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This event is presented in partnership by Princeton Public Library and Sustainable Princeton. Planner Jon A. Carnegie and policy analyst Alex Ambrose discuss the concept of the 15-minute neighborhood and how it could make Princeton a more convenient and sustainable place to live.

FROM THE PRESENTER: In addition to being an important contribution to New Jersey’s efforts to achieve its goals of reducing pollution that causes climate change,15-minute neighborhoods provide residents with easy access to parks, schools, gathering places, social services, places to buy healthy fresh food and, in some cases, public transit, within a comfortable walk or bike ride. Attend this Sustainable Minds session to learn about 15-minute neighborhoods, case studies in New Jersey, and what planning and policy opportunities are available to make Princeton a 15-minute neighborhood.

This recording is presented in partnership with Princeton University Concerts and was recorded on September 4, 2024. Deborah Amos and Aeham Ahmad discuss Ahmad's memoir "The Pianist from Syria" and the Princeton University Concerts theme "Healing with Music."

From the publisher: "This astonishing true story presents an “affecting viewpoint on life in Syria before and in the midst of extreme violence” (Booklist), offering a deeply personal and unique perspective on one of the most devastating refugee crises of this century. Aeham Ahmad was born a second-generation refugee—the son of a blind violinist and carpenter who recognized Aeham’s talent and taught him how to play piano and love music from an early age. When his grandparents and father were forced to flee Israel and seek refuge from the conflict ravaging their home, Aeham’s family built a life in Yarmouk, an unofficial camp to more than 160,000 Palestinian refugees in Damascus. As a devoted family, they waited for the conflict to be resolved so they could return to their homeland. Their only haven was in music and in each other, especially when another deadly fight overtook their asylum. Forced to leave his family behind, Aeham sought out a safe place for them to call home and build a better life, taking solace in his indestructible familial bond to keep moving forward. Heart-wrenching yet ultimately optimistic and told in a raw and poignant voice, The Pianist from Syria is a “deeply moving account of one man’s struggle to survive while bringing hope to thousands through his music” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)."

Panelist bios:

Deborah Amos is a Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University. A longtime international correspondent, Amos spent much of her award-winning career at National Public Radio. Her reporting on the Middle East and refugees in the U.S. regularly featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, and All Things Considered. She recently covered the Syrian and Iraqi refugee crises, the economy in the Middle East, and the Arab youth surge. Previously she reported for ABC’s Nightline and PBS’s Frontline. Amos is the author of two books: Eclipse of the Sunnis: Power, Exile, and Upheaval in the Middle East, and Lines in the Sand: Desert Storm and the Remaking of the Arab World. She has won several major journalism honors, including a Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women’s Media Foundation, a George Foster Peabody Award, an Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Emmy.

Aeham Ahmad grew up as a Palestinian refugee in the Syrian refugee camp Yarmouk in Damascus. From the age of five he learned to play the piano, first at the Conservatory in Damascus, and from 2006 to 2011 he studied at the musical faculty of the Baath University in Homs. Yarmouk had been fought over by various parties in the civil war since 2013. In the course of acts of war, siege and hunger, the population decimated from 150,000 to 16,000 in 2015. During this time, he transported his piano on a trailer or pick-up and performed on streets and public places. Videos of these performances, often with children as an audience, were shared on social networks and his story received international media coverage. After the refugee camp was taken by the fighters of the „Islamic State“ in April 2015, they destroyed his piano during an inspection. In this situation, he decided to leave his home. He fled Yarmouk on August 2 and came to Germany via Izmir, Lesbos and the Balkan route in September 2015. In 2015 he received the International Beethoven Prize for Human Rights, Peace, Freedom, Poverty Reduction and Inclusion, which was awarded for the first time in Bonn. He made his first appearances in Germany at a concert for refugees and volunteers in Munich in October 2015 as well as a benefit concert for the Bochum refugee aid together with the Bochum Symphony Orchestra. Since then he has played many concerts all over Europe and in Japan.

Recorded on September 4, 2024.

Presented in partnetship with Not In Our Town Princeton and Princeton Public Library.

