The University of Illinois Springfield will host six Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series events during Fall Semester 2024. The series presents events that promote and adhere to the value of engaged citizenship, cultural awareness and respect for diversity.

ECCE events that are free and open to the public include:

• “The 19th Annual Animation Show of Shows” 6 p.m. on Sept. 11 in Brookens Auditorium. Ron Diamond, founder of Acme Filmworks and curator of the show, will present 16 animated shorts from around the world, exploring themes of social instability, global anxiety and existential concerns. Highlights include Niki Lindroth von Bahr’s Annecy Grand Prix-winning “The Burden” and David OReilly’s “Everything,” which explores interconnectedness based on philosopher Alan Watts’ work. Diamond will join via Zoom for a live discussion following the screening, providing insights into contemporary animation and its resonance with today’s issues.
  
• “Our Dreams, Ourselves: Asian American Comics & Young Adult Self-Empowerment” 6 p.m. on Sept. 25 in Brookens Auditorium. Eleanor Ty, a professor of English and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, will discuss how Asian American young adults navigate identity through comics. The event will explore graphic memoirs by authors like Laura Gao and Malaka Gharib, addressing themes of parental expectations and self-empowerment. Ty, who has published extensively on Asian North American narratives and graphic novels, will join via Zoom to lead a discussion on the role of comics in identity formation and empowerment.
  
• “One Hundred Strings: Understanding South Asia Through Music & History” 6 p.m. on Oct. 9 in Brookens Auditorium. Musicians Nirmala Rajasekar, Sandip Chatterjee, Thanjavur K. Murugaboopathi and Ramdas Palsule will perform a concert highlighting the diversity of Indian music. Each artist represents a different regional tradition, playing instruments such as the veena, santoor, mridangam and tabla. The performance will showcase the rich cultural tapestry of South Asia and foster connections within the South Asian diaspora. This event is a celebration of the historical and cultural significance of South Asian music and its impact on global culture.
  
• “Examining How Christian Faith Communities Become & Live Out Being Open & Inclusive to the LGBTQIA+ Community” 6 p.m. on Oct. 23 in Brookens Auditorium. Nathan Todd, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will discuss his research on how some Christian faith communities develop openness and inclusivity towards LGBTQIA+ individuals. The event will cover historical contexts and intersections of religious and LGBTQIA+ identities, highlighting efforts within Protestant Christianity to foster inclusive environments. Todd will share insights from his project, which includes interviews with over 70 people from various faith traditions, exploring principles of inclusion applicable to faith communities and beyond.
  
• “Creative Practice for Social Change” 6 p.m. on Nov. 6 in Brookens Auditorium. John Early, a multidisciplinary visual artist, will discuss his studio art practice and projects that engage with cultural and social landscapes, focusing on spatial injustice and community identity. His work addresses issues like the absence of basketball courts in St. Louis’s Forest Park due to anti-Black racism and the effects of urban renewal in local neighborhoods. Through his art, Early aims to catalyze dialogue on social justice, spatial equity and the preservation of community memory, contributing to conversations about social change and collective action.
  
• “Environmental Health Disparities: How Can We Seek Environmental & Health Equity Across Human Communities?” 6 p.m. on Nov. 20 in Brookens Auditorium. Catherine Zeman, a professor of health sciences at James Madison University, will explore the links between environmental factors and health disparities across different communities. She will discuss how neighborhood characteristics, such as income and education, affect health outcomes and contribute to chronic diseases like cardiovascular conditions and cancer. Zeman will emphasize the need for systems-oriented research, community engagement and political accountability to achieve environmental and health equity. The presentation will advocate for comprehensive, informed actions to address these disparities.

For further details on the events, please visit the ECCE Speaker Series website.