Moustafa Bayoumi, author of the first-year experience summer reading, How Does It Feel To Be A Problem?, will speak about his book. In his book, Bayoumi profiles the lives of several Arab and Muslim Americans in New York City post 9/11.

This Chautauqua, presented by Judy Winnick, provides the audience with a glimpse into the life of Polish Catholic social worker, Irena Sendler. Irena Sendler was nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the World War II Polish resistance. She is credited with rescuing 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto.

Once people have charted a course of action, why do they continue to act, particularly in a world filled with constant distractions and temptations? Drawing on theory and research findings from social psychology, Dr. Christopher Agnew will provide some answers to this question, with particular emphasis on existential- and everyday-level reasoning. A thread throughout the talk is that social psychology is capable of providing compelling answers regarding the profound question of why people “keep on keeping on.”

Holocaust survivor Phil Gans will speak about his life during the World War II years. At the age of 15, Mr. Gans was liberated by the American army, having survived the Nazi concentration camps Westerbork, Auschwitz II and Flossenberg. At liberation Phil had to begin a new life alone, having lost 21 members of his family. His talk explores his life before, during and after the experiences of the Holocaust.

Bjorn Krondorfer will conduct a 90-minute workshop on why memory matters in relation to intercommuncal/interethnic conflict. He will introduce the participants to creative approaches (what he calls "living sculptures work") to acknowledge and work through conflict. Krondorfer has participated in reconciliation work in both South Africa and Israel.