The First Friday Forum speaker series provides lectures of importance and interest to help inform the entire community about this ever-changing world.
The First Friday Forum speaker series provides lectures of importance and interest to help inform the entire community about this ever-changing world.
All programs are offered at 1:30 p.m. on the first Friday of the month, January through June, and are sponsored by the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC). Attend the programs that interest you with no subscription or entry fee.
Our May speaker was Dr. Laura Beth Nielsen, the daughter of First Friday Forum team member Judy Nielsen. She gave an inspiring and touching overview of the Northwestern Prison Education Program in the context of the American criminal justice system with its dehumanization, isolation, stagnation, and recidivism. A recording of her talk and other recent programs are available in the archive below.
June 2024 Program:
On Friday, June 7, Dr. Gordon Chang, Stanford University Professor in Humanities, will deliver his presentation entitled “Forgotten, Even Ignored, the Chinese Who Built the Western Portion of the Transcontinental Railroad.”
Dr. Chang was a lead investigator for The Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project in the Stanford University’s American Studies Program. Dr. Chang says, “They should be remembered and honored for their contributions, and my talk will restore their lives, work, and sacrifices to our history.” His published research has focused on the relationship between race and ethnicity in America and its impact on U.S. and Asian diplomatic and cultural relations.”
Join us at 1:30 p.m. on June 7 to hear Dr. Chang tell the riveting story of the Chinese railroad workers, many of whom left their homes in China to help build the western portion of transcontinental railroad. It’s a history you probably haven’t heard.
Zoom Registration:
To attend the June program, please register in advanced by clicking HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Contact Us:
To communicate questions or suggestions to the First Friday Forum team, send an email to fff@lopc.org. If you attend a webinar, your email address is added to the email list. If you want to receive First Friday Forum emails, please click here to subscribe or resubscribe. To unsubscribe, click here
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