter turnout. How do you ensure you get voters to the […]

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Era of Artificial Intelligence: What Is Research, and How Is Knowledge Created? with Andrea Christelle

Foothills Library 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, AZ, United States

  In today’s digital world, anyone can publish their writing. Anyone can make a movie. The democratization of knowledge or content creation has given a voice to untold stories. But there is a flipside. Who, or what, gets to create knowledge? Can AI systems create knowledge? When Chat GPT writes a student’s paper, is that […]

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He/She/They: Why Pronouns Matter with Erick Tanchez

Foothills Library 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, AZ, United States

There has been a lot of attention on pronouns in the news headlines recently—from state bills aimed at regulating pronouns in the classroom to social media platforms offering pronoun options. So, what is a pronoun? How are pronouns related to gender identity, such as cisgender, transgender, nonbinary? What are gender identities? Is there a difference […]

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Rivers of Dreams: Songs and Stories of Arizona’s Waterways with Jay Craváth

Glendale Public Library - Foothills Library - Roadrunner Room 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale, United States

The Colorado, the Gila, the Salt, the Verde, the Hassayampa, the Santa Cruz: Arizona’s rivers were lush green ribbons of life flowing through a desert landscape. They became sustaining paths for indigenous traders and immigrants leaving wagon tracks and settlements. The Hohokam built vast canals from the Salt to direct irrigation water for crops. European […]

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