Sept. 04
3:00

Dr. Larry D. Shinn

The Simple Life.

President Shinn, Berea’s Eighth President,
opens the new academic year as he shares his ideas about community and Berea College in the 21st Century.

Sept. 07
3:00
Sunday

Voices from the Community

Religious Diversity and the Inclusive Christian Tradition at Berea College.

Through its heritage of inclusive Christianity, Berea College seeks to be a place of hospitality for people of all religious traditions. This convocation will explore the rich religious diversity present in the Berea College community through storytelling, music, and ritual. Also, this Sunday afternoon is an opportunity for students to be introduced to the various religious fellowships in the area. Sponsored by the Campus Christian Center (CCC).

Sept. 11
3:00

Dr. Samantha Power

Chasing the Flame: The Fight To Save the World.

Dr. Power, Anna Lindh Professor of Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, is a Pulitzer Prize winning author, journalist, and human rights activist. She has covered events in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, East Timor, Kosovo, Sudan, Burundi, Zimbabwe, and Iraq, focusing on stories of heroism and idealism. Co-sponsored with Departments of Political Science and Philosophy & Religion.

Sept. 18
*8:00

Pharaoh's Daughter

Middle-Eastern Instrumentation and World Beat Fusion.

Charismatic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Basya Schechter leads her stellar group of musicians through swirling Hasidic chants and Mizrachi and Sphardi folk-rock, blending traditional Middle Eastern and Judaic melodies with Arabic and African rhythms. A Stephenson Memorial Concert.

Sept. 25
3:00

Rev. Dr. Michael Bell

Bridges Across Cultural and Ethnic Differences.

The first African-American president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Rev. Bell currently serves as the senior pastor of the Greater St. Stephen First Church in Fort Worth. Recognized for his longstanding and deep relationships with Anglo, Asian-American and Hispanic Christians, he urges us to affirm the humanity of all without falling into stereotypes. Presented as part of the activities of the Accent on Christian Faith Week, sponsored by the CCC.

Oct. 2
3:00

Founders’ Day Convocation

This convocation will celebrate Berea’s interracial history by honoring an African-American alumnus (usually prior to 1904) whose distinguished service reflects the ideals and vision of John G. Fee. President Shinn will present the John G. Fee Award to the descendents of the honoree. The Black Music Ensemble will also perform. Sponsored by the President’s Office.

Oct. 9
3:00

Dr. Katherine Newman

The Near Poor, the Real Poor, and the Desperately Poor.

Dr. Newman is the Malcolm Forbes Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs and Director of the Institute for International and Regional Studies at Princeton University. Winner of a number of book awards, she is author of eight books on topics ranging from urban poverty to middle class economic insecurity to school violence. Co-sponsored with the Department of Sociology. The Crowden Lecture.

Oct. 16
*8:00

David Holt and the Lightning Bolts

Appalachian Tunes and Songs.

A talented singer, storyteller, and historian of Appalachian folk music, Holt has collected and performed traditional Appalachian music and stories for over 30 years. He and his band, The Lightning Bolts, entertain audiences with their electrifying instrumental wizardry and the warmth and humor of traditional songs. A Stephenson Memorial Concert.

Oct. 23
3:00

George McGovern

Current National and International Affairs.

Former House Representative, Senator, and Democratic presidential nominee, George McGovern is a candid and witty speaker who has devoted his life to national service. A foreign policy scholar and writer, he has countered negative, extremist voices in American politics and defined the end of world hunger as a moral imperative in the new century. Cosponsored with Entrepreneurship for the Public Good (EPG).

Oct. 30
*8:00

Kaiulani Lee

A Sense of Wonder.

With over 30 years of experience in theater, film, and television, Lee captivates audiences with her one-woman play about Rachel Carson, whose book Silent Spring launched the current U.S. environmental movement. This performance reveals Carson as poet as well as scientist, with an intense love for the natural world. Co-sponsored with Women’s Studies and the Department of English, Theatre, and Speech Communication.

Nov. 6
1:30
Two Hour Event

College-Wide Symposium

Unity within Diversity: Is It Possible in the Holy Land?

Archbishop Elias Chacour of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church is a peace activist Palestinian living in northern Israel and author of Blood Brothers and We Belong to the Land. Chacour has developed the Mar Elias Educational Institutions— schools to educate young people regardless of ethnicity, religion or economic status and to bring reconciliation in a land of strife. Co-sponsored with Center for International Education (CIE), CCC, and Peace and Social Justice Studies. Classes and non-essential labor are dismissed at noon until the close of the symposium.

Nov. 13
*8:00

Trio Voronezh

A Whirlwind of Genres and Influences.

Discovered playing Bach in a Frankfurt, Germany subway station, Trio Voronezh has since delighted audiences internationally with their rich, imaginatively conceived music. Valerie Petruchin’s deep double-bass balalaika (a triangular bodied, 3 string instrument) joins with Vladimir Volochin’s fiery domra (ancestor of the mandolin) and Sergei Teleshev’s lush bajan (chromatic-button accordion) to create sophisticated, energetic rhythms. A Stephenson Memorial Concert.

Nov. 20
3:00

Jamie Ross and Ross Spears

Appalachia: Where Is That, and Why Haven’t We Been There?

Filmmakers Ross and Spears will share excerpts from their latest project Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People and discuss their philosophy of film as social commentary. This Kentucky premiere of their powerful documentary—to be a prime-time PBS broadcast in 2009—breaks new ground as the first environmental history of any region. Co-sponsored with the Appalachian Center.