Zócalo Public Square Zócalo Public Square

Live from ASU California Center at the historic Herald Examiner Building: The night began with Beau Sia performing “We Voting,” and Sekou Andrews and Steve Connell performing “Water Stained Black,” followed by a conversation with the poets about the ways artists engage with politics, and fuel democracy. This event was co-presented with Da Poetry Lounge and moderated by poet and art organizer Alyesha Wise.

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Everybody loves a debut novel. The thrill of discovering a new literary voice, the culmination of years of solitary work, and the possibility of so much more to come will always be catnip to publishers, reviewers, and of course, readers. First-time novelists often pour much of themselves and their family experiences into these works—lending a particular richness and depth. Emerging from a diverse, dynamic place like Los Angeles, debut novels invite us to step into unknown neighbors’ hearts, minds, and milieus, and offer us new ways to behold and understand our city and our world. What is the experience—creative, intellectual, emotional—of writing a first novel, and how is it different than working on a short story, poem, or screenplay? When first-time novelists explore the world in a place like L.A., can the city—its mood, its vastness, its populations—become a crucible for forging new visions and ideas? And how do these writers approach perhaps the most daunting question: What’s next?
Debut novelists Fatimah Asghar, Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi, and Ryan Lee Wong visit Zócalo and ALOUD to read from their books, and to discuss the excitement and challenges of putting out a first novel, what inspires their craft, and why Los Angeles had to be a part of it all. This event was streamed live from Los Angeles, CA on Thursday, November 10, 2022 and was moderated by Zócalo Public Square editorial director Eryn Brown.
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For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

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Los Angeles City Council member Mitch Englander went to prison for taking gifts from casino interests. Jose Huizar turned his city council office into a criminal enterprise, an indictment contends. Mark Ridley-Thomas faces charges of taking bribes from USC. And three more councilmembers conspired with a top labor official to influence redistricting—spewing racism and hatred on tape and disgracing themselves. Often, such scandals seem like the only times Angelenos hear about their councilmembers. Is the L.A. City Council—overshadowed as it is by the mayor, five county supervisors, and powerful state and national politicians—still worth the trouble and embarrassment? Can the body be saved by reforms, or by making it bigger? Or should L.A. replace its council altogether and turn instead to innovative methods of government decision-making—from lottery-selected citizens’ panels to the online environments used to govern cities from Madrid to Montevideo?
Public Access Democracy director Leonora Camner, California 100 executive director Karthick Ramakrishnan, L.A. city councilmember Nithya Raman, and Weingart Foundation president and CEO Miguel Santana visit Zócalo to discuss where things went wrong, and imagine new futures for L.A.’s city council.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

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The pandemic was bad for schools. It was even worse for rural schools, which are often the centers of daily life, culture, and economy in their communities. Poor internet connections made remote learning inaccessible and downright impossible in many cases. Attendance dropped. Rural schools, which struggle to attract and keep staff even in good times, hemorrhaged teachers and administrators; staff who remained were exhausted and prone to leaving. How can rural schools and districts recover from such damage—and how can state and regional governments best support them? What sorts of changes must rural schools make to adapt to the environmental, economic, and technological threats to rural communities? And what will it take for rural education to survive the 21st century?

California Collaborative for Educational Excellence assistant director of systems of support Julie Boesch, Cal Poly Humboldt executive director of initiatives Connie Stewart, and Small School Districts’ Association executive director Tim Taylor visited Zócalo to explore how rural schools can prosper. This event was streamed live from Bakersfield, CA, on Thursday, November 10, 2022 and was moderated by KQED correspondent and co-host of “The California Report” Saul Gonzalez.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

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Since the beginning of time, people have gazed up at the stars and wondered: Are we alone in the universe? Now, this question is stoking controversy as the U.S. military continues its release of videos showing “unidentified aerial phenomena”—about which former President Barack Obama admitted, “We don’t know exactly what they are.” It’s time we put together a game plan—preferably one we can all agree on—to guide us when extraterrestrial guests ultimately do arrive. What will contact with a new intelligent lifeform mean for humanity’s future? Can the close encounters Hollywood has imagined help us plot our way forward? And, is it possible that humanity will find unity in how we present ourselves to the new arrivals?

Senior operations specialist Corey Gray of LIGO Hanford Observatory, ASU astrobiologist and theoretical physicist Sara Imari Walker, and Afrofuturist poet, fiction writer, and editor Sheree Renée Thomas visited Zócalo–not to discuss whether there is life out there, but to reflect upon how we should prepare to meet it. This event was streamed live from Los Angeles, CA, and was moderated by New York Times national security reporter Julian E. Barnes.


This event is a part of Experience ASU, a month-long series marking Arizona State University’s expansion in California.


Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

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It sometimes feels like we will never laugh again, and that levity’s moment has passed. But comedians have always grappled with difficult topics in difficult times, helping the rest of us better understand ourselves—and let off a little steam in the process. Comedians dare to go where others can’t. Satire, stand-up, and skits can take on the topics that most divide us: race, nationality, gender, religion, class. What is the relationship between dissent and comedy? Is there civic virtue in laughter? Are there any issues that it is “too soon” to joke about? Should comedians around the world draw inspiration from American humor? And can comedy break through apathy, discontent, and division in a democracy under pressure—serving as release valve, remedy, and respite?

Political satirist Bassem Youssef, and playwright, actor, and performance artist Kristina Wong visited Zócalo to discuss the current comedic zeitgeist, and why the joke can be mightier than the sword. This event was streamed live from Los Angeles, CA, and was moderated by Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano.

Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA

For a full report on the live discussion, check out the Takeaway:

Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events.

Follow along on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepublicsquare
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