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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251228T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260207T170000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251014T222917Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T222917Z
UID:85117-1766908800-1770483600@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Spark! Places of Innovation - Tubac
DESCRIPTION:The Smithsonian exhibition\, Spark! Places of Innovation\, will be on view in Tubac from December 28th\, 2025\, to February 7th\, 2026. This exhibit is being hosted by the Tubac Center of the Arts. Come check it out!
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/spark-places-of-innovation-tubac/
LOCATION:Tubac Center of the Arts\, 9 Plaza Rd\, Tubac\, AZ\, 85646\, United States
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260207T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260207T133000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T213834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T214220Z
UID:85352-1770465600-1770471000@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Beauty All Around Us Zine Workshop with Tommey Jodie
DESCRIPTION:Join Arizona Humanities and poet Tommey Jodie for a zine-making workshop. This workshop invites participants to consider how food connects to culture\, identity\, and community\, and to imagine what food sovereignty could look like in their communities now and in the future. Participants will create a mini-zine using visuals\, writing\, or both to reflect these ideas. All materials and instruction will be provided\, and no prior experience is needed. This session is part of the Blue Corn pre-festival programming.\nSign up: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/n37zs5j
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/beauty-all-around-us-zine-workshop-with-tommey-jodie/
LOCATION:Arizona Humanities\, 1242 N. Central Ave.\, Phoenix\, AZ\, 85004\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Zine-Workshop-Social-Post-.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260207T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260207T160000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251210T185111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T185111Z
UID:85295-1770474600-1770480000@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:(Mother) Road to the Stars: Rt 66 and its Space Heritage
DESCRIPTION:Route 66 is one of the most storied roadways in North America\, known for its roadside diners\, historic hotels and kitschy attractions. But it also boasts an extraordinary space heritage; along its course lies the birthplaces of space pioneers\, centers of space exploration and discovery\, training grounds for Moon-bound astronauts\, the best-preserved asteroid impact site in the world\, site of a famous UFO sighting\, and museums celebrating these cosmic connections. In honor of the upcoming centennial of Route 66\, Lowell Observatory Historian Kevin Schindler will lead a virtual trip along the Mother Road and explore this space heritage. \n  \nKevin Schindler is the historian at Lowell Observatory\, where he has worked for 28 years as an active member of the Flagstaff history and science communities. Schindler has given more than 1\,000 presentations and written more than 600 magazine and newspaper articles on subjects ranging from local history and astronomy to baseball and the Lincoln Memorial\, and contributes a bi-weekly astronomy column\, “View from Mars Hill”\, for the Arizona Daily Sun newspaper. Schindler has written nine books\, including Historic Tales of Flagstaff (written with Mike Kitt). Fun fact: Kevin has both a fossil crab and asteroid named after him.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/mother-road-to-the-stars-rt-66-and-its-space-heritage-5/
LOCATION:Chandler Public Library-Sunset Branch\, 4930 W. Ray Rd.\, Chandler\, AZ\, 85226\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kevin-Schindler-Headshot.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260212T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260212T180000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T223952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T224732Z
UID:85365-1770912000-1770919200@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Seeds of Language\, Seeds of Stories: Nitsáhákéés (Thinking Creatively)
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with AZ Humanities\, Phoenix Public Library at South Mountain\, and the Labriola Center\, this session is the first of a four-part creative writing workshop program that is open to storytellers at all levels and to the general public. The four sessions will take place throughout February 2026 with a culminating event held at the Blue Corn Fest on Saturday\, March 7\, 2026. This is the first workshop session for Seeds of Language\, Seeds of Stories\, hosted by Manny Loley at South Mountain Community College Public Library. Parking is accessible and close by to the South Mountain Community Library (see attachments for a map)\, \nAbout Workshop Session 1: Nitsáhákéés (Thinking Creatively)\nTo think about how we build a relationship with our languages\, this initial session will focus on a single word—naadą́ą́’ (simply translated as corn). We will be thinking about our relationship with naadą́ą́’ (and in extension planting) to generate ideas about how we can expand our thinking about and engagement with language. How are we looking at our languages on a deeper level? How can we create a deeper understanding? What are the philosophies present within words in our languages? What can these ideas teach us about being human and about our relationship with the physical spaces we inhabit? While we will be looking at a Diné conceptualization of the word “corn\,” participants are encouraged to also work from the word for “corn” in their ancestral/heritage language. This initial meeting will focus on creativity and generative writing exercises and discussion. \nMaterials needed: something to write and take notes with\, the word for “corn” in your ancestral/heritage language\, and an open mind.\nAbout our host: \nDr. Manny Loley is ‘Áshįįhi born for Tó Baazhní’ázhí; his maternal grandparents are the Tódích’íi’nii and his paternal grandparents are the Kinyaa’áanii. He holds a Ph.D. in English and Literary Arts from the University of Denver\, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing-Fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Dr. Loley is an inaugural Indigenous Nations Poets Fellow\, a founding member of Saad Bee Hózhǫ́: Diné Writers’ Collective\, and the editor for Leading the Way: Wisdom of the Navajo People. Since 2018\, he has served as director of the Emerging Diné Writers’ Institute. His work has found homes in Poetry Magazine\, Pleiades Magazine\, the Massachusetts Review\, the Santa Fe Literary Review\, Broadsided Press\, the Arkansas International\, The Gift of Animals\, Nihikéyah: Navajo Homeland\, and the Diné Reader: an Anthology of Navajo Literature\, among others. His writing has been thrice nominated for Pushcart Prizes. Dr. Loley is at work on a novel titled They Collect Rain in Their Palms. He is from Tsétah Tó Ák’olí on the Navajo Nation. \nThe room at SMCL will be L162\, on the first floor of the library.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/seeds-of-language-seeds-of-stories-nitsahakees-thinking-creatively/
LOCATION:South Mountain Community Library\, 7050 S 24th St\, Phoenix\, AZ\, 85042\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Seeds-of-Language-Seeds-of-Stories.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260213T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260213T200000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T214113Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260115T181228Z
UID:85356-1771005600-1771012800@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Blue Corn Painting Party with Deon Mitchell
DESCRIPTION:Join Arizona Humanities and artist Deon Mitchell for an evening of blue corn inspired painting. Art supplies and light refreshments will be provided. This session is part of the Blue Corn pre-festival programming. By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. \nSign up: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/xxw4a2r
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/blue-corn-painting-party-with-deon-mitchell/
LOCATION:Arizona Humanities\, 1242 N. Central Ave.\, Phoenix\, AZ\, 85004\, United States
CATEGORIES:IN-PERSON
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260215T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260328T170000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251014T223311Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T223311Z
UID:85118-1771142400-1774717200@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Spark! Places of Innovation - Yuma
DESCRIPTION:The Smithsonian exhibition\, Spark! Places of Innovation\, will be on view in Yuma from February 15th to March 28th\, 2026. This exhibit is being hosted by the Yuma Art Center & Historic Theatre. Come check it out!
