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Virginia Humanities’ 50th Anniversary features David Brooks and Barbara Lee Hamm

/ Bonnie Newman Davis

Lynda Johnson Robb, Dominion Energy and Elegba Folklore Society will be honored with “Commonwealth Humanities Award”

David Brooks
Barbara Hamm

Virginia Humanities will host its inaugural Commonwealth Lecture in the Humanities at the Altria Theater in Richmond on April 10.

“Our celebration of 50 years as your state humanities council is continuing despite the challenges to our federal funding that are currently happening at the National Endowment for the Humanities,” reads a statement announcing the lecture.

“We have a lot to be proud of and to look forward to. We hope you’ll join us and gain a better understand why the humanities matter, how they help us understand our past and present and the role they can play in shaping a more positive future.”

Before the public lecture by David Brooks, three individuals/organizations will be honored with a “Commonwealth Humanities Award.” Lynda Johnson Robb, Dominion Energy, and Elegba Folklore Society will each be honored and will receive a unique work of art made by Page County basket maker, Clyde Jenkins.

About David Brooks:

David Brooks is one of the nation’s leading writers, authors and commentators. Brooks is an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, a writer for The Atlantic, and appears regularly on PBS Newshour. The lecture will examine the intersections of public life and culture, exploring how the humanities is relevant in today’s world, especially in a civically engaged society.

Following the lecture, there will be a moderated conversation by Barbara Hamm Lee. Barbara Hamm Lee is an award-winning journalist, radio and television host of Another View. Audience members will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance. The event is designed to foster deeper reflection on how the humanities are important to continue to shape our society.

The Commonwealth Lecture in the Humanities series is designed to foster deeper reflection on how the humanities continue to shape and respond to societal shifts. This is a signature event of Virginia Humanities’ year-long 50th anniversary celebration. The First Lady of Virginia, Suzanne S. Youngkin, is the honorary chair of the Commonwealth Lecture in the Humanities.

For more information, please click this link.

COMMUNITY MLK CELEBRATION

/ Bonnie Newman Davis

Michele Norris will deliver the 2025 Community MLK Celebration keynote address on January 30, 2025. An on-stage discussion with Melody Barnes, executive director of UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, will follow.

January 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM

The Paramount Theater

This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available via the Paramount Theater website here.

Michele Norris, MSNBC Senior Contributing Editor, former Washington Post columnist, former NPR “All Things Considered” host, Peabody Award-winner
An award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most recognized voices in radio, Michele Norris engages audiences in candid discussion about current events, social issues, and bridging the divide in America.

From the radio airwaves of NPR to The Washington Post to her current role as MSNBC Senior Contributor, Michele Norris is one of the most trusted voices in American journalism.

For a decade, as host of National Public Radio’s longest-running program, “All Things Considered,” she captivated audiences nationwide while earning some of journalism’s highest honors. As a Washington Post Opinions Columnist, Norris sparked important dialogue on current events, social issues and the power to make change. At MSNBC she brings her compelling insights to cover current events as a Senior Contributing Editor.

Norris is also host of “Your Mama’s Kitchen,” an acclaimed podcast produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s media company. With an incredible range of guests including actors, authors, chefs, and musicians, she explores family histories, memories, and cultures through rich conversations flowing from the simple prompt: “Tell me about your mama’s kitchen.”

On stage, Norris inspires open and honest dialogue, with memorable stories and fascinating perspectives drawn from her personal journey, investigative research, and interviews with world leaders, Nobel Laureates and influential newsmakers. She makes complex and taboo issues remarkably accessible. Audiences walk away empowered to stimulate discussion around challenging topics within their communities.

Melody Barnes, Executive Director, UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy
As the founding executive director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, Melody Barnes guides the organization on an action-oriented path to realizing democracy in both principle and practice. 

Barnes is a dedicated public servant with more than 25 years of experience crafting public policy. She served in the administration of President Barack Obama as assistant to the president and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. Earlier in her career, Barnes was executive vice president for policy at the Center for American Progress and chief counsel to the late Senator Ted Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Barnes started her career in New York as an associate at Shearman & Sterling. 

Barnes earned her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with honors in history, and her JD from the University of Michigan. In addition to her role at the Karsh Institute, Barnes is the J. Wilson Newman Professor of Governance at UVA’s Miller Center of Public Affairs, a distinguished fellow at UVA’s School of Law, and co-founder of the domestic-policy strategy firm MB2 Solutions. She is an inaugural recipient of the 2024-25 Chautauqua Perry Fellowship in Democracy, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the boards of directors of several corporate, non-profit, and philanthropic organizations.

Presented by the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in partnership with the School of Data Science and the Karsh Institute of Democracy.

The University of Virginia is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. Please contact Shai Sawyer at skb2gj@virginia.edu to request disability-related accommodations. Examples of accommodations may include real-time captioning, ASL-English interpreting services, accessible digital copies of programs, accessible seating, and accessible parking. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accommodations. Please contact us at least seven days prior to the start of this event.

https://mlk.virginia.edu/keynote-event-michele-norris