More than 500,000 deaf persons in the U.S. are proud members of the deaf community yet they and their way of life remain either invisible or extraordinary, regrettable or heroic. Being deaf is framed as dis-abled, as deficient. “Solutions” are often objectifying or invalidating. American Sign Language/English Interpreters also have a problem: They, too, are placed within the frame of disability.

The rise of the extreme right has been dramatic and alarming. Michael Kimmel has interviewed active and former neo-Nazis, skinheads, and radical extremists in both Europe and the U.S., and has come to understand the importance of gender in their worldview. He will discuss gender as a tool for recruitment but also a hopeful foundation for helping extremists out of the movement.

In her talk, based on her book “Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America,” Leila Philip invites us to take a new look at a familiar but unusual animal: castor canadensis, the North American beaver. This fascinating rodent has begun to play a new role in the 21st century. Its work is being harnessed to combat the devastating impacts of climate change such as flooding, wildfires, and drought. 

In 2017 Setsuko Thurlow, who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima after being pulled out of a fiery building, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of all survivors. Thurlow became a lifelong disarmament activist, and her story is told in "The Vow from Hiroshima," a documentary written, directed, and produced by Susan Strickler. 

The author Rinker Buck has noticed that other writers often ascribe their success to lofty, pretentious factors. But Buck believes it is the prosaic, even embarrassing events of youth that send aspiring writers on their way. He will talk about how to “screw up and become a hero.”

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.