Focus Springfield is proud to once again be partnering with the Spring of Hope Church in presenting the Lift Every Voice Lecture Series. This year has a phenomenal lineup of speakers planned, with our popular remote attendance option returning. This year’s program has concluded. Please feel free to watch the recordings below, and look out for next year’s lecture series!
The Lift Every Voice Lecture Series was established in 2011 in honor of African American History Month. The lecture series gives the Greater Springfield community direct contact with the important ideas of our times and with people who have contributed much to modern thought. The series endeavors to elevate Black voices to break down racial inequality. A lecture is normally held each Tuesday in February along with music, spoken word, dance and an awards presentation honoring individuals that have made significant contributions to the community in various fields of endeavor.
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February 22, 2022 – Aida Rodriguez
Aida Rodriguez is a new Afro-Latina, taking the world of entertainment by storm with her wit, strong performances, and charismatic personality. Aida recently filmed a comedy special for Netflix as part of a new standup series “She Ready.” She made history as the first Latina to appear in two specials air in one month on both HBO and Showtime. She was handpicked by director Taylor Hackford for his film “The Comedian” starring Robert De Niro. In 2017, Coca Cola Global Women’s LINC Conference sponsored Rodriguez’s speech that modeled a TED Talk. Rodriguez has also appeared on Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar, The Nightly Show, five-time host of the PBS Imagen Awards, NBC Last Comic Standing’s finals, TRUtv’s Laff Tracks, Fox Laughs, Nickelodeon Mom’s Night Out and Parental Discretion. This summer, Aida will be releasing her first Netflix special, as part of Tiffany Haddish’s They Ready series. She is also a regular contributor for The Young Turks.
March 8, 2022 – Obery Hendricks
Obery M. Hendricks Jr. is a best-selling author, an activist, a religious scholar, a former theological seminary president, and an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His books include The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus’ Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted and The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church, and the Body Politic. He currently teaches religion and African American studies at Yale University and is also a Visiting Professor of Bible and Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
April 19, 2022 – Etan Thomas
Etan Thomas is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also a published poet, freelance writer, author, activist, and motivational speaker, as well as a co-host of Centers of Attention, a sports talk show on ESPN Radio.
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
Baystate Health
Health New England
The Irene E. & George A. David Foundation
Questions? Concerns? Comments? Feel free to contact us at admin@springofhopechurch.org.
