Safe, stable housing is a fundamental human right, yet millions across the U.S. face housing insecurity, homelessness, or displacement due to systemic inequality, policy challenges, and economic pressures. This February, the Samuel Lawrence Foundation’s "First Fridays" series tackles the critical issue of the housing crisis with an expert panel of advocates, policymakers, and scholars. Together, they will uncover the barriers to addressing this growing crisis and propose pathways for meaningful change.

Join us for an engaging discussion featuring:

• Tamar Ezer: Faculty Director of the Human Rights Program/ Associate Director of the Human Rights Clinic, University of Miami School of Law
• Rob Robinson: Senior Advisor at Dignity and Rights and USA-Canada Coordinator for the International Alliance of Inhabitants
• Senator Catherine Blakespear: California State Senator representing the 38th District
• Jessie Speer: Author; Assistant Professor at the London School of Economics

This thought-provoking event will delve into the systemic and political challenges that prevent meaningful progress on housing reform, highlighting both the domestic and global implications of the housing crisis, including environmental disasters. Panelists will explore innovative solutions, from grassroots advocacy and community organizing to legislative reform and international models of housing justice.

Aired: February 7, 2025

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Filmmaking is more than just a medium for visual entertainment — it’s a powerful tool for storytelling that moves, captivates, and often, transforms us. In this January’s webinar, we explore the profound impact of film on human emotion and its role in shaping culture, identity, and society. Join us for an exciting conversation with filmmakers and storytellers who are pushing the boundaries of how we tell stories through motion picture.

Our expert panelists include:​

Taye Balogun, Founder of the NGO International Film Festival, which highlights films that explore global social issues, fostering dialogue and connection through cinema.

Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, an accomplished filmmaker whose work includes collaborations with icons like David Bowie, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga. She brings a unique perspective on how film intersects with culture and emotion.

Bruno Smadja, Founder of the Mobile Film Festival, which celebrates the power of storytelling through mobile phones and provides a platform for filmmakers to share their perspectives with the world.

Sona Tatoyan, Actor/Writer/Storyteller and Founder of the non-profit Hakawati, whose multimedia play about her family’s history in Syria and Armenia — produced by actor Bill Pullman — blends film, theater, and storytelling to preserve her heritage and critique societal issues through art.

Together, these innovators and visionaries will discuss the transformative power of film, from personal narratives to global storytelling, and explore how cinema can shape emotional connections, provoke thought, and foster empathy.

Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into the world of filmmaking as an emotional catalyst for change and artistic expression. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, a lover of the arts, or simply curious about the impact of film, this webinar will leave you inspired and thoughtful about the ways storytelling shapes our world.

Aired: January 10, 2025

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Join us for a special edition of our First Fridays Webinar, where we’ll take a deep, reflective look back on the powerful moments that defined our webinar series.

This month, we’re not just revisiting key topics—we’re examining how these conversations have shaped our understanding of the pressing issues that are at the heart of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation’s mission. From the dangers of nuclear waste to the transformative power of education, the arts, and science, we’ll highlight the most impactful moments from the past year, featuring some of the brightest minds and thought leaders from around the world.​

In this unique session, we’ll explore how the work we’ve done in the First Friday's Series intersects with the Foundation’s core values—advancing justice, environmental sustainability, and societal change. You’ll hear from experts, advocates, and activists who have sparked new ways of thinking about complex challenges, and who continue to inspire hope and action. This webinar is not just a reflection; it’s an opportunity to connect with a community committed to making real change in the world. We’ll also look ahead to 2025, as we continue to push boundaries and drive innovation in the work we do together.​

We hope you’ll join us. Together, we can reflect, celebrate, and chart the path forward for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Aired: December 6, 2024

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If a language disappears, what is lost along with it? Once a language disappears — along with the knowledge of the elders who speak it — whole swaths of wisdom disappear, too. And that is precisely what is happening in the Amazon right now, as well as in many Indigenous communities around the world.

It is universally acknowledged that Indigenous people have a special relationship with the land, and that they are considered the finest stewards of the environment. So we must act to preserve this Indigenous knowledge, first morally and anthropologically — to honor the cultures and societies under threat of cultural extinction — and second because preserving that knowledge has potential benefits for the common good of us all.

Join us to hear panelists that include:

Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, a filmmaker who has worked extensively with Beyonce, David Bowie, and Lady Gaga, and is now turning her attention to films about Indigenous communities.

Dr. Philbert Aaron, Dominica’s Ambassador to the UN, who survived the deadly Hurricane Maria with his wife and seven-week-old.

