BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Camden Conference - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.camdenconference.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Camden Conference
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250927T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250927T150000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20250918T171516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T171516Z
UID:801-1758981600-1758985200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Bridging East and West: Author Afarin Bellisario on WWI\, Iran\, and Modern Middle Eastern Conflicts
DESCRIPTION:Kennebunk Free Library and the Camden Conference present Afarin Bellisario at Kennebunk Free Library on Saturday\, September 27\, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Afarin Bellisario bridges East and West\, Past and Present\, and technology and human conditions. Born and raised in Tehran\, she has built a career in high-tech after graduating with a PhD from MIT. Her debut novel\, Silenced Whispers\, is the winner of Independent Publishers of New England’s silver medal for genre fiction. It celebrates the courage of a young woman to resist oppression and colonial aggression in WWI Iran. The book provides insight into Iran during that era and how that era seeded conflicts in modern Iran and the Middle East. \nFor more information on this free event\, please visit https://kennebunklibrary.org/
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/bridging-east-and-west-author-afarin-bellisario-on-wwi-iran-and-modern-middle-eastern-conflicts/
LOCATION:Kennebunk Free Library\, 112 Main Street\, Kennebunk\, ME\, 04043\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BridgingEastandWest.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kennebunk Free Library":MAILTO:kfl@kennebunklibrary.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251026T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251026T153000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20250917T160542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T212034Z
UID:782-1761485400-1761492600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:The Shared World: Poems for a New Middle East
DESCRIPTION:The Cushing Public Library and the Camden Conference present The Shared World: Poems for a New Middle East\, with host Ellen Goldsmith\, on Saturday\, October 26\, 2025 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. \nThe title\, The Shared World\, expresses the thrust of the poems by writers with Middle East origins—to foster connections\, to evoke new thoughts and feelings\, to deepen understandings. One of the poets\, Yehuda Amichai\, says he “started writing poetry\, using my words to come to terms with my life’s extremes and heal myself and go on living.” From Nathalie Handal\, another of the poets\, “I’d like to be a scarf so I can place it over my hair and understand other worlds. I’d like to be the voice of a soprano singer so I can move through all borders and see them vanish with every spellbinding note.” In the session\, presenters read and respond to their poem. Together\, the poems and commentary create a tapestry of ideas and emotions. In this participatory event there will be opportunities for attendees to engage with the poems. The handout will be posted on the Camden Conference website and also available at the session. \nEllen Goldsmith initiated the Community Events Poetry Session to bring the insights of poetry to the conference topic. Author of four chapbooks\, her first full-length collection – Are We There Yet? — is forthcoming from Kelsay Books. Her poems have been published in numerous journals and anthologies. Goldsmith holds an Ed.D. from Teachers College\, Columbia University and is professor emeritus of The City University of New York. She lives in Cushing Maine.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/the-shared-world-poems-for-a-new-middle-east/
LOCATION:Cushing Public Library\, 39 Cross Road\, Cushing\, 04563\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SharedWorld.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T193000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20250918T152114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T201717Z
UID:793-1762367400-1762371000@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:How Populism Works: Erdogan’s Path To Authoritarianism in Turkey
DESCRIPTION:This talk examines how Turkey’s president Erdoğan’s use of populist discourse and style has helped sustain an authoritarian regime through popular support. It highlights how performative and emotional appeals bolster an autocratic leader’s perceived authenticity\, especially when their legitimacy is under threat. \nPresenter Senem Aslan is professor of politics at Bates College. She recently completed a book manuscript on populism and the politics of emotions in Turkey. She is the author of Nation-Building in Turkey and Morocco: Governing Kurdish and Berber Dissent published by Cambridge University Press in 2015. \nA Zoom talk only. Presented by Prince Memorial Library in collaboration with Baxter Memorial Library and Scarborough Public Library. Please register here for the link: \nhttps://princememorial.libcal.com/calendar/16477/Camden-PML
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/how-populism-works-erdogans-path-to-authoritarianism-in-turkey/
LOCATION:Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/senem-aslan-headshot.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Prince Memorial Library":MAILTO:library@cumberlandmaine.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T193000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251020T143142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T224416Z
UID:2236-1762452000-1762457400@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Turkey: A View From the Middle
DESCRIPTION:Turkey is a middle power located in the Middle East – indeed\, a land in the middle between Europe and Asia. Turkey has always been a challenging ally of the United States\, but the country played an essential part in the days of the Cold War countering Soviet influence. Now Turkey is invested in and has accepted the role of a key partner in the Gaza peace process. As the United States disassembles the world order which America largely created\, the role of middle powers in the international system will grow in importance. Bill Hall will explore how Turkey will engage with the United States and other nations in this latest attempt to bring peace to the Middle East. \nBill was an intelligence officer for the US Air Force\, serving on active duty from 1969 until 1999\, much of that time overseas – in Asia\, Europe\, and the Middle East. He grew up in Virginia and received a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University and a master’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. Bill is on the board of the Camden Conference and a past president of the World Affairs Council of Maine. He and his wife\, Nancy\, live on Peaks Island. \nThis event will take place in the Library’s Community Room and will be livestreamed via Zoom. For Zoom links\, email elewis@rocklandmaine.gov
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/turkey-a-view-from-the-middle/
LOCATION:Rockland Public Library\, 80 Union Street\, Rockland\, ME\, 04841\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Photo_BillHall.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251119T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251119T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251113T194316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251119T191520Z
UID:37440-1763573400-1763584200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Award-Winning Documentary 'The Other' to Screen with Special Post-Film Discussion
DESCRIPTION:**This event is currently sold out. To join the waiting list\, please email info@camdenconference.org ** \nThe Other\, a film that chronicles the efforts of Israeli and Palestinian peace-builders through seven years of conflict\, will be shown November 19 at Falmouth’s Lunt Auditorium. The special screening will be presented jointly by the Camden Conference and the Maine Jewish Film Festival as part of the annual programming leading up to the February 2026 Camden Conference\, Today’s Middle East: Power\, Politics and Players. The evening begins at 5:30 PM with a reception hosted by OceanView at Falmouth\, followed by the film screening at 6:00 PM and discussion with a planned appearance by Tim Wilson\, Senior Advisor of Seeds of Peace. \nThe Other was filmed from 2017 to 2024 and includes perspectives on the October 7th attack. The filmmakers followed Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders\, activists\, artists\, former fighters\, and bereaved parents working toward reconciliation. The documentary features extraordinary individuals including Ahmed Helou\, a former Hamas member from Gaza who became a peace activist and has lost 60 family members in the current conflict\, and Maoz Inon\, a Jewish Israeli whose parents were murdered on October 7th but who continues advocating for peace. \nThis film\, called “eye-opening” by The Forward\, demonstrates that even amid generational trauma and conflict\, transformation is possible through the work of those choosing the difficult path of peace and co-resistance. \nEvent Details: \n\nDate: Wednesday\, November 19\, 2025\nTime: 5:30 PM Reception | 6:00 PM Screening | Discussion to follow\nLocation: Lunt Auditorium\, 74 Lunt Rd\, Falmouth\, ME 04105\nAdmission: Free and open to the public\nRegistration: This event is currently sold out. To join the waiting list\, please email info@camdenconference.org\n\nThis special event anticipates the 2026 Camden Conference\, Today’s Middle East: Power\, Politics and Players which will bring together experts\, policymakers\, and the public to examine an area of critical international importance. Lunt Auditorium serves as a livestreaming venue for the annual conference. \nFor more information\, contact info@camdenconference.org
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/documentary-the-other/
LOCATION:Lunt Auditorium\, Ocean View\, 74 Lunt Rd.\, Falmouth\, ME\, 04105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Other-Film-Poster_800x800.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T193000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251113T202420Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T180640Z
UID:37443-1764871200-1764876600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:How Populism Works: Erdogan’s Path to Authoritarianism in Turkey
DESCRIPTION:This talk explores how Erdoğan’s increasing reliance on populist discourse and style throughout his tenure contributed to the rise of an authoritarian regime sustained by popular support. It highlights how the performative and emotional dimensions of these strategies can help autocratic leaders garner support and reinforce their perceived authenticity\, particularly when their legitimacy is under threat. \nSpeaker Senem Aslan is professor of Politics at Bates College. She is the author of Nation-Building in Turkey and Morocco: Governing Kurdish and Berber Dissent published by Cambridge University Press in 2015. She recently completed a book manuscript on populism and the politics of emotions in Turkey. \nFor more information or for Zoom links\, please email elewis@rocklandmaine.gov
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/erdogans-path/
LOCATION:Rockland Public Library\, 80 Union Street\, Rockland\, ME\, 04841\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/senem-aslan-headshot.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251113T205035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T180709Z
UID:37445-1764874800-1764878400@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Author Nadia El-Shaarawi\, ‘Collateral Damages’
DESCRIPTION:As part of the Camden Conference Series of Community Events\, the Blue Hill Library is sponsoring an author talk with Colby College Associate Professor Nadia El-Shaarawi on Thursday\, December 4 at 7PM in the library’s Howard Room. Join for a discussion on refugees and displacement in the Middle East\, and of Nadia’s recently released book\, Collateral Damages. \nNadia El-Shaarawi is Assistant Professor of Global Studies at Colby College. At Colby\, she teaches courses on refugees and migration\, humanitarianism\, and global health. She is a cultural and medical anthropologist who specializes in transnational forced migration\, humanitarianism\, and mental health in the Middle East and North Africa and Europe. She received her PhD in Anthropology and her MPH in International Health from Case Western Reserve University.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/nadia-el-shaarawi/
LOCATION:Blue Hill Public Library\,  5 Parker Point Road\, Blue Hill\, ME\, 04614\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/El-Shaarawi.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T193000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251113T210554Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T180734Z
UID:37447-1765305000-1765308600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Merchants of Knowledge: Intellectual Exchange in the Ottoman Empire & Renaissance Europe
DESCRIPTION:The science of Islamic societies from the twelfth through sixteenth centuries was crucial for Renaissance science. Muslim scholars also greatly benefitted from knowledge coming out of Europe. In this presentation\, Professor Morrison will discuss the merchants of knowledge—multilingual and transregional Jewish scholars—who became an important bridge among the powers. \nRobert G. Morrison is George Lincoln Skolfield\, Jr. Professor of Religion and Middle Eastern and North African Studies at Bowdoin College. His research has focused on the role of science in Islamic and Jewish texts\, as well as in the history of Islamic science. He is the author of the book Merchants of Knowledge: Intellectual Exchange in the Ottoman Empire & Renaissance Europe. \nThis will be in person only\, but it WILL be recorded.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/merchants-of-knowledge/
LOCATION:Camden Public Library\, 55 Main Street\, Camden\, ME\, 04843\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Robert-Morrison.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Camden Public Library":MAILTO: info@librarycamden.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T190000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251120T204520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T180754Z
UID:37573-1765474200-1765479600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Building Bridges
DESCRIPTION:In association with the 2026 Camden Conference\, Today’s Middle East: Power\, Politics & Players\, please join PPL on December 11\, where we will get to hear from Fatima Saidi on displacement\, immigration\, and navigating identity. Fatima’s specialty is storytelling. Drawing from her lived experience\, she uses narrative as a powerful tool to advocate for policy change and help the public understand realities beyond their own. Through her work\, she uplifts her community by validating their experiences and fostering empathy. Her storytelling builds bridges\, creating solidarity with non-immigrant movements and shaping a more welcoming America where we all can thrive. \nSpeaker Fatima Saidi currently serves as the Director of We Are All America (WAAA)\, a national initiative housed at the National Partnership for New Americans\, the largest immigrant- and refugee-led nonprofit advocacy organization in the country. WAAA centers the voices of directly impacted individuals in immigration and asylum discourse. Locally\, Fatima serves on the Board of Directors for the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) and previously held the position of Membership and Development Manager at the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition (MIRC).
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/fatima-saidi/
LOCATION:Portland Public Library\, 5 Monument Square\, Portland\, ME\, 04101\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Fatima-Saidi.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251216T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251216T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251118T185720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T180820Z
UID:37473-1765909800-1765915200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:2001-2011: A Pivotal Decade of U.S. Diplomacy in the Middle East
DESCRIPTION:On the morning of September 11\, 2001\, when hijacked jetliners brought down the World Trade Center towers\, attacked the Pentagon\, and killed passengers and crew in Shanksville\, Pennsylvania\, Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm was in her first week of Arabic language training at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington\, Virginia. The devastating attacks redefined U.S. diplomatic engagement in the Middle East and the experience of Micaela’s generation of Foreign Service Arabists\, who committed years of training to become proficient in Arabic. In her talk at the Belfast Free Library\, Micaela will recount her experiences as a U.S. diplomat working on U.S. policy in the Middle East before and in the tumultuous decade following the attacks of 9/11. \nPresenter Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm represented the United States around the world for 26 years\, leading U.S. diplomatic teams and advancing U.S. principles of democratic governance. Micaela spent most of her career in the Middle East and Southeast Europe\, including as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Skopje\, North Macedonia\, and in different capacities at the U.S. embassies in Zagreb\, Cairo\, Baghdad\, Tunis\, and Kathmandu and at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. Micaela\, her husband\, and their three children have called Belfast home since 2017. On retirement from the Foreign Service\, Micaela took on a new challenge as Executive Director of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting\, publisher of The Maine Monitor. She is on the boards of the Maine Press\, the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition\, the Waldo County YMCA\, and the Belfast Rotary Club.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/pivotal-decade/
