Author of “A Knock at Midnight,” Barnett writes about her experience advocating for a reformed criminal justice system in the United States. Through her work and long-lasting relationships with her clients, Barnett鈥檚 sphere of influence is wide. Barnett founded the Buried Alive Project, which attempts to dismantle life without parole sentences, and Girls Embracing Mothers, an organization that empowers girls with mothers behind bars.

Sandra Reid, associate teaching professor of human service studies, will moderate the discussion. Reid鈥檚 experience in juvenile justice and the human service field includes her time on the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission and as chair of both the Alamance County Community Services Agency and the Positive Attitude Youth Center.

鈥淪he is deeply committed to affirming the dignity and worth of individuals impacted by an unjust criminal legal system, advocating persistently for their release and supporting their successful reintegration into their communities. In other words, she is a super hero,” said Reid.

Since its founding in 1958 by James P. Elder Jr. 鈥�60, the Liberal Arts Forum continues to bring unique academic speakers to 黑料不打烊 and encourage meaningful conversations around the arts and humanities, mathematical and natural sciences, and social sciences, inside and outside the classroom.

Want to choose 黑料不打烊鈥檚 next speaker? Get involved with the Forum every Tuesday in Alamance 207 at 4:15 p.m.

黑料不打烊’s Liberal Arts Forum will host Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, on Oct. 23 in Whitley Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a leading force for gun violence prevention with chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network that has successfully effected change at the local, state, and national levels.

In 2013, Moms Demand Action partnered with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to form Everytown for Gun Safety, a nationwide movement of millions of Americans working together to end the epidemic of gun violence. Watts is an active board member of Emerge America, one of the nation鈥檚 leading organizations for recruiting and training women to run for political office.

Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and the current faculty fellow for civic engagement at 黑料不打烊 will moderate the discussion.

Since 1958, the Liberal Arts Forum has brought distinguished guests to 黑料不打烊 and sparked meaningful conversations around the humanities and social sciences.

Daryl Davis grew up as the child of U.S. Foreign Service members. He did not experience American racism until he moved back to the United States and was marching in a Cub Scout parade in Massachusetts. Davis did not understand why people were throwing rocks and bottles at him. He didn鈥檛 believe his parents when they explained racism to him after the event. The question that has continued to drive Davis since then is 鈥淗ow could someone hate me when they didn鈥檛 even know me?鈥�

Before being known as a 鈥淜lan Whisperer,鈥� Davis was known for being a jazz musician. He met his first Klan member at one of his performances. The man would sit and talk with Davis after his shows and they would visit each other’s homes. Eventually, Davis decided to interview Klan leader Roger Kelly. His secretary set up a meeting without telling Kelly that Davis was a Black man. The first conversation was tense and involved a miscommunication over noise from the ice in the fridge. As Davis said in an interview with Garrett Walker from Harvard International Review, 鈥淚gnorance breeds fear, fear breeds hatred, hatred breeds anger, anger breeds destruction.鈥� His goal is to start conversations with a foundation of mutual respect.

Davis listens to Klansmen’s beliefs and views and then meets them with respect. He takes down their walls by really hearing them and challenging their beliefs by simply being himself. These conversations have successfully convinced over 200 Klansmen to leave the KKK because 鈥淲e human beings all want the same things. We want to be respected. We want to be loved. We want to be heard. And we want the same thing for our families as everybody else wants for their families.鈥�

Attend the Liberal Arts Forum event and learn more about the effect the past has on today and how we can work towards a more understanding future.