BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Arizona Humanities - ECPv6.15.15//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Arizona Humanities X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://azhumanities.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Arizona Humanities REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20250101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Phoenix BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20250101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260319T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260319T140000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 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:20260207T105043 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:20260207T105043 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:20260207T105043 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:20260207T105043 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:20260207T105043 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:20260207T105043 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:20260207T105043 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 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260417T150000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260417T163000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 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:20260207T105043 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 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260418T110000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260418T123000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260107T210530Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T210530Z UID:85323-1776510000-1776515400@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. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/mother-road-to-the-stars-rt-66-and-its-space-heritage-8/ LOCATION:Chandler Public Library – Basha Branch\, 5990 S Val Vista Dr\, Chandler\, AZ\, 85249\, United States CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260418T140000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260418T153000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T164652Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T185625Z UID:85418-1776520800-1776526200@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-3/ 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 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:20260420T101000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260420T113000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260107T224837Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T224837Z UID:85330-1776679800-1776684600@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-9/ LOCATION:Payson Public Library\, 328 N McLane Rd\, Payson\, AZ\, 85541\, 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:20260421T183000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260421T200000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260114T222337Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260114T222337Z UID:85381-1776796200-1776801600@azhumanities.org SUMMARY:Water\, Sovereignty\, and Survival: Understanding Tribal Water Rights in Arizona DESCRIPTION:Water has always been at the heart of life and survival in the desert Southwest. This presentation explores the history\, law and ongoing significance of Tribal water rights in Arizona. Presenter Cora Tso will trace the evolution of Tribal water law and policy—from early court battles and landmark settlements to present-day efforts to protect and manage these critical resources. Participants will gain insight into how Tribal nations are shaping Arizona’s water future\, environmental stewardship\, Tribal nation-building and sovereignty in a time of scarcity and change. \n  \nCora Tso is a Senior Research Fellow at Arizona State University (ASU)’s Kyl Center for Water Policy. In this role\, Cora works to research Tribal water policy\, including analyzing Tribal Nations’ interests\, needs and opportunities in regulatory and legislative processes\, collaborating with local stakeholders in connection with the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative (AWII). Previously\, Cora has worked with governmental\, private\, and non-profit organizations focusing on Indian law and environmental law and policy matters including the Navajo Nation Department of Justice’s Water Rights Unit and with Western Resource Advocates as their Western Lands attorney. Cora is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She was born and raised on the Navajo reservation and is originally from Shonto\, Arizona\, which is located in northeastern Arizona. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/water-sovereignty-and-survival-understanding-tribal-water-rights-in-arizona/ LOCATION:Page Public Library\, 479 S Lake Powell Blvd\, Page\, AZ\, 86040\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-120245.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260425T100000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260425T110000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20251203T200957Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T201642Z UID:85278-1777111200-1777114800@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. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/mother-road-to-the-stars-rt-66-and-its-space-heritage-2/ 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 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260427T160000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260427T170000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260204T194843Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T194843Z UID:85446-1777305600-1777309200@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-10/ LOCATION:The Holland Center\, 34250 N 60th Street Bldg B\, Scottsdale\, 85266\, 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:20260502T140000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260502T150000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260107T225027Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T225129Z UID:85332-1777730400-1777734000@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. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/mother-road-to-the-stars-rt-66-and-its-space-heritage-copy/ LOCATION:Chandler Public Library – Hamilton Branch\, 3700 S. Arizona Avenue\, Chandler\, 85428 CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260509T103000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260509T120000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260107T213709Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T213709Z UID:85328-1778322600-1778328000@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-3/ LOCATION:Chandler Downtown Public Library\, 22 S. Delaware St.\, Chandler\, AZ\, 85225\, 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:20260509T140000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260509T150000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T171327Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T171327Z UID:85424-1778335200-1778338800@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-7/ LOCATION:Mesa Public Library Gateway Branch\, 5036 S Eastmark Parkway\, Mesa\, Arizona\, 85201\, 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:20260519T180000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260519T190000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T164248Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T164248Z UID:85416-1779213600-1779217200@azhumanities.org SUMMARY:Water\, Sovereignty\, and Survival: Understanding Tribal Water Rights in Arizona DESCRIPTION:Water has always been at the heart of life and survival in the desert Southwest. This presentation explores the history\, law and ongoing significance of Tribal water rights in Arizona. Presenter Cora Tso will trace the evolution of Tribal water law and policy—from early court battles and landmark settlements to present-day efforts to protect and manage these critical resources. Participants will gain insight into how Tribal nations are shaping Arizona’s water future\, environmental stewardship\, Tribal nation-building and sovereignty in a time of scarcity and change. \n  \nCora Tso is a Senior Research Fellow at Arizona State University (ASU)’s Kyl Center for Water Policy. In this role\, Cora works to research Tribal water policy\, including analyzing Tribal Nations’ interests\, needs and opportunities in regulatory and legislative processes\, collaborating with local stakeholders in connection with the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative (AWII). Previously\, Cora has worked with governmental\, private\, and non-profit organizations focusing on Indian law and environmental law and policy matters including the Navajo Nation Department of Justice’s Water Rights Unit and with Western Resource Advocates as their Western Lands attorney. Cora is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She was born and raised on the Navajo reservation and is originally from Shonto\, Arizona\, which is located in northeastern Arizona. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/water-sovereignty-and-survival-understanding-tribal-water-rights-in-arizona-2/ LOCATION:Flagstaff City – Coconino County Public Library\, 300 West Aspen Avenue\, Flagstaff\, 86001\, United States CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-120245.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260606T170000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260606T180000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20251203T201235Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T201309Z UID:85280-1780765200-1780768800@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. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/mother-road-to-the-stars-rt-66-and-its-space-heritage-3/ LOCATION:Old Trails Museum\, 523 W Second St\, Winslow\, AZ\, 86047\, United States CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260613T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260613T143000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T164116Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T164116Z UID:85415-1781355600-1781361000@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-5/ LOCATION:Butterfly Lodge Museum\, SE Corner of St. Rt. #373 & Co. Rd. #1126\, Greer\, AZ\, 85927\, 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:20260616T110000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260616T120000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260204T194012Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T194012Z UID:85447-1781607600-1781611200@azhumanities.org SUMMARY:Water\, Sovereignty\, and Survival: Understanding Tribal Water Rights in Arizona DESCRIPTION:Water has always been at the heart of life and survival in the desert Southwest. This presentation explores the history\, law and ongoing significance of Tribal water rights in Arizona. Presenter Cora Tso will trace the evolution of Tribal water law and policy—from early court battles and landmark settlements to present-day efforts to protect and manage these critical resources. Participants will gain insight into how Tribal nations are shaping Arizona’s water future\, environmental stewardship\, Tribal nation-building and sovereignty in a time of scarcity and change. \n  \nCora Tso is a Senior Research Fellow at Arizona State University (ASU)’s Kyl Center for Water Policy. In this role\, Cora works to research Tribal water policy\, including analyzing Tribal Nations’ interests\, needs and opportunities in regulatory and legislative processes\, collaborating with local stakeholders in connection with the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative (AWII). Previously\, Cora has worked with governmental\, private\, and non-profit organizations focusing on Indian law and environmental law and policy matters including the Navajo Nation Department of Justice’s Water Rights Unit and with Western Resource Advocates as their Western Lands attorney. Cora is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. She was born and raised on the Navajo reservation and is originally from Shonto\, Arizona\, which is located in northeastern Arizona. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/water-sovereignty-and-survival-understanding-tribal-water-rights-in-arizona-3/ LOCATION:Avondale Public Library – Sam Garcia Library Branch\, 495 E Western Ave\, Avondale\, Arizona\, 85323 CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-120245.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260619T110000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260619T123000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T165445Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T165445Z UID:85421-1781866800-1781872200@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-6/ LOCATION:Yavapai County Free Library District – Congress Public Library\, 26750 Santa Fe Road\, Congress\, 85332\, 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:20260620T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260620T143000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T172546Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T172546Z UID:85428-1781960400-1781965800@azhumanities.org SUMMARY:Díí Bee Adééhonilzindoo: Knowing the Self Through Language and Storytelling DESCRIPTION:In Diné families\, a phrase that elders use after cultural knowledge is shared is Díí Bee Adééhonilzindoo meaning by these things\, you will know yourself. The idea is that knowing the self is foundational to knowing\, understanding\, and empathizing with others\, including the land. By knowing ourselves\, where we come from\, who our people are\, and our ancestral stories\, we make steps toward a humanity that is intercommunal\, that makes space for other kinds of stories and ways of doing to exist. If we know ourselves\, we move through the world with open minds and open hearts. Only then\, can we truly call ourselves human. This session is a communal practice toward knowing the self through language and storytelling. Through discussion\, interactive activities\, and other meaningful ways of doing\, we will meet the needs of your community by thinking creatively and critically about what it means to know the self and what it means to be human. \nNote: Storytelling is purposeful and communal. Storytellers will often adjust the nature of their stories to meet the needs of their family or their community. In honor of this ancestral tradition\, this session can be modified in consultation with the presenter and the community that is requesting this session. \nDr. Manny Loley is a Diné storyteller\, educator\, and editor. He is ‘Áshįįhi born for Tó Baazhní’ázhí; his maternal grandparents are the Tódích’íi’nii and his paternal grandparents are the Kinyaa’áanii. Dr. Loley is from Tsétah Tó Ák’olí on the Navajo Nation. He holds a Ph.D. in English and Literary Arts from the University of Denver. Dr. Loley is the Editor for Leading the Way Magazine\, and he co-founded and directed the Emerging Diné Writers’ Institute. His creative and critical work has found homes in Poetry Magazine\, Pleaides Magazine\, the Massachusetts Review\, the Santa Fe Literary Review\, Broadsided Press\, the Yellow Medicine Review\, and the Diné Reader: an Anthology of Navajo Literature\, among others. His writing has been thrice nominated for Pushcart Prizes. Loley is at work on a novel titled They Collect Rain in Their Palms. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/dii-bee-adeehonilzindoo-knowing-the-self-through-language-and-storytelling/ LOCATION:Sedona Public Library\, 3250 White Bear Road\, Sedona\, AZ\, 86351\, United States CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://azhumanities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-14-115358.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260709T170000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260709T183000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260204T165928Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T165928Z UID:85444-1783616400-1783621800@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-5/ LOCATION:Yavapai County Free Library – Dewey Humboldt Town Library\, 2735 S Corral Street\, Humboldt\, AZ\, 86329\, 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:20260714T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260714T143000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T165109Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T165109Z UID:85420-1784034000-1784039400@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-5/ LOCATION:Sedona Public Library in the Village\, 25 W. Saddlehorn Road\, Sedona\, AZ\, 86351\, 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:20260718T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260718T143000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T163853Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T163853Z UID:85414-1784379600-1784385000@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-6/ LOCATION:Yavapai County Free Library District – Paulden Public Library\, 16 Big Chino Rd\, Paulden\,\, AZ\, 86334\, 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:20260718T133000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260718T150000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20251203T203021Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T203021Z UID:85282-1784381400-1784386800@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. URL:https://azhumanities.org/event/grounded-creating-with-land-in-contemporary-native-american-art/ LOCATION:Springerville Heritage Center\, 418 E. Main Stret\, Springerville\, AZ\, 85938\, United States CATEGORIES:AZ Speaks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260808T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260808T143000 DTSTAMP:20260207T105043 CREATED:20260129T164515Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T164515Z UID:85417-1786194000-1786199400@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-2/ LOCATION:Butterfly Lodge Museum\, SE Corner of St. Rt. #373 & Co. Rd. #1126\, Greer\, AZ\, 85927\, 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 END:VCALENDAR