First Fridays Series

Women’s leadership is shaping the future of social justice, sustainability, renewable energy, and gender equality. In this powerful episode of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation’s First Fridays series, we bring together two female experts working to amplify women’s voices and drive meaningful change in nonprofits, DEI, arts and culture, and environmental advocacy. Amy-Willard Cross – Founder of Gender Fair, the first consumer rating system for gender equality Amber Nuttall – Sustainability Director at Extreme International & Founder of Extreme Hangout This thought-provoking podcast discussion explores the global impact of women in leadership, the importance of diverse decision-making spaces, and how limiting female participation affects science, technology, and public policy. As women’s rights face increasing challenges, these leaders share actionable strategies to build a more inclusive, just, and sustainable world. Join us in honor of International Women’s Day! Don’t miss this conversation about empowering women, nonprofit leadership, and the fight for equality. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slfcommunity Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1AkJ6BqH0W9Op5K94qNQ6d?si=f0784c62bda84155 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/ Website: https://www.samuellawrencefoundation.org #femaleempowerment #climatecrisis #womeninstem

Safe, stable housing is a fundamental human right, yet millions across the U.S. face housing insecurity, homelessness, or displacement due to systemic inequality, policy challenges, and economic pressures. This February, the Samuel Lawrence Foundation’s "First Fridays" series tackles the critical issue of the housing crisis with an expert panel of advocates, policymakers, and scholars. Together, they will uncover the barriers to addressing this growing crisis and propose pathways for meaningful change.Join us for an engaging discussion featuring:Tamar Ezer: Faculty Director of the Human Rights Program/ Associate Director of the Human Rights Clinic, University of Miami School of LawRob Robinson: Senior Advisor at Dignity and Rights and USA-Canada Coordinator for the International Alliance of InhabitantsSenator Catherine Blakespear: California State Senator representing the 38th DistrictJessie Speer: Author; Assistant Professor at the London School of Economics This thought-provoking event will delve into the systemic and political challenges that prevent meaningful progress on housing reform, highlighting both the domestic and global implications of the housing crisis, including environmental disasters. Panelists will explore innovative solutions, from grassroots advocacy and community organizing to legislative reform and international models of housing justice.Aired: February 7, 2025www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

Filmmaking is more than just a medium for visual entertainment — it’s a powerful tool for storytelling that moves, captivates, and often, transforms us. In this January’s webinar, we explore the profound impact of film on human emotion and its role in shaping culture, identity, and society. Join us for an exciting conversation with filmmakers and storytellers who are pushing the boundaries of how we tell stories through motion picture.Our expert panelists include:​Taye Balogun, Founder of the NGO International Film Festival, which highlights films that explore global social issues, fostering dialogue and connection through cinema.Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, an accomplished filmmaker whose work includes collaborations with icons like David Bowie, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga. She brings a unique perspective on how film intersects with culture and emotion.Bruno Smadja, Founder of the Mobile Film Festival, which celebrates the power of storytelling through mobile phones and provides a platform for filmmakers to share their perspectives with the world.Sona Tatoyan, Actor/Writer/Storyteller and Founder of the non-profit Hakawati, whose multimedia play about her family’s history in Syria and Armenia — produced by actor Bill Pullman — blends film, theater, and storytelling to preserve her heritage and critique societal issues through art.Together, these innovators and visionaries will discuss the transformative power of film, from personal narratives to global storytelling, and explore how cinema can shape emotional connections, provoke thought, and foster empathy.Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into the world of filmmaking as an emotional catalyst for change and artistic expression. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, a lover of the arts, or simply curious about the impact of film, this webinar will leave you inspired and thoughtful about the ways storytelling shapes our world.Aired: January 10, 2025www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

Join us for a special edition of our First Fridays Webinar, where we’ll take a deep, reflective look back on the powerful moments that defined our webinar series.This month, we’re not just revisiting key topics—we’re examining how these conversations have shaped our understanding of the pressing issues that are at the heart of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation’s mission. From the dangers of nuclear waste to the transformative power of education, the arts, and science, we’ll highlight the most impactful moments from the past year, featuring some of the brightest minds and thought leaders from around the world.​In this unique session, we’ll explore how the work we’ve done in the First Friday's Series intersects with the Foundation’s core values—advancing justice, environmental sustainability, and societal change. You’ll hear from experts, advocates, and activists who have sparked new ways of thinking about complex challenges, and who continue to inspire hope and action. This webinar is not just a reflection; it’s an opportunity to connect with a community committed to making real change in the world. We’ll also look ahead to 2025, as we continue to push boundaries and drive innovation in the work we do together.​We hope you’ll join us. Together, we can reflect, celebrate, and chart the path forward for a more equitable and sustainable future.Aired: December 6, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

