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FALL 2023 Events
Amy Erica Smith is an associate professor of political science, as well as a Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Professor at Iowa State University. She is also currently an Andrew Carnegie Fellow. Professor Smith’s research examines how ordinary people understand and engage in politics: from Latin America to Kenya to Oman. She is the author of three books and numerous articles, and her research has been recognized with awards including from Fulbright, the Luce Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the National Science Foundation.
Is Brazil at a Tipping Point? Democracy and Climate Change
Date: Wednesday, September 27 - 6:00PM - 7:00PM
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About the Dr. Smith HERE
Date: Wednesday, September 27 - 6:00PM - 7:00PM
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About the Dr. Smith HERE
PART OF THE HUMANITIES IOWA - GLOCAL CONNECTIONS ACROSS IOWA '23 - '24 PROGRAM SERIES
Yashika Graham [Poetry, fiction and nonfiction writer, visual artist, radio broadcaster; Jamaica] won the 2019 Mervyn Morris Prize for Poetry from the University of the West Indies, Mona, where she read for a Bachelors degree in Literatures in English and twice won the Poetry Clash Competition. An executive member of the Poetry Society of Jamaica, she has been awarded a Centrum Writer’s Residency and has been featured on stages including the Dodge Poetry Festival (USA), Bristol Festival of Literature (UK), the World Festival of Poetry (Venezuela) and the Port Townsend Writers Conference (USA), where she has also delivered craft talks and taught cross-genre workshops.
Her poetry, prose and literary criticism have been published internationally including in Spillway Magazine, Magma, Cordite Review, PREE Lit, Bookmarked, Jamaica Journal, The Caribbean Journal of Social Work and others. Short films for her poems “Directions from the Border” and “Time Travel” – for which she won a gold medal and the Noteworthy Writer award from the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition - premiered in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her debut collection Some of Us Can Go Back Home is forthcoming from Blouse & Skirt Books.
*This program is supported by Humanities Iowa. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa.
Her poetry, prose and literary criticism have been published internationally including in Spillway Magazine, Magma, Cordite Review, PREE Lit, Bookmarked, Jamaica Journal, The Caribbean Journal of Social Work and others. Short films for her poems “Directions from the Border” and “Time Travel” – for which she won a gold medal and the Noteworthy Writer award from the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition - premiered in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her debut collection Some of Us Can Go Back Home is forthcoming from Blouse & Skirt Books.
*This program is supported by Humanities Iowa. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa.
Jamaica: Holdin’ a Vibe in a Textured Landscape
Date: Wednesday, October 4 - 12:00PM - 1:00PM
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About Yashinka HERE
Date: Wednesday, October 4 - 12:00PM - 1:00PM
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About Yashinka HERE
PART OF THE HUMANITIES IOWA - GLOCAL CONNECTIONS ACROSS IOWA '23 - '24 PROGRAM SERIES
Ebenezer Olamiposi Adeyemi is a PhD Candidate in the department of anthropology at the University of Iowa (UI), under the advisement of Professor Ted Powers. Ebenezer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies--both from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He also received a Master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Iowa in May 2021. Ebenezer’s broad research interests center around medical anthropology, infrastructure, the intersection of urban landscape and public health, African studies, and survival strategies in marginalized urban communities. For his ongoing doctoral research, Ebenezer is exploring the strategies that residents of Makoko, a large informal settlement characterized by inadequate public infrastructure, including waste disposal systems, public hospital, in Lagos State, Nigeria, use to access healthcare to treat malaria, the most prominent public health issue in their community.
Different statistics show that malaria is the main public health issue in Nigeria, where it accounts for more causes of death than any other country in the world. However, people who live in marginalized communities, which the WHO calls ‘malaria high transmission areas,’ are more susceptible to malaria infection and death due to government marginalization and inadequate public infrastructure, including public hospitals. Adeyemi will explore the concept of “community-developed infrastructure” to explain several ingenious approaches, including the production of locally-made mosquito nets and coils, construction of makeshift waste disposal systems and hospitals, that residents of Makoko employ to reduce their exposure to malaria-causing mosquitos and to treat the disease whenever they are infected.
*This program is supported by Humanities Iowa. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa.
Different statistics show that malaria is the main public health issue in Nigeria, where it accounts for more causes of death than any other country in the world. However, people who live in marginalized communities, which the WHO calls ‘malaria high transmission areas,’ are more susceptible to malaria infection and death due to government marginalization and inadequate public infrastructure, including public hospitals. Adeyemi will explore the concept of “community-developed infrastructure” to explain several ingenious approaches, including the production of locally-made mosquito nets and coils, construction of makeshift waste disposal systems and hospitals, that residents of Makoko employ to reduce their exposure to malaria-causing mosquitos and to treat the disease whenever they are infected.
*This program is supported by Humanities Iowa. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa.