LOCATION:Belfast Free Library\, 106 High Street\, Belfast\, ME\, 04915\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Micaela-Schweitzer-Bluhm.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251220T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251220T150000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251124T171945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T180923Z
UID:37575-1766239200-1766242800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:The Shavarsh Trio: Music & Instruments of the Middle East
DESCRIPTION:The Shavarsh Trio – Eric LaPerna\, Jeremey Zela and Leo LaZarate – perform a captivating blend of folk\, art\, and classical music from Armenian\, Greek\, Turkish\, and Arabic traditions\, using an array of traditional string\, wind\, and percussion instruments from the Middle East. \nEric LaPerna plays multiple instruments\, specializing in Middle Eastern hand drums and stringed instruments. He has been a performing musician for over 30 years. He has performed with many of Maine’s most celebrated artists and ensembles\, including the DaPonte String Quartet and the late Udi Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian\, as well as world renowned musicians\, Ross Daly and Mal Barsamian. Eric is a Bates College faculty member and the director of the Maine Middle Eastern Orchestra and the Portland Conservatory of Music Middle Eastern Ensemble\, and is a founding member of Okbari and Maine Middle Eastern Ensemble. He also has a busy performance schedule\, teaches Middle Eastern percussion workshops\, private lessons\, and has been featured on over 30 albums. Eric will be accompanied by his son\, Leo LaZarate and Jeremey Zela. \n 
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/the-shavarsh-trio/
LOCATION:Falmouth Memorial Library\, 5 Lunt Road\, Falmouth\, ME\, 04105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Shavarsh-Trio-Square.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T193000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251212T171810Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251212T171810Z
UID:37590-1767895200-1767900600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Prospects for Middle East Peace - A Talk by Norman Olsen
DESCRIPTION:The Rockland Public Library will host Norman Olsen on Thursday\, January 8\, 2026 at 6:00 PM\, for a Camden Conference community event. Olsen will discuss from personal experience 34 years of deteriorating prospects for Middle East peace. This event will take place in the Community Room and will be livestreamed via Zoom. For more information or for Zoom links\, please email elewis@rocklandmaine.gov. \nCape Elizabeth native Norm Olsen served for 26 years in the U.S. Foreign Service\, with a total of nine years in Israel and the Gaza Strip. His first tour of duty\, as a Gaza reporting officer and USAID representative\, spanned the First Intifada\, the Madrid talks\, the secret Oslo negotiations\, the establishment of the Palestinian Authority\, and the return of Yasser Arafat to Palestine. His reporting during that time was recognized by his award of a National Human Intelligence Reporting Award from the U.S. intelligence community. His second tour of duty\, as chief of the embassy political section\, spanned the Second Intifada\, the efforts of Quartet negotiator James Wolfensohn\, the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza\, the victory of Hamas in U.S.-demanded Palestinian elections\, the successful Hamas expulsion of U.S.-backed Fatah militants who were terrorizing Gaza\, and the Israel-Lebanon war. He retired as a Senior Foreign Service Officer in 2008 and has remained active in Israeli and Palestinian affairs. He and his wife\, Pat\, live in Cherryfield\, Maine.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/prospects-for-middle-east-peace/
LOCATION:Rockland Public Library\, 80 Union Street\, Rockland\, ME\, 04841\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Norm_Olsen_CE_Palestine_Map-e1765559521840.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T123000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251124T175618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251218T151404Z
UID:37577-1768042800-1768048200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Turkey: A View from the Middle
DESCRIPTION:Turkey is a middle power located in the Middle East – indeed\, a land in the middle between Europe and Asia. Turkey has always been a challenging ally of the United States\, but the country played an essential part in the days of the Cold War countering Soviet influence. Now Turkey is invested in and has accepted the role of a key partner in the Gaza peace process. As the United States disassembles the world order which America itself largely created\, the influence of middle powers in the international system will grow in importance. William Hall explores how Turkey will engage with the United States and other nations in this latest attempt to bring peace to the Middle East. We invite you to join us for this compelling event. Registration is required. Please register at https://falmouth.librarycalendar.com/event/Turkey-CC Registrants will receive an email reminder. In the event of inclement weather\, this program will be held on Saturday\, January 24 at 11 AM. \nWilliam “Bill” Hall was an intelligence officer for the US Air Force\, serving on active duty from 1969 until 1999\, much of that time overseas in Asia\, Europe\, and the Middle East. He grew up in Virginia and received a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University and a master’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. Bill is on the board of the Camden Conference and a past president of the World Affairs Council of Maine. He and his wife\, Nancy\, live on Peaks Island.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/turkey-view-from-the-middle-falmouth/