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/spark-places-of-innovation-yuma/
LOCATION:Yuma Historic Theater\, 254 S. Main St.\, Yuma\, AZ\, 85364\, United States
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260217T113000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260217T124500
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260126T211220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T211220Z
UID:85405-1771327800-1771332300@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Rooted in Place: Identity\, Home & the Canvas of Community Change 
DESCRIPTION:This presentation invites audiences into the vibrant world of Phoenix-born artist Antoinette Cauley\, whose powerful murals and community activism are deeply shaped by her connection to place. Through personal storytelling\, striking visuals\, and reflection on her journey of self-discovery\, Cauley explores how understanding her identity and hometown became the foundation for her art and her impact on Arizona’s cultural landscape. This talk reveals how place-based identity transforms not only individual expression but also entire communities — turning city walls into living landscapes of heritage\, resilience\, and hope. \n  \nInternational artist Antoinette Cauley was born in Phoenix\, Arizona and draws her inspiration from the grittiness and beauty within her place of birth. Her work is heavily influenced by Black American hood culture with a feminist undertone and an overall focus of Black empowerment. Visually\, she combines the dynamism of Black American culture with powerful punches of vibrant color and deep\, emotionally driven messages. Cauley attended Mesa Community College (MCC) where she studied Fine Art with an emphasis in painting. Along with her unique and distinguishable paintings\, Cauley is most known for her nine stories tall mural of Civil Rights activist\, James Baldwin in downtown Phoenix\, Arizona and her recent mural project with Brittney Griner & the Phoenix Mercury. Cauley has won several awards for her works including first place at the Artlink 19th Annual Juried Exhibition in 2019. Along with her awards\, Cauley has been featured on various television and print publications including PBS\, NPR\, JAVA Magazine (cover)\, Forbes and was named one of Phoenix Magazine’s “Great 48: 48 Most Influential people in the state of Arizona” in 2019.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/rooted-in-place-identity-home-the-canvas-of-community-change-2/
LOCATION:Chandler Gilbert Community College\, 2626 E Pecos Road\, Chandler\, AZ\, 85225\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-114912.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260219T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260219T140000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251210T190601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T190601Z
UID:85298-1771506000-1771509600@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Arizona's Ark of Taste Foods with Chef Amber Sampson
DESCRIPTION:Chef and Cultural Anthropologist Amber Sampson brings you on a journey of taste around Arizona’s heritage food history. Sampson will expand on Arizona’s Ark of Taste\, a living catalog of foods facing extinction\, including the local\, heritage\, and native foods that are unique to Arizona’s food history. Come learn about favorites\, like White Sonora Wheat\, teapry beans\, and Ark of Taste foods like Black Sphinx dates\, cholla buds\, chilitipin pepper\, and more. In learning about Arizona’s food history\, the people\, producers\, communities\, and cultures behind each bite\, you can better support your local food community and create a more sustainable food system. \n  \nAmber Sampson explores the world through food as a trained professional Chef\, who also holds degrees in Cultural Anthropology\, Food Systems Sustainability\, and a Master’s in Gastronomy. She studied food and race at Harvard University\, brought ancient bread to life with fellow Anthropologists from Yale\, and was awarded the prestigious US Government’s Gilman Scholarship for archeological research with Arizona’s O’odham Nations. Sampson’s work brings present-day relevance to ancient meals\, people\, and cultures\, giving others a taste and connection to our delicious past\, revealing a more sustainable and understanding future. She sits on the Board of Directors for Slow Food Phoenix and was the Arizona representative for the Global Food Security Summit in Washington\, D.C.\, and Terra Madre in Italy in 2024. Sampson has worked for Boston University\, S’edav Va’aki Museum\, Arizona State University\, and the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association. Sampson was awarded the Arizona Humanities 50th anniversary climate conversations grant for a documentary on her food research.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/arizonas-ark-of-taste-foods-with-chef-amber-sampson/
LOCATION:Dorothy Powell Senior Adult Center\,  405 E. 6th St.\, Casa Grande\, AZ\, 85122\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-115947.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260219T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260219T180000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T224520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T224520Z
UID:85367-1771516800-1771524000@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Seeds of Language Seeds of Stories: Nahat'á (Framework or Guiding Principles)
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with AZ Humanities\, Phoenix Indian Center\, and the Labriola Center\, this session is the second of a four-part creative writing program that is open to storytellers at all levels and to the general public. The four sessions will take place throughout February 2026 with a culminating event held at the Blue Corn Fest on Saturday\, March 7\, 2026. This is the second workshop session for Seeds of Language\, Seeds of Stories\, hosted by Manny Loley at Phoenix Indian Center. \nAbout Workshop Session \nBuilding off of ideas discussed in session one\, this follow-up session will focus on materials (ex: poems\, excerpts from longer works\, ancestral stories\, family stories\, songs\, etc.) centering naadą́ą́’ (simply translated as corn)\, planting\, growth\, and creativity. We will engage with materials written/created/passed down by other Indigenous writers\, thinkers\, and elders to deepen our understanding of language and storytelling. What have other people written or said about these concepts? What are some existing frameworks and ways of thinking about these concepts? How is our thinking fitting into this conversation? What are some new ways to approach these ideas? This session will be a practice in honoring pre-existing knowledge while finding our own voice and creating new material. This second meeting will involve discussion\, writing exercises\, group activities\, and sharing. \nMaterials needed: something to write and take notes with and participants are welcomed to bring in any materials they would like to share that relates to corn/planting/growth. \nDr. Manny Loley is ‘Áshįįhi born for Tó Baazhní’ázhí; his maternal grandparents are the Tódích’íi’nii and his paternal grandparents are the Kinyaa’áanii. He holds a Ph.D. in English and Literary Arts from the University of Denver\, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing-Fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Dr. Loley is an inaugural Indigenous Nations Poets Fellow\, a founding member of Saad Bee Hózhǫ́: Diné Writers’ Collective\, and the editor for Leading the Way: Wisdom of the Navajo People. Since 2018\, he has served as director of the Emerging Diné Writers’ Institute. His work has found homes in Poetry Magazine\, Pleiades Magazine\, the Massachusetts Review\, the Santa Fe Literary Review\, Broadsided Press\, the Arkansas International\, The Gift of Animals\, Nihikéyah: Navajo Homeland\, and the Diné Reader: an Anthology of Navajo Literature\, among others. His writing has been thrice nominated for Pushcart Prizes. Dr. Loley is at work on a novel titled They Collect Rain in Their Palms. He is from Tsétah Tó Ák’olí on the Navajo Nation. \n 
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/seeds-of-language-seeds-of-stories-nahata-framework-or-guiding-principles/
