ThoughtGallery.org > Labels, Learning and Love

Labels, Learning and Love

These days, identity is far from esoteric or ivory tower. It’s at the core of our political and culture wars, a hot-button issue, being debated and played out in all areas of our lives—in education from pre-school through higher ed, in culture and entertainment from theatre to music to film and television, in the electoral arena, in the psychology establishment, and on-the-ground interactions with both people we know and those we don’t—indeed, the dominant approaches to identity seem to be leading us into intractable polarization.

The first Fred Newman Lecture presents educator and author Irshad Manji, whose writings and media appearances have made her a lightning rod for the international debate over identity—in dialogue with interviewer Lois Holzman, director East Side Institute and Newman’s intellectual partner for forty years. Manji’s recent book, Don’t Label Me, is a gutsy guide to reclaiming our humanity in a time of trenchant tribalism and bears family resemblances to Newman’s claim that identity is holding back human development.

The interview will be followed by a reception. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Irshad Manji’s book Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

Oprah Winfrey has given Irshad Manji the first annual Chutzpah Award for “audacity, nerve, boldness, and conviction.” In addition to Don’t Label Me, Irshad has written bestselling books about the need for reform in her faith of Islam—The Trouble with Islam as well as Allah, Liberty and Love. In between, she produced the Emmy-nominated PBS film, Faith Without Fear. Irshad is the founder of Moral Courage College, a global leadership studio that teaches people how to do the right thing in the face of their fears. She also teaches at Oxford University’s Initiative on Global Ethics and Human Rights. Previously, Irshad taught public service and personal development at New York University and the University of Southern California.

Lois Holzman is founder (with Fred Newman) and director of the East Side Institute, a center for social therapeutics and other humanizing approaches to learning and development. As an activist-scholar, her work is political-philosophical, community-located and international. She is a founder and the chair of the Performing the World conferences and a leader in the social change movement known as performance activism. Lois introduces performatory approaches to human development and social change to hundreds of grassroots practitioners and supports their homegrown initiatives to develop people and their communities in order to engage poverty, violence, conflict, underdevelopment and environmental destruction. Lois is the author of 10 books – including her latest The Overweight Brain– and chapters, articles and essays, some featured in the recently published Big Ideas and Revolutionary Activity.











When: Mon., Nov. 11, 2019 at 7:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Where: Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America
58 Park Ave.
212-779-3587
Price: $35; Low income $25 (At the door: $45; Low income $35)
Buy tickets/get more info now
See other events in these categories:

These days, identity is far from esoteric or ivory tower. It’s at the core of our political and culture wars, a hot-button issue, being debated and played out in all areas of our lives—in education from pre-school through higher ed, in culture and entertainment from theatre to music to film and television, in the electoral arena, in the psychology establishment, and on-the-ground interactions with both people we know and those we don’t—indeed, the dominant approaches to identity seem to be leading us into intractable polarization.

The first Fred Newman Lecture presents educator and author Irshad Manji, whose writings and media appearances have made her a lightning rod for the international debate over identity—in dialogue with interviewer Lois Holzman, director East Side Institute and Newman’s intellectual partner for forty years. Manji’s recent book, Don’t Label Me, is a gutsy guide to reclaiming our humanity in a time of trenchant tribalism and bears family resemblances to Newman’s claim that identity is holding back human development.

The interview will be followed by a reception. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Irshad Manji’s book Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

Oprah Winfrey has given Irshad Manji the first annual Chutzpah Award for “audacity, nerve, boldness, and conviction.” In addition to Don’t Label Me, Irshad has written bestselling books about the need for reform in her faith of Islam—The Trouble with Islam as well as Allah, Liberty and Love. In between, she produced the Emmy-nominated PBS film, Faith Without Fear. Irshad is the founder of Moral Courage College, a global leadership studio that teaches people how to do the right thing in the face of their fears. She also teaches at Oxford University’s Initiative on Global Ethics and Human Rights. Previously, Irshad taught public service and personal development at New York University and the University of Southern California.

Lois Holzman is founder (with Fred Newman) and director of the East Side Institute, a center for social therapeutics and other humanizing approaches to learning and development. As an activist-scholar, her work is political-philosophical, community-located and international. She is a founder and the chair of the Performing the World conferences and a leader in the social change movement known as performance activism. Lois introduces performatory approaches to human development and social change to hundreds of grassroots practitioners and supports their homegrown initiatives to develop people and their communities in order to engage poverty, violence, conflict, underdevelopment and environmental destruction. Lois is the author of 10 books – including her latest The Overweight Brain– and chapters, articles and essays, some featured in the recently published Big Ideas and Revolutionary Activity.

Buy tickets/get more info now