LOCATION:Falmouth Memorial Library\, 5 Lunt Road\, Falmouth\, ME\, 04105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bill-Hall_600x600.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T150000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251212T174542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251212T174542Z
UID:37592-1768050000-1768057200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Middle Eastern Cooking (and lunch!) with author Sandra Garson
DESCRIPTION:Join cookbook author Sandra Garson at Scarborough Public Library for a talk on the food of the Middle East\, followed by a catered lunch. Space is limited; registration is required. \nGarson\, a former caterer and food entrepreneur\, has published numerous articles and two cookbooks. After closing her Maine bakery and catering business\, she helped establish a restaurant in Ulan Bator\, Mongolia; taught cooking in Kathmandu\, Nepal; and lectured at New York’s Rubin Museum. She now teaches Maine seniors how food reveals the secret ingredients of history.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/middle-eastern-cooking/
LOCATION:Scarborough Public Library\, 48 Gorham Road\, Scarborough\, ME\, 04070\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Sandra_Garson_CE_Middle-Easter-Cooking.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260113T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260113T173000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260105T163847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T163847Z
UID:37626-1768321800-1768325400@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:"How Populism Works in Erdogan's Turkey" with Dr. Senem Aslan
DESCRIPTION:This talk explores how Erdoğan’s increasing reliance on populist discourse and style throughout his tenure contributed to the rise of an authoritarian regime sustained by popular support. It highlights how the performative and emotional dimensions of these strategies can help autocratic leaders garner support and reinforce their perceived authenticity\, particularly when their legitimacy is under threat. \nSenem Aslan is professor of Politics at Bates College. She is the author of Nation-Building in Turkey and Morocco: Governing Kurdish and Berber Dissent published by Cambridge University Press in 2015. She recently completed a book manuscript on populism and the politics of emotions in Turkey.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/how-populism-works-in-erdogans-turkey-with-dr-senem-aslan/
LOCATION:Auburn Public Library\, 49 Spring Street\, Auburn\, ME\, 04210\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Senem_Aslan_How_Populism_Works_CE.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T130000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251126T182210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T201810Z
UID:37581-1768651200-1768654800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Rivers of the Middle East
DESCRIPTION:The Middle East is a generally arid region with few rivers. But as a result\, the rivers that do flow there have an outsized importance\, both physically and historically. In fact\, some of these resources are listed among the great rivers of the world. This talk will focus on a few of these rivers and emphasize their geographical\, historical\, and current importance\, including the struggle for water rights today. \nPresenter Mark Van Baalen is trained as a geologist but also has a deep interest in history. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard and is currently an Associate in Earth & Planetary Sciences at that university. Together with his wife\, Louisa\, he has traveled widely and led excursions to all continents of the Earth\, lecturing on the natural and human history of remote regions. \nRockport Public Library [1 Limerock Street Rockport\, ME 04856-0008]
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/rivers-of-the-middle-east/
LOCATION:Rockport Public Library\, 1 Limerock St.\, Rockport\, 04856
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Mark-Van-Baalen_Rivers.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260118T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260118T163000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251218T150734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251218T150734Z
UID:37607-1768744800-1768753800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Film Screening: Coexistence\, My Ass!
DESCRIPTION:Coexistence\, My Ass!\, an award-winning documentary film based on the provocative one-woman show of Israeli peace activist and comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi\, will be screened at the Strand Theatre in Rockland on Sunday\, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. \nThe film\, co-presented by Points North and the Camden Conference\, follows Shuster Eliassi as she challenges audiences with uncomfortable truths about coexistence\, occupation\, and the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Shot between 2019 and 2024\, the documentary weaves together footage from Shuster Eliassi’s stand-up performances\, personal video diaries\, and news clips\, capturing her evolution from UN diplomat to comedian and her shifting perspective as regional violence escalated. The film’s director\, Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker Amber Fares\, will join for a post-screening discussion and Shuster Eliassi will participate via Zoom. \nCoexistence\, My Ass! premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival\, where it won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression. The film has since earned numerous accolades including the Human Rights in Motion Award from the Council of Europe and the Golden Alexander Award for Best Documentary at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The film opened at New York’s IFC Center in October 2025 and has been featured at prestigious festivals including Full Frame and DOC NYC. For more about the film visit https://www.coexistencemyass.com/ \nThis special presentation of Coexistence\, My