LOCATION:Phoenix Indian Center\, 4041 N Central Ave Building B\, Phoenix\, AZ\, 85012\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Seeds-of-Language-Seeds-of-Stories.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260226T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260226T180000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T225021Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T225021Z
UID:85369-1772121600-1772128800@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Seeds of Language Seeds of Stories: Nahat'á (Framework or Guiding Principles)
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with AZ Humanities and the Labriola Center\, this session is the third of a four-part creative writing program that is open to storytellers at all levels and to the general public. The four sessions will take place throughout February 2026 with a culminating event held at the Blue Corn Fest on Saturday\, March 7\, 2026. This is the third workshop session for Seeds of Language\, Seeds of Stories\, hosted by Manny Loley at the Labriola National American Indian Data Center. \nAbout Workshop Session: \nIn this third session\, we will expand on ideas from the first two sessions and move toward the physical/embodied aspect of language and storytelling. We will physically handle corn seeds/objects in some kind of way. This could look like creative exercises using physical corn seeds or corn objects\, learning from a traditional knowledge holder and planting\, or another kind of engagement activity. The idea is that we’ll be putting our ideas and writing about corn\, planting\, and growth into action through physical engagement with these materials. How does our understanding of language and storytelling change when we engage in physical action? What can this teach us about the connection between language/stories\, knowledge\, and our physical bodies? This third meeting will involve some physical aspect of engaging with the ideas we’ve discussed thus far\, discussion\, and potential writing exercises. Participants are also invited to share their creative work at an Indigenous Open Mic held at the ASU Labriola Center later in the evening. \nDr. Manny Loley is ‘Áshįįhi born for Tó Baazhní’ázhí; his maternal grandparents are the Tódích’íi’nii and his paternal grandparents are the Kinyaa’áanii. He holds a Ph.D. in English and Literary Arts from the University of Denver\, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing-Fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Dr. Loley is an inaugural Indigenous Nations Poets Fellow\, a founding member of Saad Bee Hózhǫ́: Diné Writers’ Collective\, and the editor for Leading the Way: Wisdom of the Navajo People. Since 2018\, he has served as director of the Emerging Diné Writers’ Institute. His work has found homes in Poetry Magazine\, Pleiades Magazine\, the Massachusetts Review\, the Santa Fe Literary Review\, Broadsided Press\, the Arkansas International\, The Gift of Animals\, Nihikéyah: Navajo Homeland\, and the Diné Reader: an Anthology of Navajo Literature\, among others. His writing has been thrice nominated for Pushcart Prizes. Dr. Loley is at work on a novel titled They Collect Rain in Their Palms. He is from Tsétah Tó Ák’olí on the Navajo Nation. \n 
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/seeds-of-language-seeds-of-stories-nahata-framework-or-guiding-principles-2/
LOCATION:ASU Labriola Center
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Seeds-of-Language-Seeds-of-Stories.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260303T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260303T160000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251210T170632Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T170632Z
UID:85287-1772550000-1772553600@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:"Growing in the Desert: The History & Culture of the Tohono O'odham " with Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan
DESCRIPTION:PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION \nMany Arizonans call the Sonoran Desert and its striking landscapes home. Long before our urban centers and city lights lit up the dark desert skies\, the Tohono O’odham were cultivating and shaping the land with abundant agriculture—from squash and beans to corn and cotton. For generations they passed down their rich knowledge and culture grown from their connection to the desert. Join us for a program with Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan as she shares her knowledge about the history and culture of her people\, the Tohono O’odham. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nDr. Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan is Tohono O’odham and from the San Xavier District. She serves as faculty in the Tohono O’odham Studies Program at Tohono O’odham Community College. Dr. Ramon-Sauberan also serves as the Tohono O’odham Nation Education Development Liaison for Kitt Peak National Observatory.  She earned her PhD in American Indian Studies with a minor in Journalism at the University of Arizona in May 2023. Her research focused on the history of land and water in the San Xavier District and she has written for news publications across the US including Indian Country Today
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/growing-in-the-desert-the-history-culture-of-the-tohono-oodham-with-jacelle-ramon-sauberan-11/
LOCATION:Pima County Library – Kirk Bear Canyon\, 8959 E Tanque Verde Rd\, Tucson\, AZ\, 85749\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260303T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260303T190000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T214737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T162845Z
UID:85358-1772560800-1772564400@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Beauty All Around Us Zine Reading
DESCRIPTION:Join Arizona Humanities and poet Tommy Jodie for a virtual reading of the Beauty All Around Us zine. Featuring original poetry and prose from 15 Indigenous youth\, this zine explores the power of Indigenous food sovereignty. This session is part of the Blue Corn pre-festival programming. By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. \nSign up: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/n58kyss \n  \nMEET OUR READERS: \n\nAlexis Clifton is a Lipan Apache\, Wixárika\, and Spanish writer and creative\, published both in freelance creative writing and painting/design. She is currently a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying for her BAs in English and Creative Writing and Communications in Media Arts. She also works as a staff writer at The New Absurdist\, a garden intern at the UNC American Indian Cultural Garden\, and a co-owner of Ich’e Th’idawere Consulting. Her work maintains a closeness to home and familiarity\, while still trying to bridge of the margins of the surreal. @a.r.clifton \n\n\n  \n\n\nAna W. Migwan is a Keweenaw Bay Indian Community citizen. Her work appears or is forthcoming in West Trestle Review\, Yellow Medicine Review\, Chapter House Journal\, Beauty All Around Us\, Liminal Spaces\, and Passages North. @annalindgr \n\n\n  \n\n\nMarianna Cota is an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona. They currently serve as a Food Sovereignty Coordinator for the Meskwaki Nation\, while also creating and connecting through their business\, INDIGENEXUS. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biology and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Community and Behavioral Health. @marianna.gmc \n\n\n  \n\n\nKiara Tanta-Quidgeon is a Mohegan researcher\, writer\, and youth advocate committed to centering Indigenous voices in the pursuit of health equity\, climate justice\, and cultural preservation. She is also the Founder of the Sunrise Healing Community\, a nonprofit that connects Indigenous youth and young adults to culturally grounded healing resources. @kiaramtantaquidgeon \n\n\n  \n\n\nLaken(she/her) is Indigenous (Lakota and Standing Rock) poet and artist. Recently\, her work was published by Abalone Mountain Press’ Issuu\, “Beauty All Around Us: An Indigenous Food and Sovereignty Zine. Laken is also a part of the Yeehaw Indigenous Creatives Collective where she is planning a new outdoor installation of spring 2026. She is always learning more about her decolonized self by reconnecting with the land and diving deep within herself where she finds wisdom from her ancestors. Her art reflects struggling with identity and feelings of loneliness in this colonized world. You can always find her experimenting with different mediums including wild clay and jewelry making. For more poetry and art\, you can find Laken @Readmyaura or her main account @Daydreaminlaken.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/beauty-all-around-us-zine-reading/
