Some people regard Florida as nothing but the "Punchline State" because so many weird things happen here. Craig Pittman argues that is also the greatest state with the greatest impact on other states. In this presentation based on his hilarious and thought-provoking New York Times bestselling book Oh Florida!, Mr. Pittman explains how what he calls "The Most Interesting State" got to be the way it is. Registration is not

The Center for Excellence at Florida International University is hosting a panel discussion to engage the public in a scholarly conversation about prison literacy programs. What are some possible goals for prison courses; is it self-expression or transformation? Do prison literacy courses create opportunities for advocacy and systemic change? Focusing on the non-profit Exchange for Change as a case study, the panel will explore the impacts of writing courses for

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida International University is hosting a lecture that will investigate J.S. Bach's genius in writing polyphonic works and will offer participants an introduction to the composer and his most famed collection of keyboard works, the Well-Tempered Clavier (WTC). Bach's musical style often incorporated one of the most intellectually demanding compositional processes-counterpoint. Simply defined as note-against-note, this style of writing dominated much of the Baroque

This presentation takes audiences on a historical journey through the state, featuring performances of songs covering a wealth of historical events, characters, and folklore with in-depth storytelling about Ponce de Leon's voyage to Florida in 1513, Henry Flagler's building of the Florida's East Coast Railroad, and more. Original songs come from Chris Kahl's Florida-themed albums, Orange Blossom Memories and Sunshine Kid. Admission is free, no registration required. Reception to follow

Oaktree Community Outreach is hosting the annual Back to Angola Festival a 3-day event, in partnership with Reflections of Manatee. The venue is the Manatee Mineral Spring Park of Bradenton's River walk. The event is a public humanities program and community festival that celebrates, pays homage to, and disseminates the story of the Black Seminole settlement "Angola," its history, its inhabitants, and the resilience of its descendants. The theme for

The Museum of Science and History Jacksonville presents Dr. Tameka Hobbs for a Community Conversation about the history of voting rights in Florida. Dr. Hobbs is the Executive Director of the A. Philip Randolph Institute for Race, Law, Social Justice, and Economic Policy at Edward Waters University; she is a highly successful and impactful published researcher, author, lecturer, educator, and advocate for equity and positive race relations. Dr. Hobbs will

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida International University is hosting a second lecture series on Folk Music from the 60s in collaboration with Brockway Memorial Library. The 1960s was a tumultuous time in America. The Civil Rights movement and The Vietnam War affected a new generation commonly called "the Baby Boomers", who were now entering college and expressing their freedom and power. Beatniks, then hippies, represented an alternative lifestyle

Saturday, October 22, 2022, 2 pm, Lecture (Spanish), Adriana Herrera, Ph.D., will speak about the influence of the pre-Hispanic textile legacy on modern and contemporary fiber art in Europe and the United States and its presence in local artists working with textiles. Her presentation will include examples of this legacy in the work of leading artists across America and mention local artists who continue the thread of that influence. Her