Ass! connects to the upcoming 39th Annual Camden Conference\, Today’s Middle East: Power\, Politics & Players\, to be held February 20-22\, 2026. The Camden Conference will be live in Camden\, Maine\, with satellite venues in Rockland and Falmouth\, and available to livestream worldwide. The Camden Conference is Maine’s premier foreign affairs conference\, providing a non-partisan community forum fostering in-depth discussion of world issues through year-round events\, student education programs\, and its annual February conference. \nCo-sponsor Points North is the launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers. Points North programs include the annual Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) and Points North Forum\, as well as a growing suite of artist development initiatives: retreats\, residencies\, workshops and fellowships that nurture the careers of diverse nonfiction storytellers and help them develop a stronger artistic voice. CIFF’s 22nd edition takes place September 17-20\, 2026 at venues throughout Camden\, Rockport\, and Rockland\, Maine. \n● Tickets: $8 general admission/ $7 Strand Members – https://www.rocklandstrand.com/event/coexistence-my-ass/
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/film-screening-coexistence-my-ass/
LOCATION:Strand Theatre\, 345 Main St. \, Rockland\, ME\, 04841\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/coexistence-my-ass.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260107T223401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T000845Z
UID:37633-1769104800-1769112000@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Perspectives on the Land: Jewish\, Christian\, and Muslim Understandings [ZOOM ONLY]
DESCRIPTION:For Jews\, it’s the Promised Land of Zion. For Christians\, it’s the Holy Land of Jesus. For Muslims\, it’s the land of the prophets preceding Muhammad and the home of Al-Aqsa Mosque. In this talk\, Dr. Derek A. Michaud (University of Maine) will guide us through the rich history\, ideology\, and theology that fuel these sometimes competing interpretations of the same land. By drawing on historical evidence\, as well as story and myth\, we will contextualize the rhetoric of each community to understand how these perspectives developed and continue to inform contemporary identity. In the process\, we will see how one land at the crossroads of three continents came to have (at least) three different stories and interpretations. \nDr. Derek Michaud is Senior Lecturer and Chair of Philosophy\, Religious\, and Judaic Studies at the University of Maine. He specializes in the philosophy of religion\, the history of philosophy\, and philosophical theology\, and returned to join the faculty at his alma mater (’99) in 2015 after teaching at Middlesex Community College and the University of Southern Maine. At UMaine\, he teaches courses in ethics\, religious studies\, critical thinking\, and the history of philosophy. His first book\, Reason Turned into Sense: John Smith on Spiritual Sensation\, was published by Peeters in 2017. \nPlease Note: This is a ZOOM only event.  \nRegistration is required: Register Today \nIndividuals who register will receive an email on the morning of the presentation with the Zoom link that enables you to join the presentation. \nQuestions for the presenter? Please email ajohnson@yorkpubliclibrary.org with questions for Professor Michaud by January 20th at 12:00p. \nContact: Amanda Johnson\, York Public Library\, ajohnson@yorkpubliclibrary.org\, 207-363-2818
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/perspectives-on-the-land/
LOCATION:Zoom
ORGANIZER;CN="York Public Library":MAILTO:info@yorkpubliclibrary.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260127T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260127T173000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260105T163005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T163100Z
UID:37624-1769529600-1769535000@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Film Screening & Discussion: "Erdogan: The Making of a Sultan"
DESCRIPTION:Auburn Public Library invites you to a film screening and discussion of Erdogan: The Making of a Sultan. “In this acclaimed new documentary\, Emmy and BAFTA award-winning director\, Gilles Cayatte\, and expert on Turkish affairs Guillaume Perrier\, profile President Erdogan. He rose to power as the anti-corruption candidate\, challenging the old order and advocating closer ties with the EU. But now\, Recep Tayyip Erdoğa seems to epitomise the concept of Turkish Authoritarianism. The attempted coup d’état of July 2016 has enabled him to consolidate his power and silence all opposition.” (from Kanopy.com)
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/screening-erdogan-the-making-of-a-sultan/
LOCATION:Auburn Public Library\, 49 Spring Street\, Auburn\, ME\, 04210\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Erdogan-The-Making-of-a-Sultan.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T173000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260107T225958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T001430Z
UID:37637-1769616000-1769621400@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Inside the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Reflections from a US Foreign Service Officer
DESCRIPTION:Retired US Senior Foreign Service Officer Norm Olsen will speak about his personal experiences in his 34-year service in the Middle East. \nCape Elizabeth native Norm Olsen served 26 years in the U.S. Foreign Service\, including nine years in Israel and the Gaza Strip. He reported from Gaza during the First and Second Intifadas and major milestones such as the Oslo process\, the establishment of the Palestinian Authority\, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza\, and regional conflicts. His work earned a National Human Intelligence Reporting Award\, and he retired as a Senior Foreign Service Officer in 2008. \n\nRegistration is required: Register Today  \nContact: Amanda Johnson\, York Public Library\, ajohnson@yorkpubliclibrary.org\, 207-363-2818