LOCATION:Virtual\, AZ\, United States
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260304T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260304T200000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260107T222757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T222757Z
UID:85324-1772649000-1772654400@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Arizona's Ark of Taste Foods with Chef Amber Sampson
DESCRIPTION:Chef and Cultural Anthropologist Amber Sampson brings you on a journey of taste around Arizona’s heritage food history. Sampson will expand on Arizona’s Ark of Taste\, a living catalog of foods facing extinction\, including the local\, heritage\, and native foods that are unique to Arizona’s food history. Come learn about favorites\, like White Sonora Wheat\, teapry beans\, and Ark of Taste foods like Black Sphinx dates\, cholla buds\, chilitipin pepper\, and more. In learning about Arizona’s food history\, the people\, producers\, communities\, and cultures behind each bite\, you can better support your local food community and create a more sustainable food system. \n  \nAmber Sampson explores the world through food as a trained professional Chef\, who also holds degrees in Cultural Anthropology\, Food Systems Sustainability\, and a Master’s in Gastronomy. She studied food and race at Harvard University\, brought ancient bread to life with fellow Anthropologists from Yale\, and was awarded the prestigious US Government’s Gilman Scholarship for archeological research with Arizona’s O’odham Nations. Sampson’s work brings present-day relevance to ancient meals\, people\, and cultures\, giving others a taste and connection to our delicious past\, revealing a more sustainable and understanding future. She sits on the Board of Directors for Slow Food Phoenix and was the Arizona representative for the Global Food Security Summit in Washington\, D.C.\, and Terra Madre in Italy in 2024. Sampson has worked for Boston University\, S’edav Va’aki Museum\, Arizona State University\, and the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association. Sampson was awarded the Arizona Humanities 50th anniversary climate conversations grant for a documentary on her food research.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/arizonas-ark-of-taste-foods-with-chef-amber-sampson-4/
LOCATION:Mohave Community College: Lake Havasu Campus\, 1977 Acoma Blvd\, Lake Havasu City\, AZ\, 86403\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-115947.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260307T110000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260307T160000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T214944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T214944Z
UID:85359-1772881200-1772899200@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:2nd Annual Blue Corn Festival
DESCRIPTION:Join Arizona Humanities and NDN Girls Book Club for the second annual Blue Corn Fest! Blue Corn Fest features local cuisine and traditional blue-corn-inspired dishes; poetry readings and storytelling; free books by Indigenous authors; kids’ crafts and activities; and dozens of art and culture vendors. By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.\nSign up: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/facgv8k \nLocation: Arizona Humanities\, 1242 N Central Ave\, Phoenix\, AZ 85004 \nDate and time: Sat\, Mar 7\, 2026 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM \nOrganizer: Arizona Humanities\, (602) 257-0335\, info@azhumanities.org
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/2nd-annual-blue-corn-festival/
LOCATION:Arizona Humanities\, 1242 N. Central Ave.\, Phoenix\, AZ\, 85004\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/blue-corn-page-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260307T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260307T160000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T225434Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T225434Z
UID:85370-1772895600-1772899200@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Seeds of Language\, Seeds of Stories: Siihasin (Reflection and Thinking Ahead)
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with AZ Humanities and the Labriola Center\, this session is the final four of a four-part creative writing program that is open to storytellers at all levels and to the general public. This is the final workshop session for Seeds of Language\, Seeds of Stories\, hosted by Manny Loley at AZ Humanities on Saturday\, March 7\, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. \nAbout Workshop Session \nThe final session of this series will take place at the Blue Corn Fest in March 2026. In this final session\, we will reflect on what we’ve learned in previous sessions and think about creative ways we can pass on this knowledge. Now that we’ve thought about corn\, planting\, and growth\, what are some ideas that we’ll take away from this experience and how can we incorporate those ideas into our living? What are some creative ways that we can pass on this knowledge? What are some bigger ideas or epiphanies we’ve had in this process? Participants will create some kind of object to pass on ideas from this series. We will brainstorm and work together to create these objects in our time together. \nMaterials needed: something to write and take notes with. \nDr. Manny Loley is ‘Áshįįhi born for Tó Baazhní’ázhí; his maternal grandparents are the Tódích’íi’nii and his paternal grandparents are the Kinyaa’áanii. He holds a Ph.D. in English and Literary Arts from the University of Denver\, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing-Fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Dr. Loley is an inaugural Indigenous Nations Poets Fellow\, a founding member of Saad Bee Hózhǫ́: Diné Writers’ Collective\, and the editor for Leading the Way: Wisdom of the Navajo People. Since 2018\, he has served as director of the Emerging Diné Writers’ Institute. His work has found homes in Poetry Magazine\, Pleiades Magazine\, the Massachusetts Review\, the Santa Fe Literary Review\, Broadsided Press\, the Arkansas International\, The Gift of Animals\, Nihikéyah: Navajo Homeland\, and the Diné Reader: an Anthology of Navajo Literature\, among others. His writing has been thrice nominated for Pushcart Prizes. Dr. Loley is at work on a novel titled They Collect Rain in Their Palms. He is from Tsétah Tó Ák’olí on the Navajo Nation. \n 
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/seeds-of-language-seeds-of-stories-siihasin-reflection-and-thinking-ahead/
LOCATION:Arizona Humanities\, 1242 N. Central Ave.\, Phoenix\, AZ\, 85004\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Seeds-of-Language-Seeds-of-Stories.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260310T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260310T171500
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251210T174643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T174643Z
UID:85293-1773158400-1773162900@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Grounded: Creating with Land in Contemporary Native American Art
