Greenfield Community College

GCC professor of history Alyssa Arnell presents this year's Dovi Afesi Lecture. In 1865, Pierre Fazende parceled off seven acres of land situated downriver of New Orleans in neighboring St. Bernard Parish. He sold plots to newly freed and other people of color. For a century, the community of Fazendeville thrived. In its heyday, Fazendeville boasted over 100 families, two grocery stores, and a school that doubled as a dance hall where Fats Dominos was known to play. “The Village,” as Fazendeville was fondly nicknamed, was a community known for its collective political and economic action. But Fazendeville was situated on a parcel of land coveted by heritage and memorialization associations for its connection to the War of 1812. In 1815, Andrew Jackson led a diverse army to victory against invading British forces that marched across this field. “The Battle of New Orleans” victory was the last engagement of the war, and the victory propelled Jackson onto the national political scene. In 1962, Congress was persuaded to pass legislation creating a national military park in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle. This law gave the Secretary of the Interior authority to demolish Fazendeville, reasoning that the military park…

Over 60 percent of Americans support abortion access, but last year constitutional abortion rights were overturned and many states now ban abortion in most circumstances. States with high levels of gerrymandering and voter suppression are the same states that have banned abortion and in other ways limit women’s rights—these states also have highly male-dominated legislatures. In this talk, Smith College Professor Carrie Baker will argue that democracy and women’s rights are intimately intertwined, that women’s rights and representation are a barometer of democracy, and the erosion of women’s rights is a canary in the coal mine of a dying democracy. Free and open to the public.

Throughout the history of humanity and within every known culture has been the concept of the soul—and yet over the last century or so, its value has lost much ground. For many people the idea of the soul, the essence of “who” they are resonates deeply and yet has been significantly diminished by the medical model of mental health and addiction. This presentation will bring the concept of the soul back to the forefront of discussion in how we conceptualize ourselves and others as well as the concept of soul exhaustion. Soul exhaustion takes a deeper exploration of life circumstances such as poverty, adverse childhood experiences, racism, trauma, loss and burnout and the holistic impact it has on “who” we are. When looking through the lens of soul exhaustion, we also must shift our thoughts on solutions to address the soul, spirit or essence of “who” we are. Soul care, which has emphasis on non-clinical resources, goes deeper into understanding the ways in which we care for the “who.” This presentation also explores how the concept of Soul Exhaustion and Soul Care can work in harmony with the medical model of mental health, substance use disorders and suicide prevention. Presented…