World-renowned guitarist, composer, producer, and Grammy Award-winner, Hernan Romero will speak about his musical journey and his belief in the vital importance of music, not only in his life, but also in the lives of almost everybody it touches. His progressive style of music, while rooted in Flamenco, transcends national, cultural, and genre boundaries and brings people together from diverse, dissimilar backgrounds. 

JerriAnne Boggis invites us to look at our state’s history through fresh eyes. As Executive Director of New Hampshire’s Black Heritage Trail, Boggis is committed to sharing the stories of our Black communities and residents, including Harriet E. Wilson, America’s first Black female novelist, and Wentworth Cheswell, the first Black person voted into public office. Such heroes, along with the 2003 discovery of the African Burial Ground in Portsmouth, led to the creation of this Trail and a fuller understanding of our true history.

Every professional theatre in our country faces an overdue call for change. The Theatre is where we come to learn about the lives of others, to experience cultures outside of our own, to grapple with the bigger questions about who we are as humans. Leaning into this truth, current Peterborough Players Artistic Director Tom Frey talks about the joys and challenges of change, and how the great Empathy Machine that is the Theatre has the potential to be its own savior. 

Since they first began appearing in newspapers in the late 19th century, comics have captivated audiences with their blend of artistry, humor, and adventure. They’ve evolved to become graphic novels, taking the form of journalism, literature, and memoir for both adults and children. By breaking down complex ideas clearly and succinctly, cartoons can make information more engaging and memorable. In a digital age that demands visual literacy, comics can be a powerful educational tool.

How many of us have seen an eagle fly? Revered, yet endangered, the bald eagle has staged an astonishing comeback that carries a message of hope. Drawing from his latest book, The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack E. Davis will tell the illuminating story of the natural species and the national symbol. Davis, a professor of history at the University of Florida, sees the eagle’s journey as inspirational. When the eagle flies freely, we do as well.

In 2003, not long after graduating from college, Theo Wilson was handcuffed to a chair and beaten by Denver police. The trauma of that assault along with the homicide of a childhood friend, followed by the many appalling deaths of black men and women over the ensuing years, led Theo to speak out and seek healing by publishing videos on YouTube that attracted both a huge following and many hateful comments.

Coevolution is a process in nature that creates, through time, increasingly stable and resilient ecosystems. It occurs among at least two species in a mutually dependent manner and as a result of specific interactions. Driven by energy efficiency, it builds complex networks of mutually beneficial interrelationships where species become ever more specialized and tightly integrated. A classic example is that of predator-prey where there is pressure on prey to avoid capture and so predators must evolve to be more effective hunters.

Those of us inspired to write often wonder: what is the value of telling my story - does anyone really care? Joyce Maynard, the author of numerous novels and memoirs, would say that telling the truth about one’s life is always valuable. Maynard, who has been documenting her life experiences for five decades, is committed to mentoring developing writers, from whom she learns as well as teaches.

Eighty is NOT the new sixty. With aging, the benefits and risks of treatment change, as does what’s important and meaningful to us. If we and our health care providers are not thoughtful about the bigger picture, something that feels as simple as a screening blood test can result in unnecessary or even harmful treatment. When facing heart disease, infection, or cancer becomes the critical question, do we undertake every possible intervention or finally consider palliative care or hospice? Dr.