Glendale Library, Arts & Culture’s (GLAC) and the Southern California Library Cooperative’s Be The Change series is focused on: Inclusion – Diversity – Equity – Antiracism. Be The Change events will build collective understanding of systemic racism, elevate the voices and stories of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), and inspire our community to be the change.
The Be the Change series takes place in conjunction with such commemorations as Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Black History Month, Armenian Genocide Remembrance, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and LGBTIQ+ Pride. The series will also examine the one-year anniversary of the 2020 racial justice protests and 100-year anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The series will include virtual lectures, exhibits, and online programming from authors, curators, and historians.
The series is led by Glendale Library, Arts & Culture in partnership with
the Southern California Library Cooperative and Outlook Newspapers.
The series is sponsored by the City of Glendale Arts and Culture Commission,
with funding from the City of Glendale Urban Art Fund.
BE THE CHANGE - I.D.E.A. SERIES
In Conversation with Hannibal B. Johnson & Donzaleigh Abernathy
Premiered on May 27, 2021
Author Hannibal B. Johnson will discuss his book "Black Wall Street 100: An American City Grapples With Its Historical Racial Trauma" with actress and activist, Donzaleigh Abernathy.
In Conversation with Paula Yoo & Janice Rhoshalle Littlejohn
Premiered on May 20, 2021
Author Paula Yoo discusses From A Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement. From A Whisper to a Rallying Cry is a compelling account of the killing of Vincent Chin, the verdicts that took the Asian American community to the streets in protest, and the groundbreaking civil rights trial that followed. Paula Yoo is an award-winning book author, TV writer/producer and feature screenwriter with credits ranging from NBC’s The West Wing to The CW’s Supergirl.
Creating Design Industry in Armenia: In Conversation with Vasken Brudian & Harry Vorperian
Premiered on April 8, 2021
Architect, designer and artist Vasken Brudian discussed his brand Ardēan with graphic designer Harry Vorperian.
In Conversation with Khatchig Mouradian & Eric Nazarian
Premiered on April 10, 2021
Author and lecturer Khatchig Mouradian, Ph.D., discussed his book, The Resistance Network in conversation with filmmaker and screenwriter Eric Nazarian.
Armenia, Artsakh, Diaspora
Premiered on April 8, 2021
Political consultant and commentator Eric Hacopian in conversation with Salpi Ghazarian, Director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies, about Armenia now.
John Lee, Ara Zada and Kate Leahy in conversation with Helena Grigorian
Premiered on April 1, 2021
Authors John Lee, Ara Zada, and Kate Leahy discussed their book Lavash: The bread that launched 1,000 meals, plus salads, stews, and other recipes from Armenia with graphic designer Helena Grigorian.
How We See Us: Black Artists in Conversation
Premiered on February 25, 2021
Join moderator Cameron Shaw (Executive Director, California African American Museum), April Bey (artist and arts educator), and, Victor Yates (artist and poet) in a panel discussion.
In Conversation w/ Richard Rothstein & Susan D. Anderson
Premiered on February 4, 2021
Richard Rothstein discussed his book The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How our Government Segregated America in conversation with Susan D. Anderson, History Curator and Program Manager at the California African American Museum. The Color of Law expands upon and provides a national perspective on his recent work that has documented the history of state-sponsored residential segregation.
In Conversation with David Heska Wanbli Weiden & Marcie R. Rendon
Premiered on November 30, 2020
Author David Heska Wanbli Weiden, an enrolled member of the Sicangu Lakota nation and winner of the 2020 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America, discusses his new mystery novel, Winter Counts, in conversation with author Marcie R. Rendon. Winter Counts is a Native thriller that examines the broken criminal justice system on reservations, and a meditation on Native identity. Marcie Rendon is an award-winning author with an extensive body of fiction and nonfiction works as well as a fresh new murder mystery series.
Introduction to the Conflict in Artsakh
Premiered on November 19, 2020
Introduction to the Conflict in Artsakh: Dr. Shushan Karapetian, Deputy Director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies, discusses the past and present of the Artsakh conflict with GLAC Director, Dr. Gary Shaffer.
In Conversation with Walter R. Echo-Hawk &
W. Richard West Jr.
Premiered on November 12, 2020
Author and attorney Walter R. Echo-Hawk discussed his book, “In the Courts of the Conqueror: The 10 Worst Indian Law Cases Ever Decided,” in conversation with Autry Museum President and Chief Executive W. Richard West Jr.
In Conversation with Eric Nusbaum &
Gustavo Arellano
Premiered on September 24, 2020
Author and journalist Eric Nusbaum discussed his new book, Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between, with Los Angeles Times columnist and author Gustavo Arellano.
Panel on Racism: Past & Present
Premiered on July 30, 2020
The City of Glendale hosted "Panel on Racism: Past & Present." Scholars and authors in the fields of racism and racial justice spoke on various areas of expertise. Moderated by Steven Nelson, Dean of the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.