• Dispelling the Myths: "Critical Race Theory" in K-12 Classrooms –virtual (August 24, 2021)
  • Why are conversations about race, equity, racial justice and "Critical Race Theory" in k-12 classrooms so contentious now? Three experienced and acclaimed 2019 Teachers of the Year-AZ, UT, and AR-- share their experiences and perspectives on the social and political debate taking the US by storm. In the wake of the US and global racial justice “reckoning,” where does this focus on Critical Race Theory fall and how does this “controversy” challenge the foundation of US education and race relations?

• Transgender Athletes and Sport – Virtual (August 12, 2021)
  • This presentation addresses myths, misconceptions, and outright lies about trans and intersex women athletes in women's sport. Does fairness in competition mean including all women and putting a stop to policing femininity? According to the International Olympic Committee, "participation in sport is a human right."This presentation will explore connections between testosterone and sport performance and address the current anti-transgender political and social climate. Keynote by Dr. Veronica Ivy and facilitated by Dr. Scott Brooks.

• “Heretics,” Pagans, Atheists, and Polytheists – Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix (September 18, 2019)
  • Too often, Americans' acceptance of world religions is largely contingent upon a theological proximity to Christianity. Hence, Atheists, Pagans, and Polytheists face a slew of stereotypes and discrimination for their beliefs. This program is an opportunity to dispel common myths about these worldviews while highlighting their humanistic emphasis on these seven principles of Humanity 101- empathy, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, integrity, respect, and self-reflection.

• The Angry “Other” Sema Foundation (February 28, 2019)
  • When society is filled with worn out tropes like “the angry black man/woman,” “the spicy Latina” and the “over-emotional woman,” whoever really gets to be angry? Join us in a conversation that explores the way anger is used as a framing device to instill fear and “Other” marginalized communities.

• Drag Kings and Drag Queens Filmbar (November 15, 2018)
  • How does drag culture challenge gender identity? What is the history of drag, and how is drag performance shaping mainstream culture today? Facilitator “Local Hip Historian” Marshall Shore explores these questions through drag performances and community conversation on identity, gender constructions, sexuality, and stereotypes. Local guest performers include Miss X, Mia Inez Adams, Astrud Aurelia, Dagoberto Bailon, Eddie Broadway, and Jericho Galindo.

• Living with Trauma and PTSD UMOM (October 25, 2018)
  • An estimated 70% of US adults have experienced trauma at least once in their lives, and up to 20% of these people go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traumatic experiences can have lasting negative effects on both physical and mental health, especially with traumatic events that occur during childhood. While awareness of PTSD and trauma is steadily increasing, misconceptions remain. Join this conversation about different facets and manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma, while exploring avenues for healing individually and communally

• Religious Doctrines and Religious Dogma ASU Tempe Campus (February 8, 2018)
  • A community conversation with individuals of Sikh, Mormon, Islamic and Secular identities to dispel common myths about their world religions and worldviews.

• Homelessness First Congregational United Church of Christ (March 23, 2017)
  • A conversation on the realities of homelessness and instability in our society. It can happen to anyone, at any time, for any reason. In today’s recovering economy more people find themselves experiencing homelessness.

• Reentry –  I’ve done my time, now what? - West Hall Room 135 (February 23, 2017)
  • A conversation on the realities of reentry into society after incarceration. After these Americans have served their time, they face enormous barriers to rejoin society. For many people, the return to society is only the beginning of a life-long sentence. How do we reinvent reentry for formerly incarcerated people for our communities and our country.

• Recovery Narratives –  West Hall 135 (September 27, 2016)
  • Discussion on recovery narratives and narratives of addiction. Join us as we explore transformative powers of healing through storytelling. Facilitated by Elizbeth Athens with respondents Karla Cesal, Robert Braxton, and Patricia Brooks.

• Youth and Mental Health –  Memorial Union Pima Auditorium (April 7, 2016)
  • Join us for this panel discussion featuring mental health professionals and young individuals who will share stories of stigma, struggle, and success while living with mental illness. 