DESCRIPTION:Can we think of a 21st century Arizona through expressions of place inherent in Arizona’s Indigenous arts? In this presentation\, I focus on the representation of place that Indigenous artists in Arizona are making in their art. From jewelry\, to weaving\, to photography\, the lived landscape features prominently in Indigenous art. These expressions signify place\, culture\, tradition\, and national aspirations. As a Diné jeweler with decades of experience in Native art spaces\, I will demonstrate how the stones and materials connect us to our national homelands in Diné bikeyah and are also a representation of longstanding trade routes between tribes in the southwest. I will show how corn – represented in culture and art – is also a product of trade\, and how Diné rugs are intimately linked to the land\, including the wool and dye that comprise it. These are all examples of placemaking in Native Arizona. Ultimately\, Native space is not limited to today’s boundaries but are expressions of kinship and reciprocity to the land and non-human entities that also inhabit it. Indigenous art in Arizona confounds our understanding of Arizona. Art is not just a reflection of what is there\, but an imagined sense of what is possible. \n  \nNanibaa Beck is a 2nd generation Dine’ (Navajo) jeweler. Since 2013\, her work reflects Native creative expressions and the growth of an Dine’ ‘Asdzaa (Navajo woman) as a designer and maker. Being intricately connected to the creative process at an early age motivated Beck to become more knowledgeable about the multifaceted areas surrounding Native American Art. Her anthropology background includes work and fellowships with renowned museums\, including the Heard Museum\, the National Museum of the American Indian\, the Peabody Essex Museum and the Field Museum.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/grounded-creating-with-land-in-contemporary-native-american-art-2/
LOCATION:Prescott Valley Public Library\, 7401 E Skoog Blvd\, Prescott Valley\, AZ\, 86314\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-114125.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260313T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260313T150000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251203T205035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T205035Z
UID:85283-1773410400-1773414000@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:The Wild West Fiddle Project: Arizona's Hidden Soundscape
DESCRIPTION:Join Dr. Kate Rose for a fun\, all-ages\, interactive performance that uncovers Arizona’s rich blended heritage through traditional folk music and dance. Featuring live fiddle music and storytelling\, this experience reveals how pioneer musicians\, whose roots spanned old worlds and new terrains\, integrated their traditions with those of neighboring communities. Connection with the land shaped these emerging traditions\, where Celtic melodies and Hispanic rhythms interweave seamlessly. We will hear revived tunes showing how cultures converged to create a unique sound\, reminding us to connect with the beauty of our state’s open skies\, deep canyons\, and vast forests.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/the-wild-west-fiddle-project-arizonas-hidden-soundscape/
LOCATION:Mesa Public Library: Red Mountain Branch\, 635 N Power Rd\, Mesa\, AZ\, 85205\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260316T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260316T190000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260204T194439Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T194439Z
UID:85449-1773684000-1773687600@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:The Arizona Trail: An 850-mile Mountain Bike Exploration of Climate Change
DESCRIPTION:Along the 850-mile Arizona Trail\, which spans the length of the state from Utah to Mexico\, diverse ecosystems showcase how climate change is actively altering life as we know it across the Southwest. During fall 2025\, The Arizona Republic newspaper’s climate reporter\, who earned a Ph.D. in ecology before becoming an award-winning journalist\, spent seven weeks traveling the full trail on her mountain bike to witness these threats\, document their impacts\, and consult with experts on solutions. Rich with photos and video from the journey as well as scientific expertise and cultural context\, this presentation takes audiences through the state’s biggest environmental challenges and opportunities\, mile by mile. From the northern forests torched by a massive fire that closed parts of Grand Canyon National Park in 2025\, to the longstanding drought causing conflict with tribes on the slopes of the San Francisco peaks\, to the energy solutions underway in the Superstition Mountains\, to the humanitarian urgency for answers illuminated at the border with Mexico – Joan Meiners’ trail journey is a scenic and dynamic window into some of Arizona’s most pressing problems\, told from the frontlines of journalistic exploration through literal living landscapes. \n \nJoan Meiners is the climate reporter for The Arizona Republic\, the state’s largest newspaper. In this role\, she has won awards for her investigations into electricity generation\, her deep-dive series on the intersection of extreme heat and housing shortages in the state\, and her commentary on how Arizonans think and approach the existential challenges of climate change. She has previously written and received recognition for her environmental work in outlets like Discover Magazine\, National Geographic and the Washington Post Magazine. Before being lured into the colorful and dynamic world of journalism\, she completed a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology and published research papers on the biodiversity of native bees. She spends most of her free time trail running\, backpacking\, or mountain biking through as many diverse landscapes and regions as she can.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/the-arizona-trail-an-850-mile-mountain-bike-exploration-of-climate-change-7/
LOCATION:Mohave Community College: Lake Havasu Campus\, 1977 Acoma Blvd\, Lake Havasu City\, AZ\, 86403\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-115430.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260317T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260317T143000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260107T225558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T225558Z
UID:85333-1773752400-1773757800@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:The Wild West Fiddle Project: Arizona's Hidden Soundscape
DESCRIPTION:Join Dr. Kate Rose and Armand Ramirez for a fun\, all-ages\, interactive performance that uncovers Arizona’s rich blended heritage through traditional folk music and dance. Featuring live fiddle music and storytelling\, this experience reveals how pioneer musicians\, whose roots spanned old worlds and new terrains\, integrated their traditions with those of neighboring communities. Connection with the land shaped these emerging traditions\, where Celtic melodies and Hispanic rhythms interweave seamlessly. We will hear revived tunes showing how cultures converged to create a unique sound\, reminding us to connect with the beauty of our state’s open skies\, deep canyons\, and vast forests. \n  \nDr. Kate Rose is a Flagstaff-based fiddler\, researcher\, and tradition-bearer leading the Wild West Fiddle Project and directing the nonprofit Wild Steps. Having spent two years studying with fiddling farmers in County Clare\, Ireland\, Dr. Rose brings a deep sense of music as rooted in landscapes and the rhythms of rural life. Her research and unique performing style reveal and revive the cross-cultural music and dance traditions of the American Southwest. She suggests that when we go deep into our own roots\, they naturally intermingle with the deep roots of others’ traditions. Her talks\, which present history through true stories of Arizona musicians from our past\, are often accompanied by master rhythm expert Armand Ramirez (guitar)\, whose rootedness in Hispanic traditions adds historical depth and musical magic. They perform regularly as the duo Wild World Irish Fiddle: https://www.youtube.com/@WildIrishFiddle. \nArmand Ramirez\, guitarist\, is a master multigenre player with decades of professional musicianship\, an amazing ear\, and a creative\, danceable flair. His wide-ranging experience includes jazz\, celtic\, classical\, flamenco\, folks traditions\, and Latin music. He is also a passionate researcher of local history and his own family’s rooted Arizona connections\, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to cultural storytelling and music.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/the-wild-west-fiddle-project-arizonas-hidden-soundscape-4/
LOCATION:Sedona Public Library in the Village\, 25 W. Saddlehorn Road\, Sedona\, AZ\, 86351\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/K-fiddling-smiling-w_-A.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260319T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260319T131500
