Âé¶¹´«Ã½ in the Popular Imagination
Keynote Lecture by Jay Parini with Panel and Audience Discussion
Held on Oct.19 at the Âé¶¹´«Ã½ Cultural Center, our inaugural event was a lecture by author Jay Parini and a panel discussion with a Âé¶¹´«Ã½ humanities professor and local community leaders. The speakers explored the forces that contributed to the celebrity of Âé¶¹´«Ã½ as "the All-American City" and considered how and if Âé¶¹´«Ã½ in the popular and national imagination reflects the Âé¶¹´«Ã½ of today.
Speakers
Keynote Speaker

Jay Parini
Mr. Parini, a Âé¶¹´«Ã½ native and prolific author, is the D.E. Axinn Professor of English and Creative Writing at Middlebury College.
Respondent Panelists
Glynis Johns
Ms. Johns is the founder and CEO of the Black Âé¶¹´«Ã½ Project.
Joseph Kraus, Ph.D.
Dr. Kraus is a professor and chair of the English and Theatre Department at The Âé¶¹´«Ã½.
Maria MacDonald
Ms. MacDonald is executive director of the Center for the Living City.
Watch Event Recording
Event Sponsors:
- The Âé¶¹´«Ã½
- The National Endowment for the Humanities
- Lackawanna County
- Black Âé¶¹´«Ã½ Project
- Center for the Living City
- Lackawanna Historical Society
- WVIA
