About the Talk The chronography of al-Makīn Ibn al-ʿAmīd (1206–1293) is a major work in the Copto-Arabic historiographical tradition. Its importance is twofold: on the one hand, its author, a high-ranking official, drew from different sources, some of them still close to late antiquity, to present an orderly picture of the events from Creation to his time. On the other hand, his compendium attracted the interest of various readerships. It enjoyed widespread popularity among Oriental Christians, in Arabic-speaking communities but also in Ethiopia. It was consulted and quoted by several Mamluk historians, including Ibn Khaldūn and al-Maqrīzī; and finally, it was translated into Latin in 1625 by the Dutch Arabist Erpenius, providing early modern Europe with the first clear exposé of Islamic history. Thus, Ibn al-ʿAmīd’s chronography proved influential upon different audiences in various epochs; at the same time, it also constituted a major instance of Christian-Muslim intellectual interaction in the pre-modern era.About the Speaker Martino Diez is associate professor of Arabic Language and Literature at the Catholic University of Milan. He is also scientific director of the Oasis International Foundation. From January to July 2019 he was visiting member at the Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, School of Historical Studies. He is a member of the Scientific Board of the IISMM (Institut d’études de l’Islam et des sociétés du monde musulman) at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris and the journals MIDEO, published by the Institut Dominicain d'Études Orientales in Cairo, and Islamochristiana, published by the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies. Since January 2020 he has been consultor of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. He has recently published al-Makīn Ǧirǧis ibn al-'Amīd, Universal History—The Vulgate recension. From Adam to the End of the Achaemenids (Leiden: Brill, 2023). Originally published at medieval.nd.edu.

"Powering the Future: Reimagining the Grid for Tomorrow" is presented by Sunny Elebua, senior vice president, chief strategy and sustainability officer and Jeanne Jones, executive vice president, chief financial officer, both of Exelon Corporation in Chicago. Exelon is a Fortune 200 company and the nation’s largest energy delivery company, serving more than 10.5 million customers through six fully regulated transmission and distribution utilities. The Ten Years Hence speaker series explores issues, ideas, and trends likely to affect business and society over the next decade. The theme of the 2025 series is Innovation: The Process of Creation and Renewal. Ten Years Hence is sponsored by the Eugene Clark Distinguished Lecture Series endowment. This is one of seven lectures in the Ten Years Hence Lecture Series. See website for details and other lecture dates. Free and open to students, faculty, staff and public.

Register here Anna Moreland is the chair and director of the Villanova University Honors Program and Thomas W. Smith is dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at The Catholic University of America. Moreland and Smith will discuss their recent book, The Young Adult Playbook: Living Like It Matters and their work in education for flourishing among undergraduates. We hope you will join the Institute for Social Concerns each month for the Virtues & Vocations lunchtime webinar series, Conversations on Character & the Common Good. There is always time for audience questions. Virtues & Vocations is a national forum for scholars and practitioners across disciplines to consider how best to cultivate character in pre-professional and professional education. Virtues & Vocations hosts faculty workshops, an annual conference, and monthly webinars, and engages issues of character, professional identity, and moral purpose through our publications.

“Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.”—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie In the heart of Texas, where its vast southern expanse meets the rugged terrain of Mexico, lies a border in El Paso, Texas, and Cd. Juarez, Mexico, that has long served as a focal point of human migration, hope, and hardship. It’s a region where countless stories unfold daily—stories of human courage, desperation, and resilience. Yet, for those who have never walked its dusty paths or felt the weight of uncertainty that hangs heavy in the air, the reality of life along the U.S.-Mexico border remains distant and abstract. The stories of Latin American and Mexican migrants are frequently overshadowed by political rhetoric, resulting in a one-dimensional portrayal that lacks the depth and humanity of the migrant experience. This often leads to a misunderstanding of their challenges and contributions to society. There is a critical need for innovative methods that can communicate these experiences authentically and compellingly to a broader audience. Facilitated by: Steven Varela, Director, OIT Teaching and Learning Technologies; Arlene Montevecchio, Associate Director, Klau Institute for Civil and Human RightsFormat: 1-hour Presentation/DiscussionAudience: Administrators, faculty, staff, students Session Objectives: The Virtual Borders project leverages the power of XR to serve as an inclusive technology that can transform perceptions and foster deeper understandings of the complex experiences faced by Latin American and Mexican migrants as well as border culture. Through this discussion, we aim to educate, engage, create empathy, and inspire diverse audiences, making a substantial impact on public discourse around migration and diversity, equity, and inclusion by:Critically assessing media and public discourse on migration, distinguishing between factual information and misinformation Recognizing the role of dignity by analyzing migration stories and reflecting on human dignity in the context of global migration issues.Part of the Tech for Good series being presented during Walk the Walk Week by Teaching and Learning Technologies (Office of Information Technology), the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Hesburgh Libraries), Notre Dame Learning, and the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights Originally published at learning.nd.edu.

On November 24, 2016, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a revised peace accord that marked a political end to more than 50 years of war. The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies has the primary responsibility for technical verification and monitoring of implementation of the accord through the Peace Accords Matrix Barometer Initiative. In this talk, Angela J. Lederach (Ph.D. ’20), assistant professor of peace and justice studies at Chapman University, will draw on a decade of research with grassroots social leaders in Colombia, weaving together campesino theories of time, social relations, and place to develop an ethnographic theory of “slow peace.” Slowing down does not negate the fierce urgency of social leaders’ commitment to disrupt and transform the compounding forces of political and environmental violence that persist in postaccord Colombia. Instead, slow peace offers a relational framework for peacebuilding as a multigenerational, multispecies, and permanent struggle to cultivate a more just and livable world. Lederach will be joined in conversation by Josefina Echavarría Álvarez, professor of the practice and director of the Peace Accords Matrix, and a student and faculty respondent (TBA). Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.

It’s been a little over 60 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, but the messages from that speech resonate today. “MLK: Now is the Time” is an immersive journey that explores key themes of Dr. King’s speech and highlights systemic inequities that persist in our society. Through first-person stories and interactions, “MLK: Now is the Time” drops a participant into a thoroughly modern interpretation of a contemporary March on Washington. This immersive session leverages the power of extended reality (XR) to provide a unique and impactful learning experience. Facilitated by: Horane Diatta-Holgate, Program Director of Inclusive Pedagogy, Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence; XR Collective Format: Discussion/Workshop10:00–11:30 a.m. (in VR headsets for registrants); 12:00–1:00 p.m. (Lunch/discussion); 1:00–3:00 p.m. (in VR headsets for registrants)Audience: Administrators, faculty, staff, students Session Objectives: Through XR simulations and discussion, our objectives for the workshop/discussion include:Empathetic Understanding: Participants will step into the shoes of individuals from various backgrounds, gaining insight into the challenges they face.Interactive Scenarios: Participants will engage in real-life scenarios, facilitated by XR, to make decisions and/or navigate situations to learn DEI principles.Safe Space for Dialogue: Participants will have opportunities for open discussions, sharing experiences, and learning from one another in a supportive environment.Practical Tools for Inclusion: Receive guidance on implementing inclusive practices in both personal and professional spheres, leveraging XR as a tool for positive change.Part of the Tech for Good series being presented during Walk the Walk Week by Teaching and Learning Technologies (Office of Information Technology), the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Hesburgh Libraries), Notre Dame Learning, and the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights Originally published at learning.nd.edu.