If a language disappears, what is lost along with it? Once a language disappears — along with the knowledge of the elders who speak it — whole swaths of wisdom disappear, too. And that is precisely what is happening in the Amazon right now, as well as in many Indigenous communities around the world.It is universally acknowledged that Indigenous people have a special relationship with the land, and that they are considered the finest stewards of the environment. So we must act to preserve this Indigenous knowledge, first morally and anthropologically — to honor the cultures and societies under threat of cultural extinction — and second because preserving that knowledge has potential benefits for the common good of us all.Join us to hear panelists that include:Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, a filmmaker who has worked extensively with Beyonce, David Bowie, and Lady Gaga, and is now turning her attention to films about Indigenous communities.Dr. Philbert Aaron, Dominica’s Ambassador to the UN, who survived the deadly Hurricane Maria with his wife and seven-week-old.Joseph McNeil, Jr., who is a direct descendant of Sitting Bull and a Civil Rights hero from the 60s.Atossa Soltani, the Founder and President of Amazon Watch, a nonprofit founded in 1996 to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin.Aired: November 1, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

“Education Innovation” introduced us to four visionaries whose work around the globe is being lauded for cutting-edge education.Our panel featured the following accomplished educators:Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Chair of Latinx Studies, San Francisco State University - Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade has taught in East Oakland for decades and has earned huge recognition as a model educator by his peers. "Education should empower students to connect with their sacred purpose and transform their lives."Paige Morency, Director of Outreach and Communications, Basic Education Coalition - Paige directs the Basic Education Coalition (BEC), a consortium of nearly 40 globally known organizations in the education space (from Save the Children to the International Rescue Committee). "We work to ensure that all children and youth have equitable access to quality education globally."Dr. Jelani Nelson, Chair of Computer Science Division, UC Berkeley - In addition to teaching math at Cal-Berkeley, Dr. Jelani Nelson is also committed to teaching coding skills to those in Ethiopia and Jamaica and has been awarded by the Obama administration. "We’re inspiring a generation of tech leaders."Mohammed Rezwan, Executive Director, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha (Floating Schools of Bangladesh) - an architect by trade, Mohammed developed floating classrooms to ensure that education is never washed away in his flood-prone country which has resulted in his several world prizes. "Education should create better human beings who understand selflessness and contribute to a sustainable society."These four esteemed and highly accredited educators shared their insights on improving global education systems, addressing equity, and the role of education in affecting social change. Watch the full episode to learn from these world-renowned experts and hear their perspectives on what’s working in education today, and how we can build a better tomorrow.Aired: October 4, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

The struggles we’re experiencing in the United States are undeniable — but we’re not alone. As the UN Foundation noted in an op-ed earlier this year, “Choose a country — any country — and you will likely find the same trends: Trust in public institutions is plummeting, wealth inequality is on the rise, and societies are increasingly polarized.”It is in an effort to navigate this mistrust in institutions — and in each other — that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is convening in September the “Summit of the Future,” a convening of world leaders to adopt the Pact for the Future. That Pact notes that, while “We are at a time of profound global transformation [and] too many of our fellow human beings face avoidable suffering” … this is also a moment of hope and opportunity.Advances in knowledge, science, technology, and innovation … could deliver a breakthrough to a better and more sustainable future for all.” So with that in mind, we have assembled a panel of experts who share with us a vision of the Solutions of the Future — solutions that address climate, energy, health, and other intractable problems. Solutions to inspire us and give us hope that all is far from lost, but instead — if we choose wisely — exciting and full of opportunity.Aired: September 6, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

The country we live in — and the world outside our borders, as well — is very divided. Certain issues on which we all have quite strong feelings seem — and indeed in fact may be — unbridgeable. And that is where the arts can play such a powerful role.The beauty, precision, and craftsmanship of works of art — whether visual arts, like painting and sculptures, or performing arts, such as music and dance — offer audiences entertainment that soars, and that touches the heart, triggering a range of human emotions.Tune in to watch five exceptional thinkers, whose connection to the arts is purpose driven, and who will help articulate to the audience watching how arts can give us insights into our society — and even help unlock the mysteries about ourselves that we struggle to understand.Aired: August 2, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

This stunning webinar serves as a crucial introduction to our 7/24/24 symposium, where attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of real dangers and challenges posed by 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste on the beach at San Onofre, CA. We will explore actionable solutions for a safer future.Speakers:Kate Brown, Professor, History of Science, MITStephanie Cooke, Journalist, Writer, New York Times, Associated Press, Nucleonics Week, NuclearFuel, Inside N.R.C., Business Week, Energy Intelligence, Nuclear Intelligence WeeklyPaul Dorfman, Chair of NuclearConsult, Visiting Fellow, Science Policy Research Unit, Sussex Energy Group, University of SussexRichard Gersberg, Professor / Head of the Division, Environmental Health in the School of Public Health, San Diego State University (SDSU)Gary Headrick, Co-Founder, San Clemente GreenSusan Hito-Shapiro, Environmental AttorneyRobert H. Richmond, Research Professor and Director, Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii at ManoaLeona Morgan, Co-Founder, Haul No! and Indigenous Organizer Fighting Nuclear Colonialism Aired: July 12, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