Due to a last minute schedule change, we asked an audience member, local historian, Shirley Satterfield and founder of the Witherspoon Jackson Historical and Cultural Society to offer a presentation about the WJHCS Heritage Trail in Princeton.

Visit the website for the WJHCS Heritage Trail here: https://princetonwjhcs.org/heritage-tour/

Originally recorded on September 3rd, 2024.

Princeton Public LIbrary's Martha shares "Blow the Balloon."
Lyrics (Credit: Ella Jenkins):
Blow the balloon
Blow the balloon
Bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger...POP!
Where did my balloon go?

**Repeat and then end with:
Blow the balloon
Blow the balloon
Bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger...WHOOPS!
There goes my balloon! Bye-bye, balloon!

This recording is presented in partnership by Princeton Public Library and Not in Our Town Princeton. The reading of the land acknowledgement and mission statement was originally orated by Joyce Trotman Jordan, and the panel of guests were introdcued by Linda Oppenheim.

The film screened: "Partners in Faith: Our Journey Together"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmPhI9Qoezs

In 1836, as construction of its new building began, the First Presbyterian Church (Nassau Presbyterian Church) in Princeton dismissed African American members to form a separate congregation, The First Presbyterian Church of Color of Princeton, the forerunner of the current Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church. Not in Our Town’s August Continuing Conversation on Race and White Privilege screened “Partners in Faith: Our Journey Together," a documentary film that tells of the history and relationship of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church (WSPC) and Nassau Presbyterian Church. It is the story of how two congregations are working to be honest about our past and move forward together standing on our faith and building relationships one by one. The screening was followed by a panel moderated by Pam Wakefield.

Panelist Bios:

Barbara Flythe is a 30-year member of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church and a longtime social justice activist. She is a retired public school educator and diversity consultant whose career was committed to the needs of marginalized children and families. Barbara was a founding board member of Not in Our Town Princeton.

Tracy Eskridge-Joseph is an attorney who has practiced law in both New York and New Jersey for over two decades. She is a member of the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church where she has served as a Deacon, a ruling Elder, Clerk of Session and on various church committees. She is also a Commissioner to the Presbytery of the Coastlands and serves on the Trustee Board. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, listening to music, participating in sports and social justice work.

Kathie Sakenfeld is Eisenberger Professor Emerita of Old Testament Literature at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she served on the faculty for 43 years, focusing on biblical interpretation in support of women's leadership. Her grandfather marched with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and her mother was the first to welcome Black church women to her White church lunch table in the 1950s segregated rural South. Kathie seeks to continue their legacy through participation in the Nassau/Witherspoon Street Partners in Faith project.

Pam Wakefield, moderator, Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church/Nassau Presbyterian Church Joint Mission Collaboration Committee.

Originally recorded on August 5. 2024.

This recording is presented by Princeton Public Library. Farzaneh Tahmasbi discusses the exhibit "Whispers of Time: Exploring Select Iranian Architectural Gems" on Zoom that will highlight her photographs currently on display at the library.

Farzaneh Tahmasbi, a specialist in architectural design, will show a carefully selected collection of photographs that will take participants on a visual journey celebrating the timeless beauty, intricate details and cultural significance of Persian historical architecture.

From the majestic domes of mosques adorned with vibrant tile work to the imposing bazaar steeped in centuries of history, each photograph in this multi-media talk on Zoom offers a glimpse into the architectural marvels that have shaped Persian culture. The lecture provides an exploration of various architectural styles, showcasing the diversity and ingenuity of Persian craftsmanship.

"Whispers of Time: Exploring Select Iranian Architectural Gems" is on display in the second floor Reading Room through July 21.

About the Speaker:

Farzaneh Tahmasbi earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture and subsequently pursued her first master’s degree in Iranian historical architecture while living in Iran. She pursued her second master’s degree specializing in architectural design at Temple University. With a passion for photography and a profound interest in Persian culture and history, Farzan has spent years studying and documenting the architectural wonders of Iran. Combining academic knowledge with artistic vision, she has meticulously curated a collection of photographs that showcase the beauty, diversity and cultural significance of Persian historical architecture.

The event was recorded on July 18, 2024.