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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260911T100000
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SUMMARY:A New Future for the Charlotte Museum of Nature with Rachel Cusick and Elliot Provance
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: A New Future for the Charlotte Museum of Nature\nSPEAKER: Rachel Cusick\, Chief Advancement Officer\, Discovery Place Museums\nand Elliot Provance\, Sr. Director\, Collections\, Discovery Place\nThe new Charlotte Museum of Nature will feature an expanded layout integrated directly into the surrounding 11-acre woodland forest and Freedom Park public green space\, including: \n\nNative Wildlife Habitats: New custom enclosures for North American river otters\, a frog bog\, and an owl aviary.\nTreetop Canopy Walk: An outdoor elevated trail system designed to take advantage of the park’s older forest setting.\nHands-on Naturalist Lab: Immersive indoor spaces designed for local ecosystem schooling and science exploration.\nSaplings Zone: A dedicated\, nature-inspired indoor play space built explicitly for early childhood discovery.\nPublic Plaza & Gardens: Free community spaces and gardens facing the Little Sugar Creek Greenway that do not require museum admission.\n\n  \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nRachel Cusick Bio: \nChief Advancement Officer and enterprise leader recognized for building high-performing advancement teams that strengthen institutional relevance\, modernize philanthropy\, and deliver transformational revenue. Believes exceptional organizations are built by investing in people and cultivating a culture of belonging and shared accountability. Combines campaign and principal-gift expertise with organizational leadership\, board development\, government and corporate partnerships\, data-informed decision-making\, and thoughtful integration of technology and AI. Trusted advisor to CEOs and trustees with a proven record of leading through growth\, change\, and reputational complexity. \nElliott Provance Bio: \nWith over 20 years of professional experience\, I am currently the Senior Director of Collections at Discovery Place\, where I focus on driving excellence in living collections and exhibition design. My expertise lies in ecology and creative direction\, and I am committed to creating engaging\, educational\, and visually captivating exhibits that inspire curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of the natural world. I strive to bring innovative and sustainable strategies to my work\, creating meaningful experiences for diverse audiences and aligning with Discovery Place’s mission of inspiring exploration and conservation. \nAt Discovery Place\, I have guided the development and management of living collections and exhibitions\, ensuring they reflect both educational and aesthetic value. Leveraging my skills in exhibit design and creative direction\, I have collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to deliver compelling aquatic features and museum displays. My role also includes working with professionals across various industries\, such as museums\, aquariums\, and zoos\, where I have contributed my expertise in designing innovative aquatic elements like aquariums and water features. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/a-new-future-for-the-charlotte-museum-of-nature-with-rachel-cusick-and-elliot-provance/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Cusick-Provance_9-11-2026_02.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260918T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260918T110000
DTSTAMP:20260610T173845Z
CREATED:20260609T200557Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T173845Z
UID:10000235-1789725600-1789729200@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Immigration and Charlotte with Dr. Maggie Commins
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Immigration and Charlotte: What does it mean to be a “welcoming city?” \nSPEAKER: Dr. Maggie Commins\, Queens University of Charlotte\nCharlotte’s population is growing and changing. We are often told that over 150 people move to the region every day. \nWhat you may not have heard is that Charlotte attracts people from around the world. Almost one in five Charlotte Mecklenburg County residents was born in another country\, four times the percentage in 1990. \nThis changing demography is transforming our city and challenging local governments to connect with and integrate people from many backgrounds. During the national celebration of “Welcoming Week” (September 10th – 19th)\, join us to explore what it means to be a “Welcoming City\,” and whether the Queen City measures up. \n  \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nDr. Maggie Commins is the Shelton Professor of Political Science and chair of the Department of Political Science\, International Studies\, and Sociology at Queens University of Charlotte. Her research interests include U.S. immigration policy\, municipal immigrant integration\, U.S. policy toward Latin America\, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning\, with a focus on pedagogies that encourage students’ civic engagement. \nIn 2020 Queens honored Maggie with their Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching award. Modeling what she encourages in her students\, Dr. Commins is actively involved in the Charlotte community. She serves on the Charlotte International Cabinet\, an advisory board for the mayor and city council that focuses on promoting both international business and immigrant integration in the Queen City. \nShe is also a board member of the Latin American Coalition\, the city’s oldest immigrant-serving nonprofit organization\, and of the National Issues Forum Institute\, a national nonprofit that promotes civic dialogue and engagement. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/immigration-and-charlotte-with-dr-maggie-commins/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MCommins_9-18-2026.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T110000
DTSTAMP:20260812T153110Z
CREATED:20260609T201308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T153110Z
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SUMMARY:Is Classical Music Irrelevant? with Conductor James Meena
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Is Classical Music Irrelevant?\nSPEAKER: James Meena\, Conductor; Founder & President\, Charlotte Lyric Theatre\nIn this presentation\, we posit that the preponderance of entertainment\, immediate gratification on all levels\, shortened attention spans have made classical music irrelevant to modern society. \n  \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nMaestro James Meena is a musical entrepreneur. His 50year career in classical music has touched the world of the symphony orchestra\, ballet\, musical theater and opera. \nMo. Meena consistently earns critical acclaim for his artistic vision and dynamic presence on the podium. His guest conducting engagements have included the Washington Opera\, the Pittsburgh Opera\, L’Opera de Montreal\, Michigan Opera Theater\, Festivale Puccini Torre del Lago\, Teatro del Giglio Lucca\, Teatro Pavarotti Modena\, Teatro Ravenna\, Teatro Sociale Rovigo\, the Arizona Opera\, Edmonton Opera\, the KBS Symphony Orchestra in Seoul\, South Korea\, the National Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of China\, the Pittsburgh Symphony\, the Cairo Philharmonic in Egypt\, the Grand Rapids Symphony\, the Memphis Symphony\, the Toledo Symphony\, the Orchestra of the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Sicily and the Orchestra Regionale Toscana in Florence\, Italy. Recently\, he led performances of Puccini’s Turandot in the historic Teatro Antica in Taromina Sicily and the Teatro Greco in Siracusa. \nFor more than a decade he was Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony\, General Director of Toledo Opera and conductor for the Cleveland/San Jose Ballet. He concluded a 25-year tenure as General Director & Principal Conductor of Opera Carolina in Charlotte in May 2025\, after which he founded the new Charlotte Lyric Theatre\, an advanced mentorship program for emerging artists. Mo. Meena has conducted legendary singers James McCracken\, Renee Fleming\, Denyce Graves\, Diana Soviero\, Mignon Dunn\, Marilyn Horne\, Sherril Milnes\, Jerome Hines\, Carl Tanner\, Jerry Hadley and Marcello Giordani. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/is-classical-music-irrelevant-with-conductor-james-meena/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JMeena_10-2-2026.jpg
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