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260129T172822Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T172822Z
UID:85429-1773921600-1773926100@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:The Gift of Hunger and Turkey in Diné Foodways
DESCRIPTION:Stories of Diné food traditions\, both before and after first contact\, reveal deep connections between sustenance\, survival\, and spirit. These include the story of the Nayee’ (monster) hunger and how Turkey saved the precious agricultural seeds. Today\, emerging Diné foodways seek to revive these enduring traditions—resurging what has faded\, while striving to elevate and innovate within the global culinary landscape. Through storytelling and food\, join Mario on this journey of Diné food traditions. \nNote: This presentation will include soup for the audience to enjoy as part of the experience. Please make sure this is okay for your site to have. The presentation can be done without it as well. \n  \nChef Renetto-Mario Etsitty was born on the Navajo Reservation and grew up under the tutelage of his Grandparents. Cooking in his Grandmother’s chuckwagon\, and learning ancestral practices from his Grandfather\, who taught young Mario the techniques to preserve his traditional (Diné) foodways. For Chef Mario\, food always reconnects back to understanding and respecting sacred traditions. His pumpkin tamales showcase two sacred plants\, squash and corn. Which make up the 4 sacred plants\, Corn\, Beans\, Squash\, and Tabacco. When Chef Mario cooks\, his culinary and storytelling abilities allow him to preserve and honor his Diné heritage. Etsitty is the owner of “The REZ”\, an Urban Eatery that caters and provides pop up frybread stands that explore traditional and plant base foods based on the goal of sustainable food practices.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/the-gift-of-hunger-and-turkey-in-dine-foodways-2/
LOCATION:Pinal County Historical Society Museum\, 715 South Main\, Florence\, AZ\,  85132\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-115008.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260319T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260319T140000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260107T224117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T224117Z
UID:85329-1773925200-1773928800@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Living the Mesquite Life
DESCRIPTION:From birth to death\, the mesquite tree\, here in southwest\, is an integral part of life for many who call the desert home. The mesquite tree is just one of many holistic materials\, elements of our natural environment\, that are vital to sustaining Indigenous culture and practices. We will explore how we are related to the mesquite tree from when we begin life\, to maintaining the lifestyle of organics\, until death when we go. \nNote: This presentation will include a hands-on activity with organic materials and commercial clay for a better understanding of the mesquite tree’s basic utilitarian usage. This presentation can also be done without the hands-on activity. \n  \nYolanda Hart Stevens is an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community\, Pee-Posh/Quechan\, and currently resides in the village of Komatke\, AZ. Hart Stevens is a successful artist and community activist\, performing at notable events such as Super Bowl XLII\, The National Congress of the American Indian\, and serving in highly-regarded positions such as the Smithsonian Institution American Community Scholar and a member of the Kennedy Center for Arts and Education. As an artist in residence at the Heard Museum in Phoenix\, and as a teacher of beadwork\, she has developed programs to promote a clearer understanding of the people of the Southwest through their history\, clothing\, and decoration. She teaches a variety of beading techniques\, including lazy stitch\, edging and peyote stitch at various locals throughout the valley. Hart Stevens is passionate about maintaining a dialogue with her elders\, contributing her skill of beadwork\, and sharing the given knowledge with her family and young people. She is actively participating in training from Yuman tribal elders.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/living-the-mesquite-life/
LOCATION:The Museum of Casa Grande\, 110 W. Florence Blvd\, Casa Grande\, AZ\, 85122\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Yolanda-Hart-Stevens-Headshot.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260328T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260328T153000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260107T213230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T213530Z
UID:85327-1774706400-1774711800@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:The Wild West Fiddle Project: Arizona's Hidden Soundscape
DESCRIPTION:Join Dr. Kate Rose and Armand Ramirez for a fun\, all-ages\, interactive performance that uncovers Arizona’s rich blended heritage through traditional folk music and dance. Featuring live fiddle and guitar music and storytelling\, this experience reveals how pioneer musicians\, whose roots spanned old worlds and new terrains\, integrated their traditions with those of neighboring communities. Connection with the land shaped these emerging traditions\, where Celtic melodies and Hispanic rhythms interweave seamlessly. We will hear revived tunes showing how cultures converged to create a unique sound\, reminding us to connect with the beauty of our state’s open skies\, deep canyons\, and vast forests. \n  \nDr. Kate Rose is a Flagstaff-based fiddler\, researcher\, and tradition-bearer leading the Wild West Fiddle Project and directing the nonprofit Wild Steps. Having spent two years studying with fiddling farmers in County Clare\, Ireland\, Dr. Rose brings a deep sense of music as rooted in landscapes and the rhythms of rural life. Her research and unique performing style reveal and revive the cross-cultural music and dance traditions of the American Southwest. She suggests that when we go deep into our own roots\, they naturally intermingle with the deep roots of others’ traditions. Her talks\, which present history through true stories of Arizona musicians from our past\, are often accompanied by master rhythm expert Armand Ramirez (guitar)\, whose rootedness in Hispanic traditions adds historical depth and musical magic. They perform regularly as the duo Wild World Irish Fiddle: https://www.youtube.com/@WildIrishFiddle. \nArmand Ramirez\, guitarist\, is a master multigenre player with decades of professional musicianship\, an amazing ear\, and a creative\, danceable flair. His wide-ranging experience includes jazz\, celtic\, classical\, flamenco\, folks traditions\, and Latin music. He is also a passionate researcher of local history and his own family’s rooted Arizona connections\, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to cultural storytelling and music.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/the-wild-west-fiddle-project-arizonas-hidden-soundscape-2/
LOCATION:Pinal County Historical Society Museum\, 715 South Main\, Florence\, AZ\,  85132\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/K-fiddling-smiling-w_-A.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260402T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260402T171500
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251210T184609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T184609Z
UID:85294-1775145600-1775150100@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:(Mother) Road to the Stars: Rt 66 and its Space Heritage
DESCRIPTION:Route 66 is one of the most storied roadways in North America\, known for its roadside diners\, historic hotels and kitschy attractions. But it also boasts an extraordinary space heritage; along its course lies the birthplaces of space pioneers\, centers of space exploration and discovery\, training grounds for Moon-bound astronauts\, the best-preserved asteroid impact site in the world\, site of a famous UFO sighting\, and museums celebrating these cosmic connections. In honor of the upcoming centennial of Route 66\, Lowell Observatory Historian Kevin Schindler will lead a virtual trip along the Mother Road and explore this space heritage. \n  \nKevin Schindler is the historian at Lowell Observatory\, where he has worked for 28 years as an active member of the Flagstaff history and science communities. Schindler has given more than 1\,000 presentations and written more than 600 magazine and newspaper articles on subjects ranging from local history and astronomy to baseball and the Lincoln Memorial\, and contributes a bi-weekly astronomy column\, “View from Mars Hill”\, for the Arizona Daily Sun newspaper. Schindler has written nine books\, including Historic Tales of Flagstaff (written with Mike Kitt). Fun fact: Kevin has both a fossil crab and asteroid named after him.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/mother-road-to-the-stars-rt-66-and-its-space-heritage-4/