• Beyond The Hijab: Pakistani Women’s Perspectives –  West Hall (March 26, 2015)
  • A conversation with the visiting Pakistani faculty from the Kinnaird College for Women in Lahore, Pakistan. In partnership with the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict

• Dispelling the Myths of the Beauty and Beauty Queens – Memorial Union Pima Auditorium (March 2, 2015) 
  • A conversation on the realities behind the image of a beauty queen. The panel includes Patti Council, State Director/Producer at Miss Arizona United States Organization and the Miss Arizona World Pageant and the reigning Miss Arizona, Mrs. Arizona and Miss Arizona World. Moderated by Dr. Joanne Rondilla, faculty member in the School of Social Transformation.

• How do we make sense of the seemingly senseless acts that take place in our homes, in our communities, and in our world?
  • Media attention and news headlines of vicious personal attacks in the name of political campaigning, public massacres, blatant abuses of power, and the myriad other happenings around us require self-reflection, critical awareness, and honest dialogue. How does talking, listening and connecting restore our faith in humanity?

• Are We Losing Our Humanity? Politics and Politicians – First Amendment Forum at Cronkite (February 17, 2015)
  • How does one live out their values in today’s political landscape? Join us for a conversation with guest speakers as they talk about their experiences in public service. Panelists include Chris Herstam, former AZ state legislator and gubernatorial chief of staff, Lauren Kuby, Tempe City Council, and Thomas Catlaw, Associate Professor, College of Public Service & Community Solutions. Moderated by Juan Mendez, AZ State Representative. In partnership with the College of Public Service & Community Solutions

• Are We Losing Our Humanity? Looking Through The Lens Of The 2016 Election  - Cronkite Building 128 (November 3, 2016)
  • Looking through the lens on the 2016 political campaign, this program will feature speakers from opposing viewpoints in a debate style symposium. Facilitated by Bruce Meyerson with respondents Karen Adams, Tom Morrissey, and Eshe N. Pickett

• Are We Losing Our Humanity?  Arizona Jewish Historical Society ( November 30. 2016)
  • Individuals are all trying to make sense of the seemingly senseless acts that take place in our homes, in our communities, and in our world. How might the fundamentals of talking, listening and connecting restore our humanity, restore our human ties? 

Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics, to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation.

• Philly D.A. - Virtual (April 28, 2021)
  • In 2017, Philadelphia had one of the highest incarceration rates of any major city in the United States. And it’s become the epicenter of a historic experiment that could shape the future of prosecution in America for decades to come. When civil rights attorney Larry Krasner mounted a longshot campaign to be come District Attorney—and won—he pledged to end mass incarceration by changing the culture of the criminal justice system from within. With unprecedented access to Krasner’s office, Philly D.A. explores over the course of eight episodes the most pressing social issues of our time—police brutality, the opioid crisis, gun violence, and mass incarceration—through the lens of one man attempting fundamental overhaul from within the system.

• Coded Bias - Virtual (March 31, 2021)
  • When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers that most facial - recognition software does not accurately identify darker-skinned faces, she delves into an investigation of widespread bias in algorithms. As it turns out, artificial intelligence(AI) is not neutral. From facial scanning used for policing and surveillance to automated HR systems that mirror and magnify workplace prejudices, these technologies are created with fundamentally biased building blocks. Emboldened by these troubling discoveries, Buolamwini joins a group of pioneering women to shed a light on the underlying biases in the technology that shapes our lives and threatens our democracy.

• Mr. SOUL! - Virtual (February 24, 2021)
  • Before Oprah, before Arsenio, there was Ellis Haizlip—Mr. SOUL! On the heels of the civil rights movement, the public television variety show SOUL!, offered an unfiltered, uncompromising celebration of Black literature, poetry, music, and politics—voices that had few other options for national television exposure. Guided by the enigmatic producer and host Ellis Haizlip, the series was among the first to provide expanded images of Black Americans on television and recognize the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. The film celebrates the groundbreaking PBS series against the backdrop of a swiftly changing political and social landscape, while profiling Haizlip, the charismatic man behind one of the most culturally significant and successful TV shows in U.S. history. With participants’ recollections and archival clips, Mr. SOUL! captures a critical moment in culture whose impact continues to resonate. Panelists include Dr. Tani Sanchez, of University of Arizona, Dr. Jacqueline Trimble of Alabama State and Cornelius Moore of California Newsreel.

