Circle of Friends

NSU Alvin Sherman Library was honored to host "Florida's Got The Blues", an exhibit that invites patrons to take an engaging musical journey through the blues heritage of Florida, featuring photos and stories of notable artists and musician. Many notable blues artists had roots in Florida and they are featured in an engaging exhibit that explores topics such as Early Blues, Florida Women and the Blues, Blues Clubs and Jook Joints, Depression Blues and the WPA Recordings, Popular Music and the Blues, and Contemporary Blues. Did you know that the blues artist with the highest number of 78–rpm records was Tampa Red who grew up in Florida? And did you know that Blind Blake–perhaps the greatest ragtime and blues guitarist–is connected with Jacksonville, Florida? These early blues men are just a few of the highlighted artists in this popular exhibit celebrating Florida's blues tradition.

Produced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, this rich and engaging exhibit explores the struggle of African Americans for equality in Florida from the end of Reconstruction (1877) through the 1970s. It examines the deep history of black activism in the state and reveals the multi-generational effort of men and women whose courage and sacrifice ended centuries of institutionalized racism. Civil Rights in the Sunshine State is one of the first attempts to view the Florida civil rights movement through a statewide lens. From Miami to Tallahassee and St. Petersburg to St. Augustine, the Florida movement is explored at the local, state, and national levels.

• Civil Rights in the Sunshine State: The Lynching of Rubin Stacy Recorded February 15, 2022 Presented by David Kilroy Ph.D., a Professor of History and Chair of the Department of Humanities and Politics at NSU. A native of Dublin, Ireland, his research interests fall broadly within the parameters of U.S. political and cultural engagement on the world stage. According to records maintained by the NAACP, between 1882 and 1968 there were 4,743 documented cases of lynching across the United States, with the majority of victims being African American. A combination of their frequency and the system of white supremacy which condoned these mob killings ensured that most victims were soon forgotten. The case of Rubin Stacy, who was lynched by a mob in 1935 on what is today the corner of Davie Boulevard and SW 31st Avenue, stands out though because it was a recorded in a number of searing photographs taken that day. From the NAACP fliers that used these images in support of its anti-lynching campaign to the recent decision of the City of Fort Lauderdale to rename a stretch of Davie Boulevard in his memory, this talk will revisit the story of Rubin Stacy's murder and photographs which propelled it to national attention.
• Civil Rights in the Sunshine State: Eula Johnson and the Fort Lauderdale Wade-ins Recorded February 18, 2022 Presented by Janay Joseph and Tara Chadwick, History and International Studies Majors in the Department of Humanities and Politics at the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to the 1961 Wade-ins on Fort Lauderdale Beach, and a landmark district case, public facilities in Broward county were segregated. Eula Johnson was the first woman president of the Broward chapter of the NAACP. Johnson, along with Dr. Von D. Mizell coordinated and organized a series of protests called the "Wade-ins" in the summer of 1961 to desegregate the beaches. Both faced white supremacist backlash during and after the protests. The City of Fort Lauderdale eventually sued Johnson and Mizell for "disturbing the peace" during their demonstrations. Johnson and Mizell won their case, which set the precedent for the future desegregation of Broward county. This talk will be led by Janay Joseph and Tara Chadwick on Johnson's legacy, and the work that can be done today within our current political climate. A preview of the documentary short film "She Had A Dream: Eula Johnson's Fight to Desegregate Broward County" will also be featured, along with a discussion on the research and production of the film.

Soar with the stories of African Americans in aviation history. Discover what these American aviators achieved and what they overcame.

• Conversation with NASA Astronaut Winston Scott Recorded March 9, 2023. Please join us as we welcome Miami native and former NASA astronaut Winston Scott to NSU. We will begin with a screening of WLRN's documentary Hometown Hero: Winston Scott, produced by multiple Emmy award-winner Michael Anderson. Following the screening, Michael and Winston will discuss Winston's journey from segregated Coconut Grove where he did not have access to science, technology, and engineering courses that would have fostered these interests. Winston discovers that he has a talent for music, and he begins to pursue it. As a result, this route proves to be the key that unlocks the door to his future and demonstrates that anything is possible with a little ingenuity and perseverance.