Joseph McNeil, Jr., who is a direct descendant of Sitting Bull and a Civil Rights hero from the 60s.

Atossa Soltani, the Founder and President of Amazon Watch, a nonprofit founded in 1996 to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin.

Aired: November 1, 2024

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“Education Innovation” introduced us to four visionaries whose work around the globe is being lauded for cutting-edge education.

Our panel featured the following accomplished educators:

Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Chair of Latinx Studies, San Francisco State University - Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade has taught in East Oakland for decades and has earned huge recognition as a model educator by his peers. "Education should empower students to connect with their sacred purpose and transform their lives."

Paige Morency, Director of Outreach and Communications, Basic Education Coalition - Paige directs the Basic Education Coalition (BEC), a consortium of nearly 40 globally known organizations in the education space (from Save the Children to the International Rescue Committee). "We work to ensure that all children and youth have equitable access to quality education globally."

Dr. Jelani Nelson, Chair of Computer Science Division, UC Berkeley - In addition to teaching math at Cal-Berkeley, Dr. Jelani Nelson is also committed to teaching coding skills to those in Ethiopia and Jamaica and has been awarded by the Obama administration. "We’re inspiring a generation of tech leaders."

Mohammed Rezwan, Executive Director, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha (Floating Schools of Bangladesh) - an architect by trade, Mohammed developed floating classrooms to ensure that education is never washed away in his flood-prone country which has resulted in his several world prizes. "Education should create better human beings who understand selflessness and contribute to a sustainable society."

These four esteemed and highly accredited educators shared their insights on improving global education systems, addressing equity, and the role of education in affecting social change. Watch the full episode to learn from these world-renowned experts and hear their perspectives on what’s working in education today, and how we can build a better tomorrow.

Aired: October 4, 2024

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The struggles we’re experiencing in the United States are undeniable — but we’re not alone. As the UN Foundation noted in an op-ed earlier this year, “Choose a country — any country — and you will likely find the same trends: Trust in public institutions is plummeting, wealth inequality is on the rise, and societies are increasingly polarized.”

It is in an effort to navigate this mistrust in institutions — and in each other — that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is convening in September the “Summit of the Future,” a convening of world leaders to adopt the Pact for the Future. That Pact notes that, while “We are at a time of profound global transformation [and] too many of our fellow human beings face avoidable suffering” … this is also a moment of hope and opportunity.

Advances in knowledge, science, technology, and innovation … could deliver a breakthrough to a better and more sustainable future for all.” So with that in mind, we have assembled a panel of experts who share with us a vision of the Solutions of the Future — solutions that address climate, energy, health, and other intractable problems. Solutions to inspire us and give us hope that all is far from lost, but instead — if we choose wisely — exciting and full of opportunity.

Aired: September 6, 2024

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The country we live in — and the world outside our borders, as well — is very divided. Certain issues on which we all have quite strong feelings seem — and indeed in fact may be — unbridgeable. And that is where the arts can play such a powerful role.

The beauty, precision, and craftsmanship of works of art — whether visual arts, like painting and sculptures, or performing arts, such as music and dance — offer audiences entertainment that soars, and that touches the heart, triggering a range of human emotions.

Tune in to watch five exceptional thinkers, whose connection to the arts is purpose driven, and who will help articulate to the audience watching how arts can give us insights into our society — and even help unlock the mysteries about ourselves that we struggle to understand.

Aired: August 2, 2024

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This stunning webinar serves as a crucial introduction to our 7/24/24 symposium, where attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of real dangers and challenges posed by 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste on the beach at San Onofre, CA. We will explore actionable solutions for a safer future.

Speakers:

Kate Brown, Professor, History of Science, MIT

Stephanie Cooke, Journalist, Writer, New York Times, Associated Press, Nucleonics Week, NuclearFuel, Inside N.R.C., Business Week, Energy Intelligence, Nuclear Intelligence Weekly

Paul Dorfman, Chair of NuclearConsult, Visiting Fellow, Science Policy Research Unit, Sussex Energy Group, University of Sussex

Richard Gersberg, Professor / Head of the Division, Environmental Health in the School of Public Health, San Diego State University (SDSU)

Gary Headrick, Co-Founder, San Clemente Green

Susan Hito-Shapiro, Environmental Attorney

Robert H. Richmond, Research Professor and Director, Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Leona Morgan, Co-Founder, Haul No! and Indigenous Organizer Fighting Nuclear Colonialism

Aired: July 12, 2024

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