Category: Current Issues

All Current Issues

Current Issues, Diversity, History, Native Gardens

Mexican Americans and Indigenous Americans

By Mary Donofrio | Despite the societal misconception of Mexican-Americans not quite belonging in the United States, the heritage of people of Mexican descent in the country goes as far back as the 1500s, sparked by the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors in Native America. From the colonization of indigenous peoples such as the Aztecs and the Pueblo nations of the American Southwest, this cultural mixing … Continue reading Mexican Americans and Indigenous Americans

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Current Issues, The Exonerated

John Oliver: Incarceration in America 2

Yesterday we shared a video from John Oliver’s show, Last Week Tonight, on the harrowing issues with America’s prison system. Today we’re sharing another video in our installment surrounding Incarceration in America that echoes the themes and questions asked in FST’s production of The Exonerated. Three years ago today, Clayton Lockett died from a botched execution. Clayton Lockett was killed by a mixture of drugs … Continue reading John Oliver: Incarceration in America 2

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Current Issues, The Exonerated

John Oliver: Incarceration in America 1

By Robin Mackey | John Oliver is the host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight – a late night satirical take on the latest news, politics, and current events. Oliver has 100% complete creative freedom over the program. Each episode follows a similar structure: the first half of the show reviews the week’s headlines and the second half – sometimes more than half– is devoted to … Continue reading John Oliver: Incarceration in America 1

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brownsville song (b-side for tray), Current Issues, The Exonerated

The Pen and The Trigger Finger

By Jordan Nickels | Theater is a constant reflection of the United States. Unfortunately, we live during a time in this country where gun violence is rapid and too frequent, which changes the narrative. Which begs the question, how do we handle such a topic on stage? Many contemporary plays have risen about gun violence and gun related crimes in the last decade, including FST’s recent productions … Continue reading The Pen and The Trigger Finger

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Current Issues, Diversity, The Exonerated

Racism to The 13th Degree

By Jordan Nickels | In The Exonerated, the topic of race is very prevalent to the stories of the exonerees of color, especially in their experiences with police officers and the criminal justice system. This issues have recently been addressed in filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s new documentary The 13th on Netflix which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards. The 13th also opened the 2016 New York Film … Continue reading Racism to The 13th Degree

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Current Issues, Older Than Dirt, Uncategorized

New Wrinkles: Panel Reflection

Barbara Smith, aging reporter for the Herald-Tribune and one of our panelists from the April 10th panel on Older Than Dirt, wrote a column response to topics discussed in our latest panel at FST discussing the dying process. http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20170418/new-wrinkles-in-end-need-for-plain-words-and-straight-talk Continue reading New Wrinkles: Panel Reflection

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Current Issues, The Exonerated, Uncategorized

In Arkansas, the Exonerated Speak Up

The Exonerated is such a power story because wrongful imprisonment and the death penalty are topics we are still fighting against in our government today. The video below from The New York Times shows an anti-death penalty rally in Little Rock, Arkansas. This fully immersive video from The Daily 360  takes you into the demonstration to hear speech from exonerees Damien Echols and Paris L. Powell. Continue reading In Arkansas, the Exonerated Speak Up

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Current Issues, Older Than Dirt

Changing Our Minds: The Dying Process

At our April 10th panel for Older Than Dirt, the audience brought up a great question regarding the legal responsibility patients have when facing death, and what happens when they change their mind. One of our panelists, Barbara Smith, who is a reporter at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, recommended a great article by The New York Times discussing the decisions we make about the dying process and … Continue reading Changing Our Minds: The Dying Process

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Current Issues, Older Than Dirt

Dying in the Age of Choice

On April 10th, we had a panel for our cabaret Older Than Dirt entitled Everything You Wanted to Know About Death But Were Afraid to Ask. Below is an article written about the dying process by Dr. Kathy Black, who is a Professor of Aging Studies and Social Work at the University of South Florida, Sarasota – Manatee. Click the link below: Dying in the Age of Choice. Black … Continue reading Dying in the Age of Choice

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