Movie producers have been making films in Florida almost since the dawn of the industry. For a short time in the early twentieth century, Florida even rivaled California as a place for movie making. Explore the posters and lobby cards in this exhibit which depict some of Florida's most famous films from the early 1920s to the present. Embark on a captivating journey through time, capturing the magic and allure of movie production in Florida. Whether you are a film enthusiast, a history buff, of simply seeking an escape into the realm of cinematic wonders, this exhibit shares stories and splendor of Florida's film industry and celebrates the rich legacy it has left behind.

• A Motion Picture Paradise!: A History of Florida's Film and Television Industry Recorded July 27, 2023 Hosted by Dr. David Morton
• The Grand Lady The Historic Hollywood Beach Resort, also known as the "Grand Lady," has a famous and storied past. In 1925, founder Joseph Young opened the Hollywood Beach Hotel as the crowning achievement of his new city. From lavish parties and visiting celebrities to a naval training facility during World War II, hear the history, the rebirth and the complicate state of The Grand Lady today. Runtime: 26m 29s Closed Captioned

Self-expression and communication through writing is an invaluable skill in today's fast-paced, digitally interconnected world. Pen to Purpose, created by Professor Efrat Friedman, demonstrates the real-life application of strong writing skills. The series consists of visits from a wide range of published professionals who engage in interview-style discussions with Professor Friedman. The interviews, open to NSU students and the wider community, focus on how each published work enriched or changed the course of the respective writer's career. Discussions are followed by a Q&A with the audience.

• Cultivating Writing as a Brand of Professionalism with Jai Chakrabarti Recorded January 18, 2022 A conversation with Jai Chakrabarti, author of A Play for the End of the World.Travel with us from the Warsaw Ghetto to Shantiniketan, India, to discover how the same play was both a source of comfort during the darkest of hours, and decades later, an act of protest against political injustice.
• Cultivating Writing as a Brand of Professionalism with David Weill, MD Recorded February 23, 2022 A conversation with David Weill, MD, author of Exhale.Exhale is the riveting memoir of a top transplant doctor who rode the emotional rollercoaster of saving and losing lives—until it was time to step back and reassess his own life.
• Cultivating Writing as a Brand of Professionalism with Jean Hanff Korelitz Recorded March 29, 2022 A conversation with Jean Hanff Korelitz, the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Plot and You Should Have Known (adapted for HBO as "The Undoing" by David E. Kelley and starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant).Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he's teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what's left of his self-respect; he hasn't written--let alone published--anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn't need Jake's help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears The Plot.
• Cultivating Writing as a Brand of Professionalism with Malcolm Mitchell Recorded April 11, 2022 A conversation with Malcolm Mitchell, former wide receiver for the New England Patriots and author of the children's book, The Magician's Hat and My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World.Malcolm Mitchell presents the story of a magician who reveals an awe-inspiring treasure from his bag of tricks -- books that make every kid's dream come true! This is not your typical afternoon at the library -- a magician invites kids to reach into his hat to pull out whatever they find when they dig down deep. Soon -- poof! -- each child comes away with something better than they could've imagined -- a book that helps them become whatever they want to be, and makes their dreams come true through pages and words, and the adventures that follow. Malcolm Mitchell is the rookie who helped the New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI. He's also the founder of an initiative called Read with Malcolm, which introduces book ownership to students, and works to improve literacy in schools. Malcolm's Share the Magic Foundation promotes the benefits of reading to kids in underserved communities.
• Cultivating Writing as a Brand of Professionalism with Neal Bascomb Recorded October 20, 2022 A conversation with Neal Bascomb about his latest book Faster; How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car beat Hitler's Best.Bascomb is a national award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of multiple non-fiction narratives including: The Escape Artists, Hunting Eichmann, and Red Mutiny. Bascomb's stories incorporate history, adventure and achievement, and bravery, often times set against the backdrop of war or revolution. His work has been translated into over fifteen languages, featured in several documentaries, and optioned for major film and television projects. Bascomb is also the creator of Work/Craft/Life, a newsletter about the illuminating stories of our lives told through our work/craft. Topics covered during the discussion include: Faster and its materialization into an action-packed adventure, Bascomb's literary journey, and the intersectionality of journalism, non-fiction, and fiction.
• Cultivating Writing as a Brand of Professionalism with Jen Maxfield A conversation with Jen Maxfield, author of More After the Break: A Reporter Returns to Ten Unforgettable News Stories. In More After the Break, Maxfield revisits the most memorable stories she has covered during her two-decade career, describing in heart-pounding detail how the events unfolded through eyewitness perspectives and her own. Jen Maxfield is an Emmy award-winning reporter and anchor who started at NBC New York in 2013. Prior to joining the station, she worked for Eyewitness News (ABC7) In New York City. She launched her journalism career with WIVT-TV (Binghamton, NY) and WIXT-TV (Syracuse, NY). She has reported live from thousands of news events over her twenty-two-year career.
• Cultivating Writing as a Brand of Professionalism with David Sipress Recorded November 29, 2022 A conversation with David Sipress, author of What's So Funny, A Cartoonist's Memoir.David Sipress has been a staff cartoonist at The New Yorker since 1998. He has published nearly seven hundred cartoons in the magazine. His cartoons have also appeared in many other publications including: Time, Parade, Playboy, Funny Times, and The Washington Post. David has published eight collections of his cartoons and has lectured widely on his work. What's So Funny, A Cartoonist's Memoir is a compelling story about David's life and the art of cartooning.