LOCATION:Prescott Valley Public Library\, 7401 E Skoog Blvd\, Prescott Valley\, AZ\, 86314\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kevin-Schindler-Headshot.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260408T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260408T193000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260107T212511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T212511Z
UID:85326-1775671200-1775676600@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:The Arizona Trail: An 850-mile Mountain Bike Exploration of Climate Change
DESCRIPTION:Along the 850-mile Arizona Trail\, which spans the length of the state from Utah to Mexico\, diverse ecosystems showcase how climate change is actively altering life as we know it across the Southwest. During fall 2025\, The Arizona Republic newspaper’s climate reporter\, who earned a Ph.D. in ecology before becoming an award-winning journalist\, spent seven weeks traveling the full trail on her mountain bike to witness these threats\, document their impacts\, and consult with experts on solutions. Rich with photos and video from the journey as well as scientific expertise and cultural context\, this presentation takes audiences through the state’s biggest environmental challenges and opportunities\, mile by mile. From the northern forests torched by a massive fire that closed parts of Grand Canyon National Park in 2025\, to the longstanding drought causing conflict with tribes on the slopes of the San Francisco peaks\, to the energy solutions underway in the Superstition Mountains\, to the humanitarian urgency for answers illuminated at the border with Mexico – Joan Meiners’ trail journey is a scenic and dynamic window into some of Arizona’s most pressing problems\, told from the frontlines of journalistic exploration through literal living landscapes. \n \nJoan Meiners is the climate reporter for The Arizona Republic\, the state’s largest newspaper. In this role\, she has won awards for her investigations into electricity generation\, her deep-dive series on the intersection of extreme heat and housing shortages in the state\, and her commentary on how Arizonans think and approach the existential challenges of climate change. She has previously written and received recognition for her environmental work in outlets like Discover Magazine\, National Geographic and the Washington Post Magazine. Before being lured into the colorful and dynamic world of journalism\, she completed a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology and published research papers on the biodiversity of native bees. She spends most of her free time trail running\, backpacking\, or mountain biking through as many diverse landscapes and regions as she can.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/the-arizona-trail-an-850-mile-mountain-bike-exploration-of-climate-change/
LOCATION:Chandler Downtown Public Library\, 22 S. Delaware St.\, Chandler\, AZ\, 85225\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-115430.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260409T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260409T172000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260107T211115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T211115Z
UID:85325-1775750400-1775755200@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Arizona's Ark of Taste Foods with Chef Amber Sampson
DESCRIPTION:Chef and Cultural Anthropologist Amber Sampson brings you on a journey of taste around Arizona’s heritage food history. Sampson will expand on Arizona’s Ark of Taste\, a living catalog of foods facing extinction\, including the local\, heritage\, and native foods that are unique to Arizona’s food history. Come learn about favorites\, like White Sonora Wheat\, teapry beans\, and Ark of Taste foods like Black Sphinx dates\, cholla buds\, chilitipin pepper\, and more. In learning about Arizona’s food history\, the people\, producers\, communities\, and cultures behind each bite\, you can better support your local food community and create a more sustainable food system. \n  \nAmber Sampson explores the world through food as a trained professional Chef\, who also holds degrees in Cultural Anthropology\, Food Systems Sustainability\, and a Master’s in Gastronomy. She studied food and race at Harvard University\, brought ancient bread to life with fellow Anthropologists from Yale\, and was awarded the prestigious US Government’s Gilman Scholarship for archeological research with Arizona’s O’odham Nations. Sampson’s work brings present-day relevance to ancient meals\, people\, and cultures\, giving others a taste and connection to our delicious past\, revealing a more sustainable and understanding future. She sits on the Board of Directors for Slow Food Phoenix and was the Arizona representative for the Global Food Security Summit in Washington\, D.C.\, and Terra Madre in Italy in 2024. Sampson has worked for Boston University\, S’edav Va’aki Museum\, Arizona State University\, and the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association. Sampson was awarded the Arizona Humanities 50th anniversary climate conversations grant for a documentary on her food research.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/arizonas-ark-of-taste-foods-with-chef-amber-sampson-3/
LOCATION:Mohave Community College – Bullhead City Hargrove Library\, 3400 HWY 95 - 700 Building\, Bullhead City\, AZ\, 86442\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-115947.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260409T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260409T200000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260113T214405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T214141Z
UID:85357-1775757600-1775764800@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:Cooking Demonstration with The Fancy Navajo
DESCRIPTION:Join Arizona Humanities and culinary artist Alana Yazzie (The Fancy Navajo) for an evening of blue corn-inspired meals. This demo will be livestreamed. This session is part of the Blue Corn pre-festival programming. By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. \nSign up: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/crf5ctk
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/cooking-demonstration-with-the-fancy-navajo/
LOCATION:Virtual\, AZ\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/alanayazi.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260410T110000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260410T120000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260129T171615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T171615Z
UID:85426-1775818800-1775822400@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:The Wild West Fiddle Project: Arizona's Hidden Soundscape
DESCRIPTION:Join Dr. Kate Rose and Armand Ramirez for a fun\, all-ages\, interactive performance that uncovers Arizona’s rich blended heritage through traditional folk music and dance. Featuring live fiddle and guitar music and storytelling\, this experience reveals how pioneer musicians\, whose roots spanned old worlds and new terrains\, integrated their traditions with those of neighboring communities. Connection with the land shaped these emerging traditions\, where Celtic melodies and Hispanic rhythms interweave seamlessly. We will hear revived tunes showing how cultures converged to create a unique sound\, reminding us to connect with the beauty of our state’s open skies\, deep canyons\, and vast forests. \n  \nDr. Kate Rose is a Flagstaff-based fiddler\, researcher\, and tradition-bearer leading the Wild West Fiddle Project and directing the nonprofit Wild Steps. Having spent two years studying with fiddling farmers in County Clare\, Ireland\, Dr. Rose brings a deep sense of music as rooted in landscapes and the rhythms of rural life. Her research and unique performing style reveal and revive the cross-cultural music and dance traditions of the American Southwest. She suggests that when we go deep into our own roots\, they naturally intermingle with the deep roots of others’ traditions. Her talks\, which present history through true stories of Arizona musicians from our past\, are often accompanied by master rhythm expert Armand Ramirez (guitar)\, whose rootedness in Hispanic traditions adds historical depth and musical magic. They perform regularly as the duo Wild World Irish Fiddle: https://www.youtube.com/@WildIrishFiddle. \nArmand Ramirez\, guitarist\, is a master multigenre player with decades of professional musicianship\, an amazing ear\, and a creative\, danceable flair. His wide-ranging experience includes jazz\, celtic\, classical\, flamenco\, folks traditions\, and Latin music. He is also a passionate researcher of local history and his own family’s rooted Arizona connections\, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to cultural storytelling and music.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/the-wild-west-fiddle-project-arizonas-hidden-soundscape-8/
LOCATION:Mohave County Library Bullhead City\, 1170 E. Hancock Dr\, Bullhead City \, AZ\, 86442
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/K-fiddling-smiling-w_-A.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260411T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260411T110000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251210T170825Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T170825Z
UID:85289-1775901600-1775905200@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:"Growing in the Desert: The History & Culture of the Tohono O'odham " with Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan
DESCRIPTION:PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION \nMany Arizonans call the Sonoran Desert and its striking landscapes home. Long before our urban centers and city lights lit up the dark desert skies\, the Tohono O’odham were cultivating and shaping the land with abundant agriculture—from squash and beans to corn and cotton. For generations they passed down their rich knowledge and culture grown from their connection to the desert. Join us for a program with Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan as she shares her knowledge about the history and culture of her people\, the Tohono O’odham. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nDr. Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan is Tohono O’odham and from the San Xavier District. She serves as faculty in the Tohono O’odham Studies Program at Tohono O’odham Community College. Dr. Ramon-Sauberan also serves as the Tohono O’odham Nation Education Development Liaison for Kitt Peak National Observatory.  She earned her PhD in American Indian Studies with a minor in Journalism at the University of Arizona in May 2023. Her research focused on the history of land and water in the San Xavier District and she has written for news publications across the US including Indian Country Today
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/growing-in-the-desert-the-history-culture-of-the-tohono-oodham-with-jacelle-ramon-sauberan-12/
LOCATION:Friends of the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum\, 1885 Schoolhouse\, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum\, 1 Burruel Street\, Tubac\, 85646\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260417T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260417T163000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20260129T171815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T171815Z
UID:85427-1776438000-1776443400@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:The Wild West Fiddle Project: Arizona's Hidden Soundscape
DESCRIPTION:Join Dr. Kate Rose and Armand Ramirez for a fun\, all-ages\, interactive performance that uncovers Arizona’s rich blended heritage through traditional folk music and dance. Featuring live fiddle and guitar music and storytelling\, this experience reveals how pioneer musicians\, whose roots spanned old worlds and new terrains\, integrated their traditions with those of neighboring communities. Connection with the land shaped these emerging traditions\, where Celtic melodies and Hispanic rhythms interweave seamlessly. We will hear revived tunes showing how cultures converged to create a unique sound\, reminding us to connect with the beauty of our state’s open skies\, deep canyons\, and vast forests. \n  \nDr. Kate Rose is a Flagstaff-based fiddler\, researcher\, and tradition-bearer leading the Wild West Fiddle Project and directing the nonprofit Wild Steps. Having spent two years studying with fiddling farmers in County Clare\, Ireland\, Dr. Rose brings a deep sense of music as rooted in landscapes and the rhythms of rural life. Her research and unique performing style reveal and revive the cross-cultural music and dance traditions of the American Southwest. She suggests that when we go deep into our own roots\, they naturally intermingle with the deep roots of others’ traditions. Her talks\, which present history through true stories of Arizona musicians from our past\, are often accompanied by master rhythm expert Armand Ramirez (guitar)\, whose rootedness in Hispanic traditions adds historical depth and musical magic. They perform regularly as the duo Wild World Irish Fiddle: https://www.youtube.com/@WildIrishFiddle. \nArmand Ramirez\, guitarist\, is a master multigenre player with decades of professional musicianship\, an amazing ear\, and a creative\, danceable flair. His wide-ranging experience includes jazz\, celtic\, classical\, flamenco\, folks traditions\, and Latin music. He is also a passionate researcher of local history and his own family’s rooted Arizona connections\, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to cultural storytelling and music.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/the-wild-west-fiddle-project-arizonas-hidden-soundscape-9/
LOCATION:Yavapai County Free Library District – Black Canyon City Library\, 34701 S. Old Black Canyon Highway\, Black Canyon City\, 85324\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/K-fiddling-smiling-w_-A.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260418T110000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260418T123000
DTSTAMP:20260207T103901
CREATED:20251210T185958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T185958Z
UID:85296-1776510000-1776515400@azhumanities.org
SUMMARY:(Mother) Road to the Stars: Rt 66 and its Space Heritage
DESCRIPTION:Route 66 is one of the most storied roadways in North America\, known for its roadside diners\, historic hotels and kitschy attractions. But it also boasts an extraordinary space heritage; along its course lies the birthplaces of space pioneers\, centers of space exploration and discovery\, training grounds for Moon-bound astronauts\, the best-preserved asteroid impact site in the world\, site of a famous UFO sighting\, and museums celebrating these cosmic connections. In honor of the upcoming centennial of Route 66\, Lowell Observatory Historian Kevin Schindler will lead a virtual trip along the Mother Road and explore this space heritage. \n  \nKevin Schindler is the historian at Lowell Observatory\, where he has worked for 28 years as an active member of the Flagstaff history and science communities. Schindler has given more than 1\,000 presentations and written more than 600 magazine and newspaper articles on subjects ranging from local history and astronomy to baseball and the Lincoln Memorial\, and contributes a bi-weekly astronomy column\, “View from Mars Hill”\, for the Arizona Daily Sun newspaper. Schindler has written nine books\, including Historic Tales of Flagstaff (written with Mike Kitt). Fun fact: Kevin has both a fossil crab and asteroid named after him.
URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/mother-road-to-the-stars-rt-66-and-its-space-heritage-6/
LOCATION:Chandler Public Library – Basha Branch\, 5990 S Val Vista Dr\, Chandler\, AZ\, 85249\, United States
CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kevin-Schindler-Headshot.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR