Planet Houston: Home to the World
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So this is planet Houston. —General Zod, arriving on Earth after overhearing NASA astronauts in the movie Superman 2
The United States is proud of its founding by immigrants seeking opportunity and religious freedom. At the beginning of the 20th century, New York City was considered the great gateway; at the beginning of the 21st century, Houston, with its cultural, religious, and ethnic variety, is statistically the most diverse city in the nation, and Fort Bend County is the most diverse county in the United States. Greater Houston’s immigrant population is among the best educated and wealthiest in the country. These families, now multi-generational, provide our city with an unparalleled cultural richness and the promise of a dynamic future.
Join The Houston Seminar and Asia Society Texas Center in exploring this rich diversity, with a stimulating panel discussion highlighting the ethnic diversity of Houston with hard data and personal stories. The panel will be led by Anne Chao (Ph.D. in Modern Chinese History and co-investigator of Houston Asian American Archive). Panel members will include Soner Tarim (Ph.D., Texas A&M University and CEO and superintendent of Harmony Schools) and Chitra Divakaruni (award-winning author, poet and professor at the University of Houston’s Creative Writing Program).
About The Houston Seminar
The Houston Seminar was founded in 1977 to stimulate learning and cultural awareness by sponsoring courses on political and social issues and the arts. The non-profit organization typically offers six to eight lecture series and tours each spring and fall. Topics may include art, music, literature, dance, theater, architecture, psychology, history, politics, the environment, or current trends and events. Courses may take the form of workshops, formal lecture series, symposia, lecture/performances, or guided tours. Speakers are well known in their fields and often provide new insights as well as in-depth information for their audiences.
Formal lectures usually include a question-and-answer period. Lecture performances feature musicians, actors, directors, or critics. Guided tours provide behind-the-scenes viewing of art collections, focused community project visits, architectural walks, and hidden places. Occasional study tours offer carefully planned, thoughtfully paced group travel. A volunteer Board of Directors organizes all courses and publishes seasonal brochures and fliers. The Houston Seminar's audience is knowledgeable and articulate; the mailing list includes about 2500 names. Attendance fees cover honoraria, expenses, and overhead. Reduced fees are often available for students and teachers.
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