• 9to5: The Story of a Movement- Virtual (February 4, 2021)
  • When Dolly Parton sang “9 to 5,” she was doing more than just shining a light on the professional fate of American women. Parton was singing the autobiographical tale of a movement that started with 9to5, a group of Boston secretaries in the early 1970s. Their goals were simple—better pay, more advancement opportunities and an end to sexual harassment—but their unconventional approach attracted the press and shamed their bosses into change. Featuring interviews with 9to5’s founders, as well as actor and activist Jane Fonda, 9to5: The Story of a Movement is the previously untold story of the fight that inspired a hit and changed the American workplace.

• Eating Up Easter  –  Venue: Virtual (June 2, 2020)
  • More than just a picture postcard of iconic stone statues, Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is a microcosm of a planet in flux. Native Rapanui grapple with a booming tourism trade that rakes in money, but brings about a changing climate that threatens the fragile ecology on the island. Rapanui filmmaker Sergio Mata’u Rapu gives voice to his fellow islanders, who struggle to balance their strong cultural heritage with modern-day challenges.

• Always in Season  –  Venue: Burton Barr Library (February 4, 2020) 
  • In Always in Season, descendants of the victims and perpetrators of lynching are working together to heal a violent history. Blending observational footage with first-person testimonies and expert input, Always in Season examines the lingering impact of lynching and the link between this historic form of racial terrorism and the racial violence that exists today.

• Charm City  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (April 18, 2019)
  • Filmed during three years of unparalleled violence in Baltimore, Charm City delivers a powerfully candid portrait of those on the frontlines. With grit, fury, and compassion, a group of police, citizens, community leaders and government officials grapple with the consequences of violence and try to reclaim their city’s future. In partnership with PBS Independent Lens.

• Won’t You Be My Neighbor  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (April 4, 2019)
  • For over 30 years, Fred Rogers was beamed daily into homes across America where he and his cast of puppets and friends spoke simply and directly to young children about some of life’s weightiest issues. There wasn't anything like Mr. Rogers on TV before and there hasn’t been since. In Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville looks back on Rogers’ radical legacy of love and kindness. We welcome you to take this as an opportunity to spread kindness by bringing a men's sweater or pair of shoes to this screening as a donation to our homeless outreach efforts.

• The Providers  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (March 28, 2019)
  • The Providers follows three healthcare providers working at El Centro, a small group of safety-net clinics in northern New Mexico. Amidst personal struggles that at times reflect those of their patients, the journeys of the providers unfold as they work to reach rural Americans who would otherwise be left out of the healthcare system. In partnership with PBS Independent Lens.

• RUMBLE  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (January 23, 2019)
  • RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World brings to light a profound and missing chapeter in the history of American music: the Indigenous influence. Featuring music icons Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Jesse Ed Davis, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Robbie Roberston, Randy Castillo, and Taboo, RUMBLE shows how these pioneering Native musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives.

• Dawnland  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (November 1, 2018)
  • In partnership with PBS, Dawnland is about cultural survival and stolen children: inside the first truth and reconciliation commission for Native Americans.

• Wendell Berry’s Kentucky  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (March 29, 2018)
  • A portrait of the changing landscapes and values of rural America through the eye of award-winning writer Wendell Berry.

• Dolores  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (March 1, 2018)
  • Documentary on the life and struggles of Dolores Huerta.

• Tell Them We are Rising  The Story of Black Colleges and Universities  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (January 25, 2018)
  • The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) began before the Civil War and influenced the course of our nation. 

• I am Not Your Negro  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (November 30, 2017)
  • One of the most acclaimed films of the year and an Oscar nominee for Best Documentary, I Am Not Your Negro envisions the book James Baldwin never finished. The result is a radical up-to-the-minute examination of race in America using Baldwin’s original words, spoken by Samuel L. Jackson, and with a flood of rich archival material. A PBS Partnership with Independent Lens.

• National Bird  –  Venue: Tempe History Museum (November 30, 2017)
  • National Bird follows the dramatic journey of three whistleblowers determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial issues of our time: the secret U.S. drone war, which has been waged globally for more than a decade. The film, executive produced by Errol Morris and Wim Wenders, gives rare insight into the program through the eyes of veterans and survivors, to explore the complexities of drone warfare from a human perspective.

