5 reasons you should attend the Alabama Colloquium with NPR’s Michel Martin on Oct. 7

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2017 Group 5 reasons you should attend the Alabama Colloquium with NPR's Michel Martin on Oct. 7
2017 Colloquium. Photo via AHF

Provocative, entertaining, and enlightening—I can’t imagine a better day to spend a Monday! The 2019 Alabama Colloquium is happening October 7 right here in Birmingham. You’re not going to want to miss it, so get your ticket today.

What is the Alabama Colloquium?

Screen Shot 2019 07 11 at 1.13.32 PM 5 reasons you should attend the Alabama Colloquium with NPR's Michel Martin on Oct. 7
Photo via AHF

The Alabama Colloquium is an annual event hosted by the Alabama Humanities Foundation (AHF). Here are the details:

  • Monday, October 7
  • 11 AM-1 PM
  • The Club
  • 1 Robert S Smith Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209
  • $85 (benefits AHF)
  • Buy Tickets Here

“The Alabama Colloquium captures precisely what humanities is all about – inspiring, teaching, critical thinking. It is provocative, entertaining and enlightening all at the same time.”

Armand DeKeyser, AHF Executive Director

Learn, support, celebrate and enjoy—here are 5 reasons you’re not going to want to miss out!

1. Hear From the 2019 Fellows

Alabama Humanities Fellows are Alabama natives or residents who, during their lives and work, have made substantial contributions to the humanities in relationship to Alabama.

Every year, AHF honors a new class at the Alabama Colloquium. The 2019 class of fellows are certainly an illustrious group.

Among them, you will find a nationally-recognized civil rights attorney, a deputy director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a NASA engineer.

“I am so deeply humbled and honored to be selected as a 2019 Alabama Humanities Fellow. To be recognized with such a distinguished group of individuals is a privilege.

I love Alabama, and while I acknowledge that there is still much work left to do; I hope that my voice as an educator, philanthropist, social justice advocate was catalyst for positive change.

This honor is yet another example of how Alabama has continued to pour so much into me; and for that, I am grateful.”

Marquita Davis, 2019 fellow

Learn all about the fellows and their impressive accomplishments, and snag your ticket to hear them speak!

2. Watch Emmy Award-Winning Michel Martin Moderate

Michel Martin 5 reasons you should attend the Alabama Colloquium with NPR's Michel Martin on Oct. 7
Current NPR host, former correspondent for ABC’s Nightline, and Emmy award-winner. Photo via AHF

NPR’s Michel Martin will moderate the Colloquium.

Michel Martin is the weekend host of All Things Considered, where she draws on her deep reporting and interviewing experience to dig into the week’s news.

Martin has spent more than 25 years as a journalist. She’s reported on such subjects as the congressional budget battles, the U.S. embassy bombings in Africa, racial profiling and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. During her time as a correspondent for ABC, she also contributed to the network’s award-winning coverage of September 11.

Martin has received many awards, including three Emmy nominations. She won an Emmy for her work on the ABC newsmagazine Day One, covering the international campaign to ban the use of landmines.

3. Support the Alabama Humanities Foundation

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Every year, AHF awards up to four $1,000 scholarships to K-6 educators in support of history and civics-related projects in their schools and classrooms. Photo via AHF

Support for the Colloquium goes right back into the Alabama Humanities Foundation. You can read all about what AHF does here!

The AHF is based in Birmingham, but supports humanities efforts all over the state! Everything from educating educators, funding classroom programs, hosting seminars and forums, granting state-wide financial support for humanities-based events—it’s all in a day’s work for Alabama Humanities Foundation.

4. Celebrate 30 Years

2018 Westmoreland and Joyce Vance 5 reasons you should attend the Alabama Colloquium with NPR's Michel Martin on Oct. 7
Laugh while you learn. Photo via AHF

During the 2019 Alabama Colloquium, AHF will celebrate 30 years of honoring individuals and organizations that have contributed to the humanities in Alabama.

What began as a humble luncheon in 1989 has evolved into a dynamic conversation that guarantees to have the audience laughing, musing and critically thinking about life in Alabama.

“Alabama is home to a rich and diverse culture of people – including artisans, jurists, writers, industrialists, educators, performers, designers, culinary persons and philanthropists.

The opportunity to bring four noted but diverse Alabamians together on one stage for an inspiring conversation highlights the robust aspects of Alabama culture while underscoring the many components of our common humanity.” 

Trey Granger, AHF Chair

5. Participate in an Illustrious History

Screen Shot 2019 07 11 at 1.13.16 PM 5 reasons you should attend the Alabama Colloquium with NPR's Michel Martin on Oct. 7
Photo via AHF

Alabama Humanities Fellows find themselves among prestigious company. For instance, Harper Lee, Cassandra King, and many more are on the list of previous fellows.

Find more info here on past fellows and other AHF award winners. (Hint: it’s quite an outstanding group)

“It was truly inspiring to sit onstage with a group of people who, although we may not have a lot in common on the surface, all believe in the goodness and the potential of Alabama.

People who all know that Alabama is a place that values diversity of voices and perspectives. And people who are all using their privilege to uplift the people who need uplifting the most.

I was honored, humbled and excited to be there.”

Kamau Bell, 2017 fellow and Emmy Award winning host of CNN’s United Shades of America

Tickets are going fast, so be sure to grab yours today. We will see you on October 7!

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Beth Cunningham
Beth Cunningham

A Birmingham transplant who can usually be found hitting a new hiking trail or restaurant opening when she's not writing stories and snapping photos for Bham Now.

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