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/reflections-from-a-us-foreign-service-officer/
LOCATION:York Public Library\, 15 Long Sands Rd\,\, York\, ME\, 03909\, United States
ORGANIZER;CN="York Public Library":MAILTO:info@yorkpubliclibrary.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T190000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260105T161118Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T142322Z
UID:37620-1769707800-1769713200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Silenced Whispers with Afarin Bellisario [POSTPONED]
DESCRIPTION:PLEASE NOTE – THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. A NEW DATE WILL BE POSTED WHEN AVAILABLE.  \nPortland Public Library is proud to host Afarin Bellisario for an author talk wherein she will be discussing her debut novel\, Silenced Whispers. Silenced Whispers is a historical fiction that highlights the internal and external pressures on young woman in Iran in the face of patriarchy and colonialism at the turn of the 20th century. In addition to discussing her book\, Afarin will also be exploring the historical backdrop of her novel — providing insight into the Russo-British imperialism whose legacies still impact today’s Iran. \nAfarin Bellisario is a global leader in the world of tech and innovation\, holding both a Doctorate in Engineering and a Master’s in Business from MIT where she continues to serve as a mentor. Her experience on the cutting edge of technology and its intersection with the world of business has provided her with a unique perspective on the impact of emerging tech on society. It is this fascination\, in addition to a long-nurtured love of writing\, which drove her to explore this give and take through a historical lens in Silenced Whispers\, focusing on the city of her youth\, Tehran.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/silenced-whispers-with-afarin-bellisario/
LOCATION:Portland Public Library\, 5 Monument Square\, Portland\, ME\, 04101\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Afrain_Bellisario_2026_CE.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T200000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260107T224841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T224841Z
UID:37634-1769713200-1769716800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:The Land of Israel: Jewish\, Christian\, & Muslim Perspectives with Derek Michaud
DESCRIPTION:As part of the Camden Conference Series of Community Events\, the Blue Hill Library is sponsoring a talk with University of Maine Senior Lecturer Derek Michaud on Thursday\, January 29 at 7PM in the Howard Room for his talk ‘Perspectives on the Land: Jewish\, Christian\, and Muslim Understandings’. \nDerek Michaud is Senior Lecturer and Chair of Philosophy\, Religious\, and Judaic Studies at the University of Maine. He specializes in the philosophy of religion\, the history of philosophy\, and philosophical theology.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/the-land-of-israel-jewish-christian-muslim-perspectives/
LOCATION:Blue Hill Public Library\,  5 Parker Point Road\, Blue Hill\, ME\, 04614\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Michaud_LandOfIsrael_CC26_CE.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251113T211826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T181044Z
UID:37449-1769713200-1769718600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Readers’ Circle: A Group Discussion of 'Enter Ghost' by Isabella Hammad
DESCRIPTION:For January Readers’ Circle will discuss the book Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad. The book follows Sonia Nasir\, a British-Palestinian actress who returns to Palestine after a personal crisis in London. Reconnecting with her roots and her estranged sister in Haifa\, Sonia becomes involved in a politically charged Arabic-language production of Hamlet in the West Bank. As rehearsals unfold under occupation\, the play becomes a powerful metaphor for resistance\, identity\, and displacement. Through her role as Gertrude\, Sonia confronts her past\, navigates the complexities of Palestinian life under Israeli control\, and rediscovers a sense of purpose and belonging. The novel blends art and politics\, exploring how storytelling can challenge power and preserve cultural memory.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/readers-circle-enter-ghost/
LOCATION:Merrill Memorial Library\, 215 Main Street\, Yarmouth\, ME\, 04096\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Readers-Circle-Enter-Ghost-graphic.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260131T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260131T153000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251215T201214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251215T201214Z
UID:37594-1769868000-1769873400@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Reading the Camden Conference: Notes on a Foreign Country
DESCRIPTION:Join Aurora Cobb\, of the Patten Free Library in Bath\, for a discussion of journalist Suzy Hansen’s Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World\, a selection from the 2026 Camden Conference reading list.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/notes-on-a-foreign-country/
LOCATION:Patten Free Library\, 33 Summer St\, Bath\, ME\, 04530\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CC26_CE_Patten-Free-Library_NotesOnAForeignCountry.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260105T161942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T161942Z
UID:37622-1770307200-1770310800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Book Discussion: "Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World" by Suzy Hansen
