To Download the Flier: CLICK HERE

I Learned A Lot from My Parents

COMING SOON
SPEAKER: Jerry Lewkowitz

Jerry Lewkowitz is an Upstander and a fixture in Phoenix history; a congregant/President of Beth Israel & founding member of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. Jerry continues to have a distinguished career serving Arizona, which first began serving a first lieutenant in the USAF. Later, Jerry as an attorney, assistant to Attorney General representing 14 state board agencies, & Phoenix Councilman. As a civic leader he learned a lot from his parents, giving back in a number of ways, especially as a “life” Thunderbird. Additionally, his presidency and/or board membership with the Phoenix zoo, YMCA, Phoenix Boy’s Choir, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Anti-Defamation league, and countless others speaks volumes of his intrinsic personality.

The Violet Protest: Invigorating Creative “Upstanders” Based On Core Values

Friday, May 6, 2022
A VIRTUAL SEMINAR

FEATURED GUEST: Ann Morton

Arizona-based artist, educator, social practitioner - and orchestrator of this project, Ann Morton, offers a comprehensive visual review of the Violet Protest. This has been a nation-wide public engagement that employed hand-made textiles as tools for protest against political divisiveness, and instead, generated a creative call for national unity. Thousands of makers from across all 50 states, DC and Canada contributed 8 x 8-inch squares using a variety of textile processes, and equal parts red and blue, to create their individual messages supporting the core values of the Violet Protest. The project goal was fulfilled by sending bundles of these individual squares to all members of the 117th US Congress in late 2021, as a unique demonstration of protest, and to voice our hopes and support for cooperation between lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Morton offers a behind-the-scenes look at the purpose, organization and realization of this overwhelming expression of citizens’ voices.

You’ll also learn about the cohort of support that was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition. Beth Ames Swartz – 60 years as a practicing artist and researcher of wisdom systems around the world; Laura Roskind, long-time education and civic engagement advocate, serving on multiple school boards and community-based organizations including the board of Trustees for Arizona State University; and Susan Stander, 30 years as a problem solver and representative in the pharmaceutical industry – turned political activist. These three women have been UpStanders in their own lives and now have offered vital support for the Violet Protest.

I Always Knew those 3 guys would be there to make me laugh…

Friday, March 25, 2022
FEATURED GUEST: Pat McMahon

He's done it all -- and keeps doing it. His career in local Arizona radio and television dates back to 1960. For 30 years Pat stimulated us with thought provoking, entertaining, and opinionated commentaries on KTAR, morning news, while also hosting award-winning talk shows like "The McMahon Group.”. He currently hosts, "The God Show," for the past 22 years, an internet broadcast on the Star Worldwide Network, where he talks about all aspects of spirituality with guests that have included Mother Teresa, Deepak Chopra and the Dalai Lama. Also, Pat is currently in his 22nd year hosting the Arizona Daily Mix, on AZTV (channel 7) and is well known outside of radio and television because of his multifaceted career as an actor, producer, recording artist, writer, broadcaster, and part of a 1/3rd, legendary comedy team that was on TV for 35 years in Arizona, "The Wallace and Ladmo Show." Through the many experiences of his professional life, Pat has been richly rewarded with 7 Emmys, major national and international radio awards as well as numerous civic, educational, religious and humanitarian awards. Pat was also a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Ottawa University, the Arizona Broadcasters Lifetime achievement Award, and has his bronze likeness hanging in the rotunda of the Herberger Theater in recognition of his contributions to Communications & the Arts.

A Studio Visit with Arizona Artist, Robert Sutz

Friday, January 28, 2022
FEATURED GUEST: Robert Sutz

Originally from Chicago, Robert Sutz was an executive art director for Leo Burnett, a well-known, worldwide advertising company and also had a parallel career in fine art.  His fine art includes paintings of urban scenes of Chicago, western art, paintings of Israel, as well as a large variety of commissioned portraits.  His art has been widely exhibited in art galleries across the United States, and many of his major portraits are on permanent display.

Sutz, whose father’s Polish family perished in Nazi concentration camps, first began producing Holocaust-related art during the 1990’s, after he served as an interviewer for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah project.  He initiated his own We Remember Holocaust Memorial Art Project as a way to pay tribute to local survivors, liberators and righteous gentiles and to ensure that their stories and lessons of hope and resilience are never forgotten. Ultimately, the Sutz gallery will provide a unique and powerful experience for learning, encouraging respect and mutual understanding among people of all backgrounds

After relocating to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1997, Sutz established a studio to pursue his Holocaust project.  His artwork now includes approximately 140 life masks and portraits of Holocaust survivors, liberators, and righteous gentiles.  Subjects are interviewed on video and a short bio, concisely describing the subject’s Holocaust story and life after the Holocaust,  is created to be displayed with their life mask or portrait.  In addition, Sutz has painted over 90 graphic scenes of the Holocaust witnessed by the survivors.  

Sutz’s Holocaust artwork is unique because of its artistic and educational approach and breadth, particularly by a single artist.  Throughout the years, Robert Sutz has been recognized, with receiving the Shofar Zachor award from the Phoenix Holocaust Survivors Association, the Beryl Morton award from the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Community Support Award from the Museum Association of Arizona, and unanimous proclamations from the AZ State House & Senate. Join us, as we recognize Robert Sutz as an Arizona Upstander.