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FreeThinkers’ talks appeal to those who want to open their minds to stimulating, thought-provoking information and ideas relevant in our society and others today.
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The intent is to inspire you, to enrich your lives, and to have you leave these talks with a better understanding of your world and, perhaps, yourself
2016 Schedule*

Jan 22 
Act of Civil Disobedience
Douglas Hughes
​Feb. 5
Shade in the Sunshine State
Liz Coursen
Mar. 4
Daughters of
Susan B Anthony
Gayle Williams
Mar. 18
She-Roes of Africa
 Debi Frock
April 1
Compassion & Choices
 Winnie Downes
May 6 
Topic Pending
 Dr. Robin Shapiro
June 3
Pending

*Speakers and/or Topics Subject to Change
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 Please volunteer
​for these events as a Greeter, or to assist during the events. Contact Carole Martin
freethinkersuucs@gmail.com
​or call her at 954-415-7679

The 2016 FreeThinkers Series 

Shade in the Sunshine State:​ Reflections on Segregation in Florida
Speaker: Liz Coursen

Friday, February 5th - 10 a.m.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota
3975 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232 
​Everyone is Welcome!    
​Admission is Free.    Donations are Welcome.   

 February 5th 2016
Shade in the Sunshine State:
​Reflections on Segregation in Florida

Liz Coursen, Award Winning Author
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​​Many people, and especially tourists, think that Florida was born in Walt Disney’s imagination. People forget, if they ever knew at all, that Florida has a storied past. Hardly anyone thinks of Florida as a “Southern” state, much less as part of the “Deep South”; yet, by law and by custom, when it came to segregation of the races, Florida was as “Deep South” as “Deep South” got.
About
Join award-winning Sarasota author Liz Coursen as she weaves local history, focusing especially on the role of public education, with the statewide and national conversation about segregation. Based on her book, Shade in the Sunshine State, she uses contemporaneous photos, postcards, and other ephemera to illustrate Florida’s unique place in America’s history, and the ongoing struggle to ensure equal rights for all.

In addition to her many entrepreneurial endeavors in the past,  Liz has written nine books, including a five-part workbook series about punctuation and grammar. She is currently working on her tenth book, The Rosenwald Schools of Florida, and has twice been featured on Manatee Educational Television talking about Florida’s segregated history.

A professional editor and an accomplished public speaker, she has presented hundreds of original educational programs in libraries, museums, historical societies, and other nonprofits all over the country. Three years ago, she started libraries for homeless people in Sarasota; to date, she has distributed more than 12,000 books to needy people in her community.

March 4th 2016
Daughters of Susan B. Anthony:
​A History and Legacy of
​Women’s Suffrage

Gayle Williams
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An active freelance writer and speaker, Gayle draws some of her material from her wealth of family connections. She is a direct descendent of Roger Williams and numerous other Puritans and Quaker activists, not the least of whom is Susan B. Anthony.
She presents entertaining views into the past through her programs on the history of women’s suffrage, Florida history, Early American history, religious freedom, and all things classical music.
​Gayle is also an orchestral flutist serving 17 years as principal flute in the Venice Symphony and has been a classical music critic for the Sarasota Herald Tribune since 2002.
The Program
Not your stuffy history class, this presentation looks at the suffrage and women’s equality movement through the eyes of Susan B. Anthony. From her family and cultural influences, and her own life-long crusade, to how she might look upon the status of gender equality as it stands today. What did she say in her defense when she was arrested for voting in the 1872 Presidential election? You’ll hear from Susan B. in her own words. Don’t be surprised if Susan B. Shows up herself.
  

“Oh, if I could but live another century and see the fruition of all the work for women! There is so much yet to be done.” - Susan B. Anthony