DESCRIPTION:Auburn Public Library invites you to a book discussion of Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World by Suzy Hansen. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the invasion of Iraq\, Suzy Hansen was enjoying success as a journalist for a New York newspaper. Increasingly\, though\, the disconnect between the chaos of world events and the response at home took on pressing urgency for her. Seeking to understand the Muslim world that had been reduced to scaremongering headlines\, she moved to Istanbul. Hansen arrived in Istanbul with romantic ideas about a city perched between East and West\, and a naïve sense of the Islamic world beyond. Over the course of years of living in Turkey and traveling in Greece\, Egypt\, Afghanistan\, and Iran\, she learned a great deal about these countries and their cultures. But the most unsettling surprise would be what she learned about her own country – and herself\, an American abroad in the era of American decline.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/book-discussion-notes-on-a-foreign-country/
LOCATION:Auburn Public Library\, 49 Spring Street\, Auburn\, ME\, 04210\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Notes-on-a-foreign-country-CC26-CE-Auburn.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T190000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260116T000233Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T000233Z
UID:37645-1770917400-1770922800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Repression in Iran
DESCRIPTION:Please join PPL as we get to hear from Parivash and Nasser Rohani on repression in the modern Iranian state. The Rohanis will be discussing the history of the Iran – its political formations along with its dissidents – and how history intersects with modern day repression on the grounds of gender and faith. The talk will follow four main themes: 1. The history of Iran in the past 200 years 2. The enduring repression of women across Iran’s modern history 3. The specific targeting of the Bahá’ís as scapegoats\, and 4. The vilification of Bahá’í women as symbols of equality and freedom. \nParivash and Nasser Rohani are advocates of female empowerment and followers of the Bahá’í faith\, Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority. They have spent decades in Maine raising awareness to the plight of Bahá’í practitioners within Iran and educating people on modern Iranian history. As a part of their awareness campaign\, the Rohanis are actively engaged in the #ourstoryisone art initiative\, commemorating the 1983 execution of ten Bahá’í women for their beliefs.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/repression-in-iran/
LOCATION:Portland Public Library\, 5 Monument Square\, Portland\, ME\, 04101\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Repression_in_Iran.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T193000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20251125T162127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251125T162439Z
UID:37580-1770921000-1770924600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Refugees in the Middle East and North Africa: The Politics and Lived Experiences of Displacement
DESCRIPTION:There are more than 123 million people displaced in the world today\, many of whom hail from\, or live in\, the Middle East and North Africa. Why has this region experienced so much forced migration and what is the significance of these many layered movements? Nadia El-Shaarawi will discuss the contours of displacement in and from the region\, with a focus on the politics of displacement and its effects on the people who live through it. We will explore histories of forced migration as well as the context and implications of displacement today. \nPresenter Nadia El-Shaarawi is author of the book Collateral Damages: Tracing the Debts and Displacements of the Iraq War\, published this year by University of California Press. This book\, based on long term ethnographic fieldwork with Iraqi refugees in Cairo\, Egypt\, seeks to tell a different story of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and the mass displacement it caused\, one that centers the stories and experiences of Iraqis. Nadia teaches classes on displacement\, migration\, borders\, humanitarianism\, and health in Global Studies and Anthropology at Colby College.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/refugees-in-middle-east-and-north-africa/
LOCATION:Camden Public Library\, 55 Main Street\, Camden\, ME\, 04843\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/El-Shaarawi.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Camden Public Library":MAILTO: info@librarycamden.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T190000
DTSTAMP:20260405T141827
CREATED:20260302T190020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T190020Z
UID:37786-1773336600-1773342000@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Author Talk: Afarin Bellisario on Silenced Whispers
DESCRIPTION:Portland Public Library is proud to host Afarin Bellisario for an author talk wherein she will be discussing her debut novel\, Silenced Whispers. Silenced Whispers is a historical fiction that highlights the internal and external pressures on young woman in Iran in the face of patriarchy and colonialism at the turn of the 20th century. In addition to discussing her book\, Afarin will also be exploring the historical backdrop of her novel — providing insight into the Russo-British imperialism whose legacies still impact today’s Iran. \nAfarin Bellisario is a global leader in the world of tech and innovation\, holding both a Doctorate in Engineering and a Master’s in Business from MIT where she continues to serve as a mentor. Her experience on the cutting edge of technology and its intersection with the world of business has provided her with a unique perspective on the impact of emerging tech on society. It is this fascination\, in addition to a long-nurtured love of writing\, which drove her to explore this give and take through a historical lens in Silenced Whispers\, focusing on the city of her youth\, Tehran.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/author-talk-afarin-bellisario-on-silenced-whispers/
LOCATION:Portland Public Library\, 5 Monument Square\, Portland\, ME\, 04101\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Afrain-Bellisario_2026-03-12.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR