Lyceum Library 2005 - 2006

Web Audio

Click on the in the table below for audio of any event.  The files are in mp3 format, ready for your iPod, computer, or mp3 player.

#1

Sept 25, 2005

Pat Simon

Department of Peace

Department of Peace

What if the our government put just 2% of the funding we spend on the Pentagon each year into a Department of Peace? Pat Simon is the Massachusetts coordinator of a national effort to do just that!

#2

Sept 25, 2005

Bill Baird

Pro Choice

Pro Choice and Birth Control in our Society

Violence, gag rules, politics, supreme court appointees. Can we have a civilized dialog on this subject in today's american democracy?

#3

Oct 2, 2005

William Garrett and Cheryl Gosman

Needham Congregational and Needham Housing

Steps to Success

Mentoring teens for college is not always as effective for those that need it most. Outreach and understanding are the keys to success in this vital need.

#4

Oct 9, 2005

Ray Starr

Professor

Is America the Next Rome?

The founders of the American Republic thought a great deal about ancient Rome and worried that America might one day become an empire. How did it happen to Rome? Is America an empire today?

#5

Oct 16, 2005

Hillary Goodridge

Mother, Partner

The Equal Marriage Story

Why do marriage rights matter? How did we get where we are? What is the path forward. How does 9 year old Annie benefit? Hear about the continuing efforts by others to write discrimination into our constitution.

#6

Oct 23, 2005

Dr. Louise Schneider

Medical Doctor

Reports from the Gulf

Project Helping Hand sponsored by MGH offered help to 10 Baton Rouge sites hard hit by catastrophic hurricanes. Her trip and report will give us a chance to process the news and see how relief funds are being utilized.

#7

Oct 30, 2005

Rev. Gwen Langdoc Buehrens

Episcopal Priest

At the End of Life

As a hospital chaplain, Hospice and pallaitive care giver Gwen has developed insights not only into the ethical issues at the end of life, but also into the spiritual challenges of dying well.

#8

Nov 6, 2005

Rabbi Carl Perkins

Rabbi Temple Aliyah

Religion and Zealotry

Returning from his sabbatical in Israel, Rabbi Perkins observations are applicable to today's Israel and Pallastine as well as to issues closer to home, past and present.

#9

Nov 13, 2005

Katie Campbell Simons

Director Community Outreach

Family Homelessness - The One Family Campaign

For several years First Parish has supported the One Family Campaign to end family homelessness. She will introduce us to someone who has benefitted from the One Family Scholar program and how we can help.

#10

Dec 4, 2005

Jackie and Ron Shepherd

African Baobab

Report from Africa

Here about their latest trip for the non-profit they founded to help Africa. There a group of villages in eastern Uganda work together to help orphans whose parents have died of AIDS, raise living standards, educate and improve public health. Learn how to honor friends with a gift of a pig or goat to a Ugandan family.

#11

Dec 11, 2005

Sana Fadel

Rosie's Place Public Policy Advocate

Why Still Homeless?

For more than 30 years Rosie's Place has been helping homeless women in Boston. But why does homelessness persist, especially among women and children? Sana Fadel will help us to explore public policy changes worth supporting.

#12

Jan 22, 2006

Lida Harkins

State Representative D-Needham

The Talk on Beacon Hill

Having served on the Needham School Committee for many years and since 1989 in the State Legislature, Lida is now assistant majority leader. She will discuss the issues before the lagislature this session and respond to questions.

#13

Jan 29, 2006

Larry Kutikoff, Richard Smith

College Behind Bars Program

Challenges Facing Prisoners as They Re-Enter Society

Larry will share information about the Partakers program of mentoring to reduce recidivism. Larry will share experiences and challenges of fromer prisoners as they re-enter society.

#14

Feb 5, 2006

Rev. Cheryl Lloyd

UU Urban Ministry

A Living Legacy

Founded by the Rev. Joseph Tuckerman in the 1820s, the UU Urban Ministry is the oldest such urban outreach in the US. Come learn about its story and present work on our behalf – including programs for urban youth, ex-offenders, women and children seeking sanctuary from domestic abuse, poor immigrants, and neighbors of First Church in Roxbury.

#15

Feb 12, 2006

Mr. Sam Williams

UU Urban Ministry

YOUTH AND VIOLENCE

We continue our series on urban youth, violence, and the criminal justice system by hearing from Sam Williams, who leads the United Souls program at First Church in Roxbury as well as the Youth Programs there sponsored by our UU Urban Ministry. Sam has a powerful story to tell and is a highly respected mentor to urban youth.

#16

Feb 19, 2006

Sofia Cozzolino

International Institute for Cooperation and Development

INVISIBLE CHILDREN IN BRAZIL

Since 1987 the IICD has trained over 1000 volunteers to work in community projects in Africa, Central America, and Brazil. Our speaker lives in Needham and was a volunteer in Recife, Brazil. Everyone

#17

Feb 26, 2006

Dr. Neva Goodwin

Global Development & Environment Institute of Tufts University

WAL-MART, WEALTH, or WELL-BEING

Where is the global economy headed, and why? Are cheap consumer goods the highest value -- while gaps in wealth grow and the environment suffers? Or do we need an economics of well-being. Neva Goodwin, economist, co-directs the GDAE at Tufts.

#18

Mar 19, 2006

Rebecca Richardson

President Promise the Children

HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN

Becky Richardson is the founder and head of Promise the Children, a UU organization in MA that advocates for children’s issues. She will discuss the current Healthcare for MA campaign (www.healthcareformass.org), encourage calls to members of State Senate, and discuss issues of educational financing that should concern all parents and voters. This

#19

Mar 26, 2006

Tim Temerson

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

LA MARCHA: WORKING FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE

We think of our UU Service Committee as doing great work overseas or in disasters – and they do! -- from tsunami and Katrina relief to human rights work from Darfur to Guatemala to Burma and elsewhere. But they also work for economic justice – from fair trade in coffee and other agricultural products from overseas to a living wage for workers and their families here in the US.

#20

April 2, 2006

John Buehrens

Ministor First Parish

LIVING BY HEART

How do UUs develop a practice of spiritual discipline? Join us in Parish Hall for a short video “Living by Heart” co-authored by Harry Scholefield and Laurel Hallman. This video will give you practical ways to nurture your inner self, claim the wisdom of the ages in the midst of your busy life and live with depth, meaning and purpose.

#21

April 23, 2006

Rich Gatto

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEEDHAM

Rich Gatto is a leading advocate for affordable housing in our community. He has been the Executive Director of Southshore Habitat for Humanity. Here in Needham he has served on the Board of the Needham Housing Authority and of Needham Opportunities, Incorporated. Our own Leslie Nelken will bring us up to date on Needham Interfaith Habitat for Humanity and Rich will discuss both a proposal going before Town Meeting and other initiatives that could avoid unplanned and unfriendly “40-B” development in the future.

#22

April 30, 2006

Peter Vickery,

Executive Director Mass Voters for Fair Elections

MONEY AND ELECTIONS

Can only millionaires run for major office? Massachusetts voters passed a referendum calling for public financing of campaigns. Legislators refused to fund the law and in 2003 repealed it. A high percentage of legislators are re-elected without significant opposition. What are the prospects for reform? Peter Vickery is a graduate of Oxford and of BU Law School who lives in Amherst.