World Oceans Day is one of the bigger social awareness days on the social-good calendar. In this month's panel, we will explore our oceans health, tapping into the expertise of our panelists, who will give us a perspective from scientific, academic, and cultural lenses.Matthias Egger is an executive at The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit organization that is trying to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and rid the oceans of plastics.Kim McCoy, an international oceanographer known for his environmental design and geopolitical expertise in over 40 science projects, including nine Polar expeditions, co-authored the new Patagonia edition of the surfer bible "Waves and Beaches."Emilie McGlone is the director of Peace Boat US, a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization that leads scientific expeditions all around the planet.Diana Nyad is a world-renowned athlete who is the first — and only — person to swim from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Florida, a journey captured in last year's Oscar-nominated film "Nyad."Captain Paul Watson is an environmentalist who founded the Sea Shepherd, an anti-poaching and direct action group, and now runs the Captain Paul Watson Foundation for marine conservation.From our esteemed panel we'll learn about global oceanic systems and what we can do to mitigate further damage.Aired: June 7, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

Experts warn of irreversible environmental damage if we don't shift away from fossil fuels immediately. Nuclear energy is often hailed as a solution to our reliance on fossil fuels, but its radioactive waste is a danger to human and environmental health, a toxic byproduct that lasts for thousands of years.So what is the solution to our climate-crippling reliance on fossil fuels?Enter Blue Planet Alliance, founded by Henk Rogers, the man who brought Tetris to the world. Blue Planet Alliance is a driving force behind Hawaii's commitment to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045. Their goal is to guide at least 50 islands toward a sustainable future and form a coalition to advocate for renewable energy solutions and environmental responsibility globally.Tune in to this episode of "First Fridays" to hear from Henk Rogers, Racquel Moses, Jeff Mikulina, and Ramon Cruz as they lead the charge toward renewable energy transitions.Aired: May 3, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

While many countries and companies regularly host State of the Union and State of the Corporation meetings to update their constituents and stakeholders on their progress, there's a notable absence of a State of the Earth event focusing on the planet's overall health, strengths, and weaknesses.In our State of the Earth, we brought together a panel of experts representing the “four P's”: People, Planet, Policy, and Purpose.Kristy Drutman is the founder of Browngirl Green. Kristy turns climate doom into humor, healing chats, and educational tools for action. She is also the co-founder of the Green Jobs Board, a community of 100,000+ members committed to building careers in climate work.Patricia Sims co-founded World Elephant Day in 2012. World Elephant Day is a rallying call to stop illegal poaching and the trade of ivory. Patricia has built a global awareness movement that's resulted in partnerships with 100 conservation organizations worldwide and reached countless individuals across the globe.John Holm is the Senior Vice President of Partnership Development at Pyxera Global. John and his team work to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems by fostering enabling environments and removing barriers to inclusion while preserving and protecting cultural heritage and knowledge.Mayte Gonzalez is the Head of Human Rights in Conservation for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Mayte has been involved in the creation and implementation of environmental legislation including Panama's the National Wildlife Law, the National Law for Aquaculture and the Law for the Coiba National Park. Our guests' inspiring work will certainly leave you feeling that our planet is in good hands.Aired: April 5, 2024www.samuellawrencefoundation.orgwww.instagram.com/slfcommunitywww.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/

We’re living in a precarious era, one defined in the last half decade by a polycrisis of three Cs: COVID, climate, and conflict. And much of the worst elements of these crises have been exacerbated by poor leadership.As the global climate gets increasingly worse, it’s worth noting that international climate conferences are dominated by men, like the UN COP conferences, where the heads of state of almost 200 countries are signatories to consequential treaties — and the number of them that are women are in the single digits.And, as noted by Margot Wallström, Sweden’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, 130 international peace agreements were signed between 1990 and 2014, and women were signatories to just 13. Meanwhile, the most compelling leadership in the handling of all of these crises has come from women: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern won much praise throughout the world for her handling of the COVID emergency in her country. And women leadership in the climate space has been led by Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.In honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, this episode of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation’s “First Fridays” highlights a panel of women leaders who have answers on how to move forward in a new way, with an emphasis on empowering, sensible solutions.Watch now to hear from panelists who have a focus on educating the next generation of women and finding sustainable solutions for our economy, society, environment, and planet.Aired: March 1, 2024

What does it mean for a nuclear plant to be decommissioned? What’s the status of the nuclear waste currently stored on-site at San Onofre? What concerns does the public need to be aware of? Is San Onofre safe?As advocates for a safe and sustainable future for Southern California, SLF is thrilled to present the next edition of our First Fridays Series, "The San Onofre Briefing: The Latest on SoCal's Shut Down Nuclear Power Plant." This edition is a comprehensive exploration of the recent developments surrounding the decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Our expert panel – including a retired Admiral of the US Navy and the Former Chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission – delves into the current status, environmental impact, and public health implications of the shut-down nuclear site. Aired: February 2, 2024About The Samuel Lawrence Foundation Launched in 2010, SLF fosters community engagement in creative endeavors and participation in local and global matters of scientific concern. We are unrelenting opponents of the nuclear waste storage near San Onofre State Beach. We serve our community by delivering the programming and support our partner organizations need, and as the fiscal sponsors to eight nonprofits, we coach and strengthen their operations to increase their presence in the community. www.samuellawrencefoundation.org www.twitter.com/SLFcommunity www.instagram.com/slfcommunity www.linkedin.com/company/samuel-lawrence-foundation/