Dear Colleagues,
It’s very hard to go about business as usual right now, because this — our world — is not doing business as usual. Of course, I acknowledge that state violence has been par for the course for some of us and our families for generations. Nonetheless, I do find it somewhat absurd to keep producing newsletters, holding meetings, and planning events in the face of our current reality. Yet, here we are, and I have an opportunity to share that speaks to our moment, which you’ll find below.
The CCCE is sponsoring a convocation on April 24, 2026 with Fred de Sam Lazaro, the executive director of the Under-Told Stories Project and a correspondent for the PBS NewsHour. The talk is part of our daylong celebration to honor the 40th Anniversary of Acting in the Community Together, the precursor to the CCCE. Please consider encouraging your students to attend this convocation on 4th week in Spring Term and join Fred for lunch after convo, by signing up here.
From Fred on what to expect in this convocation:
At the core of the mission at the Under-Told Stories Project is reporting on poverty and human suffering, topic areas that are critical but that do not usually draw many eyeballs to screens. So, we use solutions-oriented narratives, profiling innovative approaches to global challenges ranging from human trafficking to the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products. With video excerpts from our PBS News Hour Agents for Change series, I’ll reflect on what seems to work and what doesn’t in the complex and often corrupt business of humanitarian aid, as well as the nuances and sensitivity that are essential for credible, respectful reporting. Storytelling is a powerful learning and teaching tool, and it is critical that we all understand how to use it amid so much polarizing misinformation that competes for our attention and indignation.
While the Under-Told Stories Project often features people and issues across the globe, it also covers local stories, too — including the following segments on current events here in Minnesota, along with others:
- Minnesota Mourns Alex Pretti
- Minnesota March Against ICE
- Tension Spreads Across Nation: New video of Minneapolis ICE shooting emerges as tensions rise across the nation
- Pushing for Accountability: Minnesota leaders and protesters push for accountability after ICE shooting
- Fraud and Fear: Fraud scandals and Trump’s rhetoric escalate fears in Minnesota’s Somali community
In addition to airing on PBS, the Under-Told Stories Project aims to be a resource for educators, and its videos are organized by themes and topics to help find clips that may be relevant to various learning goals. We’re lucky to have Fred here in Minnesota — their offices are on the St. Thomas campus — and we hope Carleton will take advantage of his time on campus in April.
Thanks,
Sinda