Moraine Valley Community College Library Podcast

There are numerous opportunities in the early childhood industry, from classroom instruction to managing multiple childcare franchises-this event will present the chance for students and community members to gain more insight into what the field has to offer. Panelists will consist of various roles, including lead teacher and executive director. This event is organized by MVCC's Early Childhood Education program.

Make a plan and get motivated to write!

Día de los Muertos originated in ancient Mesoamerica (Mexico and northern Central America) where indigenous groups, including Aztec, Maya and Toltec, had specific times when they commemorated their loved ones who had passed away. Certain months were dedicated to remembering the departed, based on whether the deceased was an adult or a child. Hear from Moraine Valley staff regarding the tradition and how you can participate in this year’s ofrenda.

Faculty member Carey Millsap-Spears illustrates the development of the Creature from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in visual media including popular films and TV series.

Learn about NaNoWriMo. You can join our writing community.

The MVCC Library welcomes Argonne National Laboratory’s John T. Murphy who is an anthropologist, archaeologist, and computer scientist. Dr. Murphy will connect two great 19th-century thinkers, Mary Shelley and Ada Lovelace.

Frankenstein is many things: a novel with themes of science, hubris, nature vs. nurture, God vs. nature, the list goes on. But, at its heart, it is also a cautionary tale for us. Faculty member, Ann Webb will discuss these questions; What happens when we value power instead of people?

Come meet one of our new members of the Board of Trustees Jaclyn O’Day. Trustee O’Day is a lifelong Palos Park resident and has a wealth of knowledge of local, state, and national politics.

What do we mean when we say someone is a monster? Who are the monsters in literature and why are they labeled that way? This discussion will explore social taboos, norms, and collective fears. This event is part of our One Book, One College series on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

We are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness at the same time we have a crisis in democracy, marked by rising political polarization, disinformation, and political extremism. Join Psychology Professor Dr. Laura Lauzen-Collins, Sociology Professor Dr. Alison Lacny, History Professor Merri Fefles-Dunkle and Political Science Professor Kevin Navratil for a discussion on the importance of belonging to groups, institutions, and modern society and possible negative implications for society when individuals lack a sense of belonging.

Kristen Radtke's graphic novel Seek You builds connections between the rugged individualism embedded in American culture and the loneliness that we see around us in post-pandemic America. We often idealize the self-reliance, independence, and personal responsibility rooted in American history but at what cost? This faculty panel will explore this idea using literature, philosophy, and other disciplines as lenses through which to view this aspect of our culture. This event is part of our One Book program.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing advocate Michele Cunningham will discuss the struggles of growing up in a language-exclusive community of hearing family members. As the only deaf person in her family, Michele learned how to adapt when the rest of the world won’t. Eventually, she rediscovered herself, community-wise and personally, and reconnected to her culture.

Attend this intriguing discussion with women representing the Arab American and Muslim American professional community. The panelists, representing an array of professions, reclaim their narrative as they share their personal, educational and career journeys and provide insight about how they navigate a professional world that has preconceived notions about the communities they represent. This event is organized by the Arab Student Union as part of Arab Heritage Month.

Yemeni-Americans are a growing segment of the population in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Kipp Cozad, a Middle East scholar and former Peace Corps Volunteer in Yemen will discuss what makes Yemenis unique among the Arab population using Yemen’s vast history to reveal an identity that is both highly cosmopolitan and, at the same time, static and isolated. These qualities present a fascinating culture that few get a chance to experience. Finally, Cozad will place Yemeni mobility in historical context, explain how Yemenis ended up in America, and how the current conflict in the Arab nation has interrupted modern patterns of movement. We encourage Yemeni-Americans to attend to gain a better understanding of their rich history and to ask Cozad about his experiences in Yemen. We invite all to attend to learn about Yemen and to engage in the discussion at lecture’s end.

During this panel discussion, 3 faculty members from different parts of the world: Nickolas Shizas, Anni Rasmussen and Shanya Gray will discuss American loneliness from their global perspectives. These faculty members will share their own lived experiences with loneliness as either a first generation American or an immigrant to the United States. They will also discuss some cultural value differences between their country of origin and the USA, and in turn how those differences impacted their experiences of loneliness. During this discussion, they will also facilitate an interactive discussion with the audience about how we individually and collectively can begin to address loneliness, what Kristen Radtke calls “A silent epidemic in America”.

Once the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, states quickly made changes to their laws that have had serious impacts on women. Hear about these changes and steps many women now need to take to get safe reproductive health care. This event is organized by MVCC's Women's History Month Committee.

Dr. Nadine Naber, associate professor in the Gender and Women’s Studies Program at University of Illinois at Chicago, will illustrate how forms of state violence that currently shape the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are feminist concerns and how feminist movements have helped expand the possibility of building alternative futures. Drawing on examples from Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, she will focus on activist frameworks such as radical mothering, activism and coalitional consciousness.

In 1908 the Tunguska explosion in Siberia knocked down an area of forest larger than London. Most scientists believe that a fragment of an asteroid or a comet caused the blast, but neither a crater nor unmistakable remnants of a meteorite have ever been found. Over the last century, the mysterious nature of the event has prompted a wide array of speculation and investigation, including from science fiction writers and voluntary researchers. Some have even explained Tunguska as a nuclear explosion triggered by aliens. Join us for a presentation by Dr. Andy Bruno from Northern Illinois University, where he will recount the intriguing history of the Tunguska event and the investigations into it.

Justin Kapelinski is a former Moraine Valley student and a current graduate nurse practitioner student from Loyola who is meeting with GASP to discuss topics of sexual health, STI prevention strategies, and LGBTQ healthcare disparities. This event is organized by the GASP club.

What are some challenges Muslim youth face and responsibilities we strive to take on in our personal lives and in our communities? Please join Muslim Student Association as we hear from Dr. Seem Imam and discuss our roles as Muslims in our institutions and community.