Springfield College and NEPM Present ‘Ali and Social Change’

Muhammad Ali, which premiered on NEPM TV from September 19 – 22, was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns, and written and co-directed by Sarah Burns and David McMahon. The series follows the life of one of the most consequential men of the 20th century — a three-time heavyweight boxing champion who captivated billions of fans with his combination of speed, agility and power in the ring, and his charm, wit and outspokenness outside of it. At the height of his fame, Ali challenged Americans’ racial prejudices, religious biases, and notions about what roles celebrities and athletes play in our society. “Ali is rightly celebrated for his athleticism in the ring, but he was equally heroic in his willingness to stand up for what he believed was right,” noted Ali co-director and event panelist Sarah Burns.

“Springfield College was proud to work with New England Public Media to host a community-based conversation about Muhammad Ali, where themes were used from the documentary to address issues around the broad premise of social change,” said Hill. “This event brought to western Massachusetts a deeper look into Ali as a social change agent. This was an important and significant initiative, and the time is right to explore the intersection of sport and social justice through one of the most consequential athletes of our time. Positioning attendees to understand their agency as it relates to social justice through the acts, accomplishments, and sacrifices of Muhammad Ali will serve to foster increased awareness and knowledge of the issues of racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, and classism which are negatively impacting our country today.”

ABOUT THE PANEL, HOST & MODERATOR

Sarah Burns served as writer and co-director of Muhammad Ali. She is the author of The Central Park Five: A Chronicle of a City Wilding and, along with David McMahon and Ken Burns, the producer, writer and director of the documentary The Central Park Five, about the five Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly convicted in the infamous Central Park Jogger rape of 1989. She produced and directed, along with David McMahon and Ken Burns, Jackie Robinson, a biography of the celebrated baseball player and civil rights icon, and East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story.  

Gerald Early is an American essayist and American culture critic. He is the Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters in the African and African American Studies Department at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He has consulted on several Ken Burns documentary films, including Baseball, Jazz, The War and Muhammad Ali, and he is a regular commentator on NPR's Fresh Air. He writes on topics as diverse as American literature, the Korean War, African American culture, Afro-American autobiography, non-fiction prose, sports, jazz, and more.

Dr. Calvin R. Hill joined Springfield College in 2015 as the vice president for inclusion and community engagement. Previously, he served as the university diversity and inclusion officer for the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., assistant to the president and director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity at Worcester State University, associate provost and chief diversity officer for MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, and assistant dean and director of diversity programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Hill is a consultant on diversity issues and presents nationally on issues of inclusion, where he focuses primarily on providing equal access to educational opportunities for underrepresented populations.

Marty Dobrow has been at Springfield College since 1999, where he also serves as faculty advisor to the student newspaper and coordinates internships for communications/sports journalism students. Dobrow has written frequently about issues of civil rights and social justice. Dobrow is the author of two books, with a third on the way about civil rights. His freelance credits include work for The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, and ESPN.com. Six of his stories have earned recognition in the Best American Sports Writing series.

ABOUT SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE

Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885. Approximately 4,100 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its regional campuses across the country. Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy – educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA

New England Public Media is a community-supported, independent non-profit organization based in Springfield, MA. Through a deep commitment to independent local journalism, trusted educational content, inspired cultural offerings, and civic engagement, NEPM endeavors to share new voices and inspire new conversations. It provides audiences with a broad array of local and national programs across all media—TV, radio, online, and mobile, including PBS and NPR programs as well as locally produced series, podcasts and specials. Its four digital TV channels, and two radio networks present news, jazz and classical music, documentaries, talk, drama, plus cultural and educational programming.

NEPM brings quality public television programs to audiences across western New England, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs, to hear diverse viewpoints, and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS KIDS helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. NEPM's locally produced television programming includes the magazine-format public affairs show Connecting Point, the bilingual series Presencia, and the academic quiz show As Schools Match Wits. NEPM is available over the air on digital channel 57-1 and on cable throughout western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut and can be seen in high definition in western Massachusetts at Comcast 857, Time Warner 1221, Spectrum 782, and over the air on channel 57. Where to Watch

New England Public Media's radio presence provides an essential and trusted voice for the region through local reporting and locally-produced music programming, and by connecting the region to the world through its partnership with NPR and other national and international public media organizations. Its flagship signal, 88.5FM WFCR, and 5 repeating stations in Berkshire County, presents news, jazz, and classical music, while the six stations of the NEPM News Network provide the region with news, talk, and cultural programming 24/7.