Past Events

Defending Human Rights One Asylum Case at a Time

with UF Professor emeritus of anthropology, Allan Burns
January 11th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Summary: The work of an expert witness in asylum and deportation cases includes documenting the conditions of violent and dangerous parts of the world today and testifying about those conditions. I take my perspective from the anthropologist Margaret Mead who always said that anthropology should be relative to the world today. Her emphasis on studying small groups shows the importance of understanding human rights from the perspective of human rights lawyers, experts, Department of Homeland Security lawyers, immigration judges, and of course asylum seekers and their families. Asylum seekers seek to live without the threats of drug cartels, corrupt governments, criminal organizations, and hate crimes people. Asylum laws and procedures as well as changes in those who seek asylum today have created a humanitarian crisis. So, what can we do?

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with Gary Edinger
February 8th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Summary: Well isn’t that some crazy sh*t?! The President’s speech and the insurrection at the Capital provide a great, if tragic, lesson in civics and the First Amendment. From the perspective of a First Amendment litigator, some of that day’s activities were clearly protected speech, some was extremely borderline (the President’s intemperate language and Rudy’s call for “trial by combat”), while the vandalism at the Capitol clearly was not speech of any kind. To my thinking there are few parallels between the events of Jan. 6th and the BLM demonstrations last summer. There is a difference between civil war and civil reform. On the other hand, there is no question that there were some bad actors engaged in rioting and that did not look much like reasoned discourse.

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with Dr. Elizabeth Yeager Washington and Dr. Judith Pace
March 8th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Elizabeth Yeager Washington is Professor and Coordinator of Secondary Education and Social Studies Education at the University of Florida in Gainesville, a Senior Fellow of the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, and a Knight Fellow at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Texas at Austin. She previously served as editor of Theory and Research in Education (2001-2007). She teaches secondary social studies methods, civics and government methods, and global studies methods courses. Her research interests include civic education, critical democratic citizenship education, and the teaching and learning of history.

Dr. Judith Pace is Professor of Teacher Education at The University of San Francisco. She earned her EdD from Harvard University. She is a qualitative researcher interested in classroom teaching and how it is shaped by teachers, students, schools, and society. Her research has focused on classroom authority and academic engagement, teaching for democratic citizenship, social studies teaching under high stakes accountability, and preparation of preservice teachers for teaching controversial issues. Her forthcoming book is titled Hard Questions: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues (Rowman & Littlefield).

Note that FFSF events are now online, hosted through Zoom. If you are a Florida Free Speech Forum member, you will automatically be sent an invitation to this event. Otherwise, to receive an invitation, please apply for membership.

with Reuters news service
April 12th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

The Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Award is an annual $3,000 cash award, sponsored by The Brechner Center. The award recognizes excellence in reporting about freedom of information, access to government-held information, or the First Amendment.

A spokesperson from this year’s winner, Reuters new service, will be our speaker for April.

From the Brechner News announcement:

“For a series of investigative news stories exposing the enormity of preventable deaths in county jails across the United States attributable to suicides or medical conditions, a team of reporters from the Reuters news service is the winner of the annual Brechner Freedom of Information Award for investigative reporting.

Reuters reporters documented that the death rate is statistically greater in jails with privatized medical care supplied by outside contractors, raising questions about whether corners are being cut in the pursuit of profit. The team’s data reporting was augmented by interviews with grieving family members across the country, recounting how their loved ones failed to receive attention for life-threatening mental health problems while in custody.”

[Read the full announcement here]

Note that FFSF events are now online, hosted through Zoom. If you are a Florida Free Speech Forum member, you will automatically be sent an invitation to this event. Otherwise, to receive an invitation, please apply for membership.

with Sherry Kitchens, Ed.S. LMFT
May 10th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Sherry Kitchens, Ed.S. LMFT is the President/CEO of the Child Advocacy Center in Gainesville, FL and has led the organization since 2005. Sherry graduated in 1992 from Emory University with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She obtained her Masters and Specialist degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1996 from the University of Florida, College of Education. Sherry has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1999, Florida State Approved Clinical Supervisor since 2002.

Over the past 29 years, Sherry has had the privilege to work at the Alachua County Crisis Center, Gainesville Family Institute, CDS Family and Behavioral Services, and the Child Advocacy Center, Inc. Her work in Gainesville and surrounding areas, has included a focus on ungovernable, truant and runaway youth; traumatized and exploited youth; youth with substance abuse issues; and parents with concerns for their children’s safety and success. Sherry held a successful private practice in Gainesville 2001-2020.

Sherry provides training both locally and statewide on the commercial sexual exploitation of children/human trafficking, child abuse reporting, signs and symptoms of child abuse, child development, drug endangered children, normative childhood sexual development, sexual abuse of children, best practices in child abuse investigations, multidisciplinary team response, victim advocacy response, impact of trauma on children and their behavior, and many other related topics. She also provides direct services including trauma recovery therapy, forensic interviews, advocacy, case staffing reviews, crisis intervention, multidisciplinary team coordination and expert testimony.

Note that FFSF events are now online, hosted through Zoom. If you are a Florida Free Speech Forum member, you will automatically be sent an invitation to this event. Otherwise, to receive an invitation, please apply for membership.

with Richard MacMaster, coordinator of Gainesville’s Interfaith Alliance for Immigration Justice
September 13th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Note: Luncheons will now be held at the Holiday Inn Gainesville-University Center, 1250 West University Avenue
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Dec 13th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Dr. Paul Broadie II began serving as Santa Fe College’s fifth president on February 1, 2020. In his inaugural address he pledged the following pillars would guide his leadership and path forward: student success, individual and institutional growth, innovation, partnerships, and evolution.

His priorities soon included expanding workforce development, shattering equity gaps, enhancing opportunities for professional development, and continuing to grow strong academic programs. During his first few months he engaged key leaders on and off campus in discussions of potential partnerships, took steps to bridge the digital divide by providing students in rural areas greater access to technology, and challenged college leaders to change the mentality, where it exists, that college is not for everyone.

During this luncheon, Dr. Broadie will discuss innovative approaches to creating a college-going culture and impacting the community.

Note: Luncheons will now be held online via ZOOM. Details to join the meeting are sent to everyone on our email list the week prior to the meeting. If you’d like to be added to our list,
please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list.

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