Join us for conversations on racism in America, reshaping teacher preparation, the power of literature and other compelling topics that noted experts will address on campus this month.
Visiting speakers this April include the Haitian-born Edwidge Danticat (April 20), who immigrated to the United States at age 12 and began her acclaimed publishing career two short years later. Her novels include “Breath, Eyes, Memory,” and she is a recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” award. We will also welcome filmmaker Sharon Katz (April 28) for the Boston film premiere of “When Voices Meet” in honor of South African Freedom Day, and former "All Things Considered" host Michele Norris (April 26), founder of The Race Card Project.
April events
Marilyn Cochran-Smith delivers the 21st Annual June Fox Lecture
Thursday, April 13
7 p.m.
University Hall Amphitheater
Dr. Marilyn Cochran-Smith will deliver the 21st Annual June Fox Lecture, titled “Teacher Education & Education Reform: The Policy Paradigm Reshaping Teacher Preparation in the United States.” She is a Boston College professor and internationally renowned teacher education scholar, widely known for her research, practice and policy, including her sustained commitment to teacher education for social justice.
Edwidge Danticat presents the Strauch-Mosse Visiting Artist Lecture
Thursday, April 20
7 p.m.
Harvard-Epworth Church
Award-winning writer and MacArthur Genius Edwidge Danticat will deliver the Spring 2017 Strauch-Mosse Visiting Artist Lecture. Her first novel, “Breath, Eyes, Memory,” was selected for Oprah’s Book Club. She has also written “Krik? Krak!” “The Farming of Bones,” “The Dew Breaker,” and “Brother, I'm Dying.” She has taught creative writing at New York University and the University of Miami.
Michele Norris, member of the Boston Speakers Series panel on “Racism in America”
Wednesday, April 26
12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
Marran Theater
Michele Norris is one of the three distinguished speakers exploring “Racism in America” at our Lesley University Boston Speakers Series, and she will be on campus earlier in the day to speak with students. She is the former host of National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” and the founder of The Race Card Project, which aims to get people to share honest views on race, describing their thoughts in six words. “Race cards” will be available for attendees in Marran Theater and she will discuss the project during her talk. That night, she will be joined at Symphony Hall by Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, and Jason Riley, Wall Street Journal columnist and author of “Please Stop Helping Us.”
Boston premiere of “When Voices Meet” with filmmaker Sharon Katz
8th Annual Arts in Healthcare Conference at Lesley University
Thursday, April 27
6 p.m.
Washburn Auditorium
Join us in celebrating South African Freedom Day with the Boston premier of the award-winning documentary “When Voices Meet,” a joyful and compelling film about courageous South African musicians who broke through Apartheid’s barriers to form a 500-voice, multiracial children’s choir. Threatened with bombs and thwarted at every turn, they prevailed and railroaded across the country aboard The Peace Train. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Sharon Katz, a filmmaker and music therapist who was a story consultant on this project. When Voices Meet. The 8th Annual Arts in healthcare Conference, titled "Responding to Anxiety and Building Community Resilience," is on Friday, April 28.