Peoples Science: Community response to Public Health Crises in Lagos, Nigeria
Date: Wednesday, October 11 - 12:00PM - 1:00PM
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About Ebenzer HERE
Date: Wednesday, October 11 - 12:00PM - 1:00PM
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About Ebenzer HERE
Writing Across the Sinosphere: an IWP-CAPS-ICFRC Collaboration
Speakers: Kevin Chen, Tammy Lai-Ming Ho, Wong Yi Eva, Li Kotomi, Suo Er, Wang Zhanhei
Date: Thursday, October 19 - 4PM-5:30PM
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About The Speakers HERE
Speakers: Kevin Chen, Tammy Lai-Ming Ho, Wong Yi Eva, Li Kotomi, Suo Er, Wang Zhanhei
Date: Thursday, October 19 - 4PM-5:30PM
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About The Speakers HERE
Virgil Parker is a U.S. Fulbright Alum, community advocate, and Howard University graduate with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Afro-American studies. Virgil served as a White House HBCU Competitiveness Scholar for the White House Initiative on HBCUs. Currently, Mr. Parker is a television producer for News10NBC (WHEC-TV). Mr. Parker has moderated and participated in national and regional conversations regarding various topics such as The Future of HBCUs in the COVID-19 Era, Philanthropic Equity for Minority Serving Institutions, and Bringing Local Governments And HBCUs Together and more. Most recently, he executive produced two projects commemorating the 45th Anniversary of Education and Sharing Day and the 60th Anniversary of The Equal Pay Act of 1963. His work has been included in media outlets such as Forbes, The Hill, iHeartRadio, Blavity, HBCU Buzz, and Diverse Issues In Higher Education.
Quality Education for All: UN Sustainable Development Goal #4
Date: Tuesday, October 24 - 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About Virgil HERE
Date: Tuesday, October 24 - 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Also Streaming Online: https://www.youtube.com/@thelibrarychannel
Learn More About Virgil HERE
This event was cohosted by Better Together 2030 in conjunction with Welcoming Week 2023, of which ICFRC is a proud organizing committee member. Learn more at https://welcomeicarea.org/
What Does it Mean to Be a Good Citizen?
A University-Community Collaboration in Rural Iowa
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Learn More About the Program HERE
A University-Community Collaboration in Rural Iowa
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Learn More About the Program HERE

Dr. Nada M. Melhem is a tenured Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (Virology and Immunology) at the Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut. Melhem is currently the Director of the Division of Health Professions and the Chair of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
With a unique background and training in virology, immunology and epidemiology, Melhem developed at AUB a transdisciplinary and translational research program focusing on viral immunopathogenesis and the epidemiology of viruses, and their impact on global human health. Melhem’s research program focuses on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), viral diarrheal diseases specifically noroviruses and COVID-19. Melhem is currently leading the SARS-CoV-2 National Surveillance Genomic Program for healthcare workers and hospitalized patients.
This talk is one of three public events made possible by a Major Projects Award from UI International Programs. Funding for the Major Projects Award provided by the generous support of the Stanley-University of Iowa Foundation Support Organization and UI International Programs.
With a unique background and training in virology, immunology and epidemiology, Melhem developed at AUB a transdisciplinary and translational research program focusing on viral immunopathogenesis and the epidemiology of viruses, and their impact on global human health. Melhem’s research program focuses on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), viral diarrheal diseases specifically noroviruses and COVID-19. Melhem is currently leading the SARS-CoV-2 National Surveillance Genomic Program for healthcare workers and hospitalized patients.
This talk is one of three public events made possible by a Major Projects Award from UI International Programs. Funding for the Major Projects Award provided by the generous support of the Stanley-University of Iowa Foundation Support Organization and UI International Programs.
Cholera in Lebanon: An Old Disease with a New Comeback
Date: Wednesday, September 13 @ 12PM
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Learn More About Dr. Melham HERE
Date: Wednesday, September 13 @ 12PM
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - 123 S LINN ST
Learn More About Dr. Melham HERE
Summer 2023 Events
PART OF THE HUMANITIES IOWA - GLOCAL CONNECTIONS ACROSS IOWA '23 - '24 PROGRAM SERIES
Born and raised in Ukraine, Oksana Hirchak landed for the first time in Chicago on August 24, 2021, also the Independence Day of her home country. She came to the United States to study, and August 2023 is the month Oksana graduates with a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Iowa. In Ukraine, she also obtained a bachelor's degree in History and a master's degree in American and European Studies.
Oksana spent a year teaching English to adults in Beijing, China. Her background in History and Psychology and her experience living in three countries provides a unique opportunity to see the world from different perspectives. In October 2022, Oksana received a Global Democracy Ambassador Scholarship from the Institute of International Education for Ukrainian students. She also received the International Student Graduation Leadership Award from the University of Iowa.
*This program is supported by Humanities Iowa. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa.
Oksana spent a year teaching English to adults in Beijing, China. Her background in History and Psychology and her experience living in three countries provides a unique opportunity to see the world from different perspectives. In October 2022, Oksana received a Global Democracy Ambassador Scholarship from the Institute of International Education for Ukrainian students. She also received the International Student Graduation Leadership Award from the University of Iowa.
*This program is supported by Humanities Iowa. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa.
Living in Ukraine: My Story of an Unbreakable Nation
Speaker: Oksana Hirchak
Date: Thursday, August 24 @ 7PM
Streaming Online - https://www.citychannel4.com/live
Learn More About Oksana HERE
Speaker: Oksana Hirchak
Date: Thursday, August 24 @ 7PM
Streaming Online - https://www.citychannel4.com/live
Learn More About Oksana HERE
How the Young Generation of African Political and Business Leaders are Carrying Nelson Mandela's Legacy
Speakers: Mandela Washington Fellows
Date: Wednesday, July 19 @ 6PM
Learn More About the Mandela Washington Fellows HERE
Speakers: Mandela Washington Fellows
Date: Wednesday, July 19 @ 6PM
Learn More About the Mandela Washington Fellows HERE