Nova Southeastern University's (NSU) Alvin Sherman Library hosted its annual StoryFest! on Sunday, March 5. Guests enjoyed a fun-filled day of storytelling, live shows, crafts and more during this FREE community event. The theme for StoryFest 2023 was Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). Attendees explored science, technology, engineering, arts and math with storytelling, theatre shows, music, storybook characters, arts & crafts, interactive science activities, and so much more.

Some of these other activities included: faces painting and taking photos with beloved characters like Curious George, Llama Llama and Splat the Cat.

"We are excited to once again host this family-focused event to benefit the local community," said Jim Hutchens, NSU's vice president for information services and university librarian. "Caregivers and children will have the opportunity to read, explore and learn, while also spending quality time together."

Over the past 10 years, nearly 35,000 residents have attended the event, and more than 18,000 books have been distributed to children in our community as part of StoryFest! As part of the library's efforts to encourage reading, each child who attended the event received a free book.

Our community's food insecurity poses an extreme threat to the wellbeing of children and their families. To combat this, Feeding South Florida distributed food at this year's event. Free pizza and hot dogs also were also served courtesy of Hungry Howies Pizza of Davie.

Based on the book Wild Miami, take a walk through the various ecosystems of south Florida to explore this nature guide to the 305. Learn about the history of South Florida, plants and animals that call this region home, and ways to assist in the ongoing conservation of these ecosystems. Included in the exhibition are the garments created for Young At Art Museum's 16th Annual Recycled Fashion Show: Everglades Recycled. Talented teen designers debuted their original couture looks made from recycled materials representing the diverse ecosystem of the Everglades, unique to South Florida and the environmental threats impacting it.

Guests joined us for Hors d'oeuvres and fine wine as we held the grand opening for NSU Alvin Sherman Library's newest exhibit, "The Holocuast by Bullets". Dr Ewa Schaller, Senior Program Officer, Educator and Education Coordinator at American Friends of Yahad- In Unum flew in from New York specifically to provide our guests on this harrowing topic and the exhibit. Known as the "Holocaust by Bullets", the systematic killing of Eastern European Jews, started before the of concentration concentration camps and continued until WWII‘s end throughout the ex–Soviet Union until 1944. The exhibit gave viewers a chance to learn about this lesser‐known side of the Holocaust, through eyewitness testimonies, photographs, and maps and presents Yahad-In Unum's identification of the five steps of the crime that took place place almost for every mass killing throughout Eastern Europe leading up to the executions—the arrest, the road, the undressing, the shooting, and after the executions, the looting.