• The Bad Kids – Venue: Burton Barr Library (March 14, 2017)
  • Located in an impoverished Mojave Desert community, Black Rock Continuation High School is an alternative for at-risk students with little hope of graduating from a traditional high school. It's their last chance. This coming of age story shows extraordinary educators and talented students combating the crippling effects of poverty.

• Meet the Patels –  Venue: Burton Barr Central Library (November 28, 2016)
  • Ravi Patel is almost 30 and still single, and his tradition-minded Hindu family is not happy. Meet the Patels explores the influences of culture and identity on the most intense, personal, and important part of one's life — love.

• Peace Officer –  Venue: Burton Barr Library (April 12, 2016)
  • William “Dub” Lawrence was a former sheriff who established and trained one of Utah's first SWAT teams, only to watch in horror as that same unit killed his son-in-law in a controversial standoff years later. In Peace Officer, Dub, driven by an obsessive sense of mission, uses his investigative skills to uncover the truth about that incident and other officer-involved shootings in his community, while tackling larger questions about the changing face of police investigations nationwide.

• The Black Panthers –  Venue: Burton Barr Library (February 16, 2016)
  • In the turbulent 1960s, change was coming to America and the fault lines could no longer be ignored — cities were burning, Vietnam was exploding, and disputes raged over equality and civil rights. A new revolutionary culture was emerging and it sought to drastically transform the system. The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense would, for a short time, put itself at the vanguard of that change.  

• In Football We Trust–  Venue: ASU Memorial Union Pima Auditorium (January 26, 2016)
  • In Football We Trust transports viewers deep inside the tightly knit and complex Polynesian community in Salt Lake City, one of the chief sources of the modern influx of Pacific Islander football players to the NFL. Shot over a four-year period with intimate access, the film follows four young men striving to overcome gang violence and near poverty through the promise of American football.

• Autism in Love  –  Venue: First Congregational United Church of Christ ( January 7, 2016) 
  • Finding love can be hard enough for anyone, but for those with an autism spectrum disorder, the challenges may seem overwhelming. The disorder can jeopardize the core characteristics of a successful relationship — communication and social interaction. Filmed in a highly personal style, Matt Fuller’s Autism in Love offers a warm and stereotype-shattering look at four people as they pursue and manage romantic relationships.

• Dr. Bernice A. King: November 13, 2021
  • In this celebration of our accomplishments and our evolution since 2011, we take time to thank our many volunteers, interns, staff, student workers, faculty colleagues, and community partners who have in any way supported us, present our inaugural cohort of Humanity 101 award winners and also take stock of Project Humanities and the state of our humanity in years to come.

• Veronica Ivy: August 13, 2021
  • When it comes to the topic of transgender athletes competing in sports, people have a lot to say. But it's more than just talk. This debate is expressed through popular culture, policies and politics.

• Nora Mclnerny: March 25, 2021
  • “Keep your chin up.” “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” “Good vibes only.” These phrases, while well-intentioned, can teach each other to hide, even ignore the emotions we’ve deemed “negative.”

• Jane Elliott: November 8 - 10, 2017
  • Are Americans conditioned to an ideal of racial superiority? Jane Elliott, the educator behind the famous "blue eyes, brown eyes" experiment, comes to ASU to help us to recognize, identify, and appreciate the differences on which power is assigned, and some of the ways in which we are conditioned to develop some of our self- perceptions and perceptions of others.

• Bobby Taylor:
  • With over 50 years in the music industry, Bobby Taylor has done everything from “discovering” The Jackson 5 to producing numerous hit singles; all in addition to recording his own work as a solo artist. Spend an Evening with Bobby Taylor experiencing his life, work, and music.

• Clyde Bellecourt: April 20, 2016 Memorial Union, Arizona Ballroom 
  • Clyde Bellecourt is a founder and Director of the American Indian Movement. He was a major figure in the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 and played a founding role in an ongoing Indian School System, Legal Rights Center and the International Indian Treaty Council.

• Ruth Pointer: February 11, 2016 First Institutional Baptist Church 
  • The Pointer Sisters entertained and brought joy to millions of fans around the world, but for Ruth Pointer, the journey wasn’t always a happy one. Learn more about her story in this evening of storytelling and song. A limited amount of VIP tickets will also be sold, which includes a reception, a signed copy of Pointer’s new memoir, Still So Excited!, and a reserved seat for the main event.

• Nikki Giovanni: 
  • Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and University Distinguished Professor of English at Virginia Tech. She has been featured as a signature lecture twice:
    • Topic:  “An Evening of Poetry and Discussion” February 13, 2014- Mesa Arts Center 
    • Topic: “The Compassion, The Courage, The Challenge of Poetry,” October 7, 2011 - Katzin Hall

• An Evening with Riva Yares: April 24, 2013- Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 4
  • Riva Yares is the owner and director of the Riva Yares Galleries in Scottsdale. She has curated major exhibitions for such artists as Arman, Milton Avery, Hans Hofmann, Yves Klein, Morris Louis, Roberto Matta, Jules Olitski, and Jesus Soto, among others. In addition to being the quintessential art dealer, author, and filmmaker, Riva is deeply immersed within the entire spectrum of the arts including theatre, opera, music, and literature. The Riva Yares Foundation is devoted to underwriting museum exhibitions, film restoration, concerts, publishing, and theatrical performances. Riva's philanthropic contributions are concentrated on the AIDS epidemic, including funding for the care of orphaned children living with HIV/AIDS in India.

• Rita Dove: April 12, 2012- Tempe Mission Palms Hotel
  • In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Arizona Humanities Council is proud to present Rita Dove as the keynote speaker for Sharing Words, Changing Worlds. Rita Dove will share poems from her most recent book, Sonata Mulattica, about a young mulatto violinist's encounters with Beethoven. Discussing the research that went into the book, she will reveal how she came to be uniquely suited to the task of rescuing the mixed race violinist George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower from the shadows of history, and how history comes alive through art. Rita Dove recently received the 2011 National Medal of Arts from President Obama. She served as Poet Laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995. Among her many honors are the 1987 Pulitzer Prize in poetry, the 1996 Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities and the 2006 Common Wealth Award. In 1996, President Bill Clinton bestowed upon her the National Humanities Medal. From 1981 to 1989, Rita Dove taught creative writing at Arizona State University. She currently is Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA.

• bell hooks: February 13, 2012- La Sala C Lecture Hall ASU West Campuso
  • bell hooks is one of the major cultural critics of our time. A specialist in race and gender issues in contemporary culture, bell hooks has transformed discussions of feminism, politics, and popular culture with her incisive writing. Author of over 33 books on subjects as diverse as writing, spiritual recovery, love, and teaching pedagogy—all through the lens of race, racism, gender, class, and sexism—bell hooks is one of the nation’s most important public intellectuals. Her work is described as “transformative,” “liberatory,” “revolutionary,” and “soul-changing.”

• Angela Davis: May 5, 2011- Neeb Hall

• Sherman Alexie: February 7, 2011
  • Author, poet, and screenwriter. Topic: “People, Places and Stories”

“Aridity and the Desert” is an event that engages diverse populations in critical dialogue around tough subjects that might otherwise remain unapproached because people have been taught to avoid such contentious topics in public conversation. The “Aridity and the Desert” Dinner and Dialogue series facilitates conversations in everything from morality, politics and politicians, and LGBTQ issues to the future of technology and humanity. While individuals may not agree on perspectives, being aware of other perspectives and respecting civilly and respectfully is a skill on which all can improve. Through structured, civil, facilitated discussions, the “Aridity and the Desert” series doesn’t necessarily intend to resolve tension between people with opposing views, but rather to create a space in which individuals with different life experiences and perspectives can talk freely, openly, and respectfully. These events take place at the dinner table, following the belief that “breaking bread” serves as a cultural ritual through which we can see others as real human beings. The hospitable environment helps people with opposing views communicate more openly with one another without feeling like they are under attack. Even if they are unable to reach consensus or resolve their differences, they will have at least had the opportunity to engage in respectful dialogue and better understand the perspectives of others.