A key aspect of preparing students to become engaged global citizens is exposing them to new perspectives. According to a study from the National Humanities Alliance, humanities public programming is one effective way to achieve this, as it “equips students with essential skills that are transferable to many areas of life and work, making them more thoughtful, informed and critical individuals.”

The Syracuse University Humanities Center hosts the Syracuse Symposium, which encompasses a variety of art exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, workshops, musical performances and more. These events, open to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff, along with the local community, inspire critical thinking about current issues and encourage reflection on personal values and beliefs, highlighting how the humanities can be applied in various real-world contexts.

The yearlong Symposium began in the fall with a series of events centered around this year’s theme, 'community,' as selected by the Center’s Advisory Board. Continuing this spring, events will demonstrate how the humanities are essential for helping to create environments in which everyone can thrive, resulting in more inclusive communities and healthier and more just societies. Programming will also spark thoughtful discussions through unexpected juxtapositions, such as how sports and theater are vital to community-building, and how youth storytelling can be brought to life through film, music and dance. Explore the full slate of Symposium events below.

Spring Symposium Events

Sunday, February 2

In Our Own Backyards / In Our Own Communities - The Teens with a Movie Camera (TwMC) collaborative will present a screening of works by Syracuse-area high school students at the Watson Hall Theater. Films were shot using readily available tools like smartphones, illustrating that anyone can create impactful movies, regardless of their resources.

Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8

(photo by Edward Grattan)

Resettled refugee youth from the Narratio Fellowship will host two storytelling events. On Feb. 7, the fellows share their unique stories through poetry set to music by Iraqi composer Ameen Mokdad, performed by Cuatro Puntos musicians and Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet dancers, choreographed by ECB artistic director Elisa Schroth. On Feb. 8, the poets, composer, choreographer, musicians and dancers will facilitate a storytelling workshop.

Wednesday, February 26

Sports and Theatre: The Arena that Connects Us – In this event presented by Syracuse Stage, former Syracuse University athletes Eric Devendorf (basketball) and Eric Jackson (football) will discuss the role of sports in building community and how it can result in unexpected friendships and lasting connections. The panel discussion, in conjunction with the play King James, will be moderated by Javier Maymí-Pérez, an instructor of Spanish in A&S and former editor at ESPNDeportes.com and ESPN.com.

Thursday, March 6

Working Toward Racial Justice and Educational Equity - Keisha Green, associate professor of teacher education and school improvement at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, will explore pathways and possibilities for justice-oriented, community-based and youth-engaged teaching and learning in the context of today’s polarizing political climate.

Tuesday, March 18

Two related events will spotlight Gertrude Berg, the groundbreaking writer-actress who created the serial comedy-drama The Rise of the Goldbergs (1929), later known as The Goldbergs. Syracuse University Trustee Professor Robert Thompson’s “Tuesdays with Bleier” viewing series will feature radio and television screenings of Berg’s work, co-curated by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Emily Nussbaum. Later that day, Nussbaum will use archival letters from the Special Collections Research Center’s Gertrude Berg Papers to reflect on the public’s reaction to Berg’s work.

Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4

New York State Poet Laureate Patricia Spears Jones will host a reading of her works and a craft-focused discussion. On April 3, Spears Jones will read a selection of her works at the Syracuse Downtown YMCA’s Shinder Theater. On April 4, she will discuss her creative writing technique in conversation with students and fans of poetry in the campus community. Space for that talk is limited. To register, contact Phil Memmer, executive director of the Arts and Education Branch of the YMCA of CNY, by March 28.

Saturday, April 5

Building a Global Organ Community Through Film: Q&A with Will Fraser - Film director Will Fraser will share excerpts from his two decades of work producing documentaries and films related to the pipe organ. He will also join a panel of organists to discuss the instrument's future.

Learn more about Spring 2025 Syracuse Symposium.