Speakers at the Center
Deepen Your Learning
Join us at the Wassmuth Center each month for an inspiring and thought-provoking speaker series that shines a light on critical human rights issues impacting both our local community and global society. Each session features dynamic speakers—authors, scholars, journalists, and other community leaders—who will share powerful stories, insights, and actionable ideas to foster awareness, understanding, and meaningful change. Whether you’re passionate about human rights, eager to engage with diverse perspectives, or looking to deepen your impact, these events provide an opportunity to learn, reflect, and connect with others committed to building a more just and inclusive world.
Upcoming
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
In the words of Naira Akhtar, Idaho student and speaker for the International Rescue Committee: “School was never a place for me to express my culture—it was a place where I felt uncomfortable doing so.”
For many minority students across Idaho, this feeling is all too familiar. Classrooms that should nurture curiosity and identity often become places of silence. Where culture is left at the door, where being different means being alone, and where navigating the school day means constantly shrinking yourself to fit in.
These experiences aren’t just isolated stories, they are part of a larger pattern of exclusion, underrepresentation, and inequity that continues to affect students of color, immigrant youth, and other marginalized communities in our state. But even in the face of these challenges, Idaho’s minority youth continue to rise. They speak up, organize, build community, and imagine something better.
Their voices hold truth, strength, and the power to shape a more inclusive future—if only we’re willing to listen.
So on August 6, we invite you to do just that.
Join us for a youth-led panel where students will share their lived experiences of what it means to be a minority in Idaho’s education system. It is a conversation that you need to be a part of.
2025 Speakers at the Center Series
Thursday, January 2: Heath Druzin, “The Rise of Christian Nationalism and Idaho as a Laboratory for Extremism”
Opening the series in January, we welcomed Heath Druzin for a powerful discussion on extremism and its impact on our lives and politics. Druzin is the host and creator of Extremely American, a sound-rich podcast series that looks at the intersection of extremism and politics. Druzin’s talk explored how Christian nationalists have quietly been building influence for years.
Thank you to George Prentice and Sasa Woodruff from Boise State Public Radio for moderating these discussions.
Saturday, February 1: Ousmane Kabré, “Stories of Impact, Compassion, and Community Transformation”
February’s session featured Ousmane Kabré, sharing his journey as a global advocate for social equity and economic empowerment. Drawing from his experiences growing up in Burkina Faso and his work fostering entrepreneurial opportunities across Africa and beyond, Kabré explored the intersections of human rights, innovation, and community development. Attendees gained insights into the power of resilience, the importance of education, and the transformative potential of grassroots initiatives in addressing systemic injustice and fostering inclusive growth.
Tuesday, February 18th: Dr. Mitchell Maki, “America’s Promise: The Japanese Americans Veterans and the Fight for Justice”
Wednesday, March 5: “Her Influence: Honoring the Women Who Shape Us”
An inspiring panel discussion featuring women from our community sharing stories of the women who have shaped and inspired them. This powerful event offered a blend of personal stories, diverse perspectives, and empowering messages highlighting the strength, resilience, and potential of women across generations.
Panelists:
Laurie Roberts – Retired English Teacher
Rama Deen – Founder & Executive Director, TANTA, Inc.
Sarah Griffin – Vice President of Human Resources, Idaho Power & Board Chair, Wassmuth Center
Christina Lords – Editor-in-Chief, Idaho Capital Sun
Wednesday, April 2: Open Arms Dance Project & Open Arms Ambassadors
Open Arms Dance Project joined us for an engaging event featuring dancers of all ages and abilities who showed the audience what true compassion and inclusion looks like both on the dance floor and within our community. The Open Arms Ambassadors shared the personal experiences they share with students as part of the Upstanders with Open Arms Initiative. The audience learned practical tips for interacting with those with disabilities. This event was a meaningful exploration of accessibility, inclusion, and advocacy.
Wednesday, April 30: Unseen and Unshaken: Narratives from the Unhoused Frontlines
This compelling panel, moderated by our intern Terrence Sharrer, brought compassion and empathy and understanding about what it means to be unhoused. With first hand stories from Gerri Graves and Tony Horton, who have experiences being unhoused, as well as the voice of Jodi Peterson-Stigers, Executive Director of Interfaith Sanctuary, the audience left the evening with a deeper understanding of the realities within our shared community and ideas for what they can do to be a support.
This was more than just a conversation—it was an opportunity to listen, learn, and challenge perceptions.
Wednesday, May 7: Liyah Babayan, “Stages of Genocide in Real Time”
Liyah took us on a journey through her childhood experiences as an Armenian refugee, sharing vivid details that helped us connect with her personally and understand the broader story of the Armenian people. She also spoke about the horrifying history of the Armenian Genocide, the ongoing denial of these atrocities, and the warning signs that can lead to such crimes against humanity. Her story brought these realities to life, fostering empathy and deeper understanding among those in attendance.
Tuesday, June 3: Katie Knight & Judy Fjell, Love and Justice in Art and Music
Katie and Judy presented a vibrant evening where they showed how creativity can become a tool for healing and change. Katie shared powerful images and stories from her life as an artist and activist while Judy shared her voice and music. This evening lifted our spirits and ignited our imaginations as we learned how art, music, and love can transform hate into hope.
Wednesday, June 18: Gillian Walnes Perry, The Franks-An Ordinary Family Trapped in Extraordinary Times
Drawing from conversations with people who personally knew the Frank family, Gillian Walnes Perry brought a deeply informed perspective to the Franks’ story. She explored the family’s rise from the Frankfurt Jewish ghetto to becoming fully integrated German citizens, Otto Frank’s formative years in New York and service in WWI, and the contrasting childhood experiences of Anne and Margot Frank as civil liberties eroded in Germany and the Netherlands. Gillian also reflected on Anne Frank’s global legacy and its role in empowering young people to speak out against human rights abuses today.
Wednesday, July 9: “From Cambodia to Idaho: Student Perspectives on Human Rights, Education, and Hope”
A panel of high school students who traveled to Cambodia this spring through the Center’s Cultural Encounter program shared their experiences and reflections. Moderated by educator and trip co-leader Ben Harris, this powerful conversation explored how education, remembrance, and resilience intersect in a country still rebuilding after genocide. From standing in the silence of the Killing Fields to delivering bicycles and backpacks to students in rural communities, these students experienced firsthand the power of education as a tool for justice and hope. Their reflections challenge us to protect the right to learn—both globally and here at home.
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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
-NELSON MANDELA, HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER