Culture Club

TED Talks: Why I’m Done Trying to Be Man Enough

W, Jul 7 |11:30am| No Cost

Justin Baldoni wants to start a dialogue with men about redefining masculinity -- to figure out ways to be not just good men but good humans. In a warm, personal talk, he shares his effort to reconcile who he is with who the world tells him a man should be. And he has a challenge for men: "See if you can use the same qualities that you feel make you a man to go deeper," Baldoni says. "Your strength, your bravery, your toughness: Are you brave enough to be vulnerable? Are you strong enough to be sensitive? Are you confident enough to listen to the women in your life?"

TED Talks: What Can We Do About the Culture of Hate

Tu, Aug 3 |1pm| No Cost

We're all against hate, right? We agree it's a problem -- their problem, not our problem, that is. But as Sally Kohn discovered, we all hate -- some of us in subtle ways, others in obvious ones. As she confronts a hard story from her own life, she shares ideas on how we can recognize, challenge and heal from hatred in our institutions and in ourselves.

Soup, Eggroll, Stir fry and Fried Rice: The hidden meanings in Chinese food

Tu, Aug 24 11am|$15

Virtual (presentation only) $5

Ever wondered why Chinese food is set up in such a combination of soup, eggroll, stir fry and rice? Do you wince at seeing whole fish or shrimp served with heads on? Rest assured that the heads aren't attached to upset your appetite. Join us for this presentation by Chinese communication consultant Yvonne Wolf. After this discussion, you will gain a new perspective on a familiar Chinese dining experience, whether it is sit-down or take-out. Fee includes interactive presentation and meal of orange chicken, fried rice, and eggroll from NSC favorite Palace Cantonese Restaurant.

Theme: Feminism

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant

W, Jul 14 |1pm|No Cost

“Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoil's of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past. Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women's society”.-Amazon

(Book will be available for pickup on July 1 or may be downloaded electronically. Please specify option at time of registration.)

Theme: European History/Civil War/Immigrant Heritage Month

Goodbye Sarajevo: A True Story of Courage, Love and Survival by Atka Rid & Hana Schofield

M, Aug 23 |12:30pm |No Cost

“Hana is 12 years old when she is put on one of the last UN evacuation buses fleeing the besieged city of Sarajevo. Her twenty-one-year-old sister, Atka, staying behind to look after their five younger siblings, is there to say goodbye. Thinking that they will be apart for only a few weeks, they make a promise to each other to be brave. Set in the middle of the bloodiest European conflict since the Second World War, Goodbye Sarajevo is a moving and compelling true story of courage, hope and extraordinary human kindness”.-Goodreads