Glocal Voices Podcast
Every semester, ICFRC brings expert speakers worldwide to Iowa City to discuss the most critical issues affecting our global community. From individuals with lived experience to thought leaders from the top of their field, the diversity of voices and depth of content covers a lot of ground and invites listeners to consider and explore their place in the world and what they can do to make a difference. The GLOCAL VOICES podcast (global and local) provides commentary and analysis about what these topics mean from the student perspective and how to make an impact their daily lives.
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Located in the growing community of Iowa City, ICFRC has brought together individuals and ideas from around the globe since 1983. We are committed to living out our longstanding values of respect for, curiosity about, and open-mindedness to discussion of—even debate over—internationally-focused topics. Yet, in an ever-changing and increasingly complex world, we recognize we must re-center our organization around the social justice imperatives of the twenty-first century’s third decade.
Most importantly, we acknowledge we need to be a place where more people feel comfortable being safe learning from and engaging with others across all lines of difference. In this more inclusive space, we will be intentional in our selection of more diverse speakers, topics, and formats as well as board members, staff, interns, and funders; we will challenge ourselves and our community to seek out new perspectives and understandings of the complex international issues which bring us together; and we will champion the democratization of knowledge and the free and open discussion of the problems and possibilities of our times.
Yet, in an ever-changing and increasingly complex world, we recognize we must re-center our organization around the social justice imperatives of the twenty-first century’s third decade. Most importantly, we acknowledge we need to be a place where more people feel comfortable being safe learning from and engaging with others across all lines of difference.
Episodes
Monday Feb 26, 2024
Monday Feb 26, 2024
The root of the Russo-Ukrainian War is not geopolitical competition, but the multifaceted divergence between Ukraine and Russia over the past 30 years. As Ukraine consolidated a competitive political system and a distinct pro-European identity, Russia reverted back to authoritarianism, refused to accept Ukraine's right to forge its own course, and came to see it as an “anti-Russia”.
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Food Justice, a social movement ensuring universal access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food for all, is a growing imperative today. Only by examining the structural disparities of food systems and by becoming prepared to accept a meaningful change can we address the urgency of food insecurity, particularly for communities of color and low-income communities. The Global Food Project in Johnson County is one example of how people in Iowa have come together for an inclusive, just, and sustainable way forward.
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Monday Feb 05, 2024
IRC is a humanitarian nonprofit organization supporting individuals impacted by conflict and displacement. Sarah Terlouw, IRC’s Executive Director in Iowa, speaks about her 15-year career supporting refugees, experiences overseas, and the transition to working domestically. Aimerance Makunda, originally from the DRC and an Iowa City resident since 2012, also joins.
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
The December episode of the Glocal Voices Podcast looks back on a few programs from the fall season that Kennedy and Thom found interesting. From Quality Education for All, the Impact of Climate Change on National Security, and Surviving a Dictator in Syria, there are some great takeaways for listeners to consider.
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Digital democracy uses digital technologies to promote and strengthen democracy, including accessing information, participating in political discussions, and holding elected officials accountable. Young people increasingly use digital technologies to participate in democracy, using social media to organize protests, raise awareness, and contact their elected officials
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
PART OF THE HUMANITIES IOWA - GLOCAL CONNECTIONS ACROSS IOWA '23 - '24 PROGRAM SERIES
In honor of this year's Hispanic Heritage Month theme, Elizabeth Bernal, Marcela Hurtado, and Paola Jaramillo will speak to the progress Latinos and Hispanics have made over the last fifteen years in the Iowa City Area their personal experience as Latinas in Iowa, organizing wins, and recent work empowering Latinos through entrepreneurship and the power of social capital.
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
PART OF THE HUMANITIES IOWA - GLOCAL CONNECTIONS ACROSS IOWA '23 - '24 PROGRAM SERIES
During the 2016 elections, refugees coming from Syria to the States were a topic that brought Syria back to the front page. But after that, it slowly faded into the background.
That does not mean that all is quiet on that front. Living conditions have deteriorated poorly while the regime behind all the tragedies is still in power. We will learn how Assad survived this, including becoming one of the world's top manufacturers and distributors of the drug Captagon.
Eyad came to Louisiana from Syria in August 2012 as a graduate student. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Louisiana State in 2018. A husband and a father of two, they all moved to Cedar Rapids, where he joined Mount Mercy University as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics. He is now a Software Engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids.*This program is supported by Humanities Iowa. The views and opinions expressed by this program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Iowa.
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF IOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
We note that the colonization of lands and Indigenous Peoples worldwide has resulted in the placement of foreign borders upon territories Indigenous peoples have inhabited since time immemorial.
The results of these impositions adversely affect the nationhood and identity of Indigenous peoples everywhere. Colonial border-policy enforcement, coupled with settler-state immigration laws, are some critical factors in eroding Indigenous Peoples's customs, traditions, and national identities through displacement, restriction of traditional movement, and ongoing encroachment on Indigenous territories.
Sikowis Nobiss is Plains Cree/Saulteaux of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and is the founder and Executive Director of Great Plains Action Society. She has a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies and Graduate Minor in Native Studies from the University of Iowa. In 2021, she received the Impact Through Advocacy Award from the Iowa Environmental Council. In June 2022, her dedication to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community earned GPAS the OneIowa Community Partnership Award. In March 2023, her work earned Great Plains Action Society recognition for being a women-led organization doing excellent work in the realm of sustainability from the Johnson County United Nations Association Chapter. Sikowis is also a commissioner on the Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She also sits on the Midwest Environmental Justice Grant Advisory Committee, the Centering Equity in the Sustainable Building Sector Governance Team, and the Just Transition Power Force as a guest expert working to reduce harmful practices in corporate procurement processes.
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On UN Day this year we are honoring that historic agreement by emphasizing the rights of youth, especially the right to quality education. We will be joined by UNA Global Goals Ambassador Virgil Parker speaking about the importance of SDG #4, Quality Education.
Virgil is a U.S. Fulbright Alum, community advocate, and Howard University graduate with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Afro-American studies. Virgil served as a White House HBCU Competitiveness Scholar for the White House Initiative on HBCUs.
Virgil Parker is a U.S. Fulbright Alum, community advocate, and Howard University graduate with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Afro-American studies. Virgil served as a White House HBCU Competitiveness Scholar for the White House Initiative on HBCUs. Currently, Mr. Parker is a television producer for News10NBC (WHEC-TV). Mr. Parker has moderated and participated in national and regional conversations regarding various topics such as The Future of HBCUs in the COVID-19 Era, Philanthropic Equity for Minority Serving Institutions, and Bringing Local Governments And HBCUs Together and more. Most recently, he executive produced two projects commemorating the 45th Anniversary of Education and Sharing Day and the 60th Anniversary of The Equal Pay Act of 1963. His work has been included in media outlets such as Forbes, The Hill, iHeartRadio, Blavity, HBCU Buzz, and Diverse Issues In Higher Education.
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
The UI International Writing Program and the Center for Asian Pacific Studies hosts a bilingual reading featuring 2023 UI Fall residents Kevin Chen (Taiwan), Tammy Lai-Ming Ho and Wong Yi Eva (Hong Kong), Li Kotomi (Taiwan & Japan), Shi Yifeng, Suo Er, and Wang Zhanhei (PRC), moderated by translator and poet Jennifer Feeley.
Thank you to Iowa City City Channel 4 for the recording and to the Iowa City Public Library for hosting this event.