Category Archives: Lecture

Leocadia Zak of USTDA will lead discussion on international trade at Clinton School

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LzakToday at 12 noon at the Clinton School, Leocadia Zak will participate in a discussion on international trade and economic developement.

She is the director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, which helps U.S. businesses create jobs through the export of their goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. companies to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure, development, and economic growth in partner countries. For the sixth year in a row, USTDA’s export multiplier increased in FY 2014 — for every dollar the Agency programmed, an unprecedented $76 in U.S. exports were generated.

Zak will participate in a discussion on international trade and economic development, including President Obama’s trade policy agenda and trends in emerging markets, moderated by former Arkansas Economic Development Commission director Grant Tennille.

Leocadia I. Zak was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate as the Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, which helps U.S. businesses create jobs through the export of their goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. companies to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries. For the sixth year in a row, USTDA’s export multiplier increased in FY 2014 — for every dollar the Agency programmed, an unprecedented $76 in U.S. exports were generated. Further, the $5.8 billion in new exports identified last year brings USTDA’s total exports generated to over $51 billion.

Prior to joining USTDA, Ms. Zak was a partner in the Washington and Boston offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., practicing in the areas of corporate, municipal and international finance. Ms. Zak was also an Adjunct Professor of Law and has taught International Project Finance at the Boston University School of Law, Morin Center for Banking and Financial Law Studies and at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Ms. Zak received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.

Social Media & Constant Connection topic at Clinton School this evening

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Social networking is a staple of modern life, but its continued evolution is becoming increasingly detrimental to our lives. Shifts in communication, identity, and privacy are affecting us more than we realize. Tonight at 6pm at the Clinton School, Jacob Silverman will discuss this in a program entitled “Terms of Service: Social Media and the Price of Constant Connection.”

“Terms of Service” crystalizes the current moment in technology and contemplates what is to come: our newly adopted view of daily life through the lens of what’s share-worthy and the surveillance state operated by social media platforms to mine our personal data for advertising revenue.

Integrating politics, sociology, national security, pop culture, and technology, Silverman explores the surprising conformity at the heart of Internet culture, explaining how social media companies engineer their products to encourage shallow engagement and discourage dissent, and reflects on the implications of the collapsed barriers between our private and public lives.

A book signing will follow the discussion.

Legacies & Lunch Examines Arkansas’s Free Black Expulsion of 1860    

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legaciesIn 1860, Arkansas became the only state to prohibit free blacks from residing within its borders. What happened to those who left? Dr. Brian Mitchell will discuss this little-known chapter of Arkansas history at Legacies & Lunch, the Butler Center’s monthly lecture series, on Wednesday, April 1, from noon-1 p.m., in the Main Library’s Darragh Center, 100 Rock Street.

Brian Mitchell is a researcher, social policy analyst, and historian at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is currently developing a database identifying free blacks expelled from Arkansas in 1860 and writing a narrative detailing their experiences.

Legacies & Lunch is free, open to the public, and sponsored in part by the Arkansas Humanities Council. Attendees are invited to bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert are provided. For more information, call 501-918-3033.

Peter Gluck presents tonight’s Architecture and Design Network lecture

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This evening at 6pm, Peter Gluck, founder and principal of Gluck+ of NYC will speak.  Entitled “What’s Wrong with Us,” the lecture is presented by the Architecture and Design Network.

Gluck +, the innovative architectural firm founded by Peter Gluck, is known for its multi-faceted approach to creating award winning buildings. Responsive to a range and variety of factors – site, cost, time, construction, evolving client needs and attitudes among them – the firm is capable of dealing with a project from conception to completion.

The process, known as Architect Led Design Build (ALDB), requires the architect’s assuming responsibility for all phases of a building’s construction as well as its design. One firm, wielding a hammer as well as a pencil, does it all. in architectural circles, the approach is frequently the exception rather than the rule.

While a student at Yale, where he  earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Gluck encountered the design build culture that subsequently served as the inspiration for ALDB. Architectural luminary Louis Kahn who taught at Yale  during the time Gluck was a student at the School, had an early and significant influence on his approach to architecture, his focus on the important link between design and construction.

Gluck, known for his iconic tree topping Tower House, is  also regarded for his work with moderate income urban housing. In one example, components were prefabricated in Pennsylvania and assembled on site in New York City.

Gluck, who is widely published in architectural journals worldwide, has taught at the Columbia and Yale schools of architecture. Exhibitions of his award-winning work have been held in the United States and Japan. He has curated exhibits for the Museum of Modern Art.

The program will take place in the lecture hall at the Arkansas Arts Center at 6pm.  A reception will start at 5:30 prior to the lecture.

All Architecture and Design Network lectures are free and open to the public. For additional information contact ardenetwork@icloud.com. Supporters of ADN include the Central Section of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, UA’s Fay Jones School of Architecture, the Arkansas Arts Center and friends in the community.

A Turn of Events explored at tonight’s Tales from the South at the Oyster Bar

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Tonight, Tales from the South looks at what happens when we experience “A Turn of Events.” This evening’s program will take place at The Oyster Bar.talesfromthesouth

The storytellers for this edition are Suzie Branton, Emily Noah and Alan Reese.  Music is by blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company.

Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only. “Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $15 in advance.  Dinner can be purchased separately. You MUST purchase your ticket before the show. Any tickets available at the door will be $20.

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.  This program will air on April 9.

No Ceilings Full Participation Report is focus of Clinton Center program today

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noceilingsLocal and national leaders will gather at the Clinton Presidential Center to discuss the No Ceilings Full Participation Report, the culmination of a year-long, global data aggregation effort that identifies the significant gains women and girls have made – and the gaps that still remain – since the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.

On March 9, 2015, the No Ceilings Full Participation Report was released at an event in New York City with Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and Melinda Gates. On March 30, the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton School of Public Service will host a panel discussion and provide a forum for panelists to localize the data and information gathered in the report.

The event is FREE, but reservations are required. To reserve your seat, email LRevent@clintonfoundation.org.

Panelists will include:

  • Terri McCullough, director of No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project
  • Marcy Doderer, president and chief executive officer of Arkansas Children’s Hospital
  • Scott Shirey, founder and executive director of KIPP Delta Public Schools
  • Beth Keck, senior director of Women’s Economic Empowerment for Walmart
  • Dara Richardson-Heron, chief executive officer of the YWCA
USA

 

It will take place in the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Center.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m; program begins at noon.

Robinson Redux March

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Blackstone adWhile Robinson Center Music Hall is closed for renovations, the Culture Vulture blog is taking a look back at previous bookings in the facility each month.

March 1940 was the first full month that Robinson Auditorium was open.  The month started with Blackstone the magician in performances from March 2 through 4. In addition to his appearance touted by the auditorium, Muswick Beverage & Cigar Company promoted his appearance, and the fact that he endorsed Budweiser beer.  Later that month, appearances included the Shrine Circus, the AAU girls basketball championship, and the Saint Louis Symphony.

March 1950 was a particularly busy month. It featured singer Vaughn Monroe on the 6th and the Arkansas State Symphony playing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on the 7th.  On the lower level, a circus took up residency from the 7th through 10th.  Back upstairs in the music hall, Ballet Theatre visited performing Balanchine’s “Theme and Variations” featuring ballerina Nora Kaye and conductor Max Goberman.  The month concluded on the 27th with James Dunn starring in the Pulitzer Prize winning Harvey.

In 1955, Jose Greco and His Spanish Dancers entertained audiences on March 7. Five years later, the Chicago Ballet was featured on March 26, 1960. Earlier that month (the 16th), Max Rudolf conducted the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. March 1965 feautured the Chicago Opera Ballet (on the 2nd) and an evening of country music stars including Buck Owens and Kitty Wells (on the 10th).

In March 1970, the national tour of the Broadway musical Mame starring Sheila Smith launched the month on the 6th and 7th. Later that month The Florida Boys were in concert. March 1975 saw much activity at Robinson Center. Guy Lombardo and his orchestra appeared on the 2nd and Richard Fredricks, baritone, gave a recital on the 4th, under the auspices of the Community Concert Series. On March 5 & 6, a statewide touring production of South Pacific played at Robinson. Produced by Vince Insalaco, it starred Judy Pryor (now Judy Trice) as Little Rock native Nellie Forbush. The month closed out with the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof.

March 1980 saw Dawn Wells starring in Neil Simon’s Chapter Two on the 8th. The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra performed on the 15th and 16th with pianist Lorin Hollander as guest artist. Five years later, Marilyn Horne appeared with the ASO on March 2, 1985. At the same time that evening, the Shriners Ball was taking place on the lower level. Later that month a national tour of Sophisticated Ladies stopped by Robinson on the 12th. The ASO returned on March 20 & 21 with pianist Garrick Ohlsson.

The Sharks and the Jets lept on the stage on March 20, 1990, as a tour of West Side Story came to Robinson Center. The month concluded with pianist Jose Carlos Cocarelli in concert with the ASO.

Marilyn Horne returned to Little Rock, ten years and one day after her previous appearance, and performed with the ASO again on March 3, 1995. The month also included The Will Rogers Follies on March 10-12, Jazz Explosion II (with George Duke, Dianne Reeves, Phil Perry, Howard Hewett, and George Howard) on March 15, and the ASO in concert with cellist Jeffrey Solow on March 18 & 19. On March 22, the musical Raisin was performed. The cast included Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne and Lynette Hawkins.

As the 2000s rolled around, Robinson Center continued to feature an eclectic mix. In March 2000, Ann Hampton Callaway performed with the ASO on March 4 & 5. Later that month the original cast of Red, White & Tuna played at Robinson from March 14 through 19. In 2005, the national tour of Mamma Mia! played at Robinson from March 1-6. Later that month the ASO performed Broadway a la Carte with an eveningn of songs from the Great White Way (on March 18 & 19).

In 2010, the ASO performed a concert version of Porgy & Bess on March 12 & 13. It was the first time that title had ever been performed in its entirity in Arkansas. Irish dance took the stage the next night as Lord of the Dance took up residence at Robinson Center.