Southeast Michigan Mensa

There is another Detroit, one you may not be familiar with. There are wonderful and mysterious places to see around the city; Unique destinations that only Detroit could have. This presentation is a love letter to the city, that explores and investigate things that are odd, unexpected and extraordinary. Author Karen Dybis, by showcasing the city’s most unusual, will also provide insights on what went right and what went wrong during Detroit’s more than 300 years of history, as well as a really fun way to see all that the Motor City has to offer. With stories and tall tales, this presentation is a must for all current and wanna-be urban explorers and history buffs.

Karen Dybis is a metro Detroit reporter with more than 20 years of experience working at newspapers, freelancing for magazines and offering coverage of the growing Detroit renaissance for national publications. She is the author of four local-history books, including “Secret Detroit,” “The Witch of Delray,” “Better Made in Michigan,” and “The Ford-Wyoming Drive-In,” She is working on her fifth book, a work of fiction, set in 1920s Detroit. 

The program takes place on Saturday, June 15th, at
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield.
23925 Northwestern Hwy
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 5pm. The program begins at 6pm. Please note the new starting time!
Following the presentation, join us for dinner at Buddy’s Pizza, located at 31646 Northwestern Hwy., in Farmington Hills, Just East of Middlebelt Rd.

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In a speech he delivered on September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy, characterized outer space as “a new frontier”, and declared “We choose to go to the Moon…” His words gave rise to what became Project Apollo, one of the most remarkable endeavors of human history. The project resulted in landing the first humans on the Moon, on July 20, 1969, followed by four subsequent lunar landings, the last of which occurring in 1972. Despite these impressive achievements, NASA’s major projects following Apollo, most notably the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, failed to capture the public imagination the way the Apollo Project did.

Joining us on May 18th, to help gain a better understanding of Project Apollo, will be Clifford Marko. Cliff started his career in journalism and covered the US space program from Project Apollo, and on from there. Cliff has enjoyed a multidimensional professional life as an Attorney, Corporate Counsel, President/CEO and radio/TV producer, reporter, and on-air host.

The program takes place on Saturday, May 18th, at Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield. 23925 Northwestern Hwy Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 5pm. The program begins at 6pm. Please note the new starting time! Following the presentation, join us for dinner at Fishbone’s Cafe, located on the North side of Northwestern, 1500 feet North of 12 Mile, to socialize. The address is: 29244 Northwestern Hwy, in Southfield.

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By now you’ve probably heard about cryptocurrency. A family member, friend, neighbor, doctor, Uber driver, sales associate, server, barista, or passer-by on the street, has probably told you how he or she is getting rich quick with virtual currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, or one of the lesser-known 1,300-plus investable cryptocurrencies.

But how much do you really know about them? If you’re like most folks (Including me), not much. Well, let’s fix that!

Join us for an introductory, but comprehensive, overview of the fast-moving world of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency, and Blockchain, the technology that makes it work. 

We will tackle the history, as well as extremely volatile, exotic, and often confusing nature of cryptocurrencies, that exists together with blockchain, in this quickly evolving space. We will also explore the varied practical and theoretical applications of the blockchain technology, which go far beyond its potential implications within the business sector. 

Guiding us will be Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®, and registered representative with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., where she specializes in investment and macro-economic research.

The program takes place on Saturday, March 16th, at
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield.
23925 Northwestern Hwy
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 5pm. The program begins at 6pm. Please note the new starting time!

Adult members: $4, or a strip of 4 tickets – $12
Adult guests: $5
Children 12 and under: $2
Members receive free admission in the month of their birthday

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This presentation explores symbolic annihilation: the use of words, images and ideas to devalue, marginalize, and objectify the experiences and contributions of specific groups in society. To understand the permanence of racism as a cultural normality, this presentation interrogates the operation of Blackness in structurally imposed, traditional White spaces. The term space is used here to identify both the ideological and material constructs that perpetuate, maintain and justify systems of racial stratification in society

Guiding us will be Dr. Kalvin D. Harvell. Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, he earned a B.S. and M.A. in sociology, an Ed.S. in educational leadership (Specialist), and a Ph.D. in global leadership.

Dr. Harvell is a professor of sociology at Henry Ford College in Dearborn and has taught an array of courses, including but not limited to, Ethnic and Racial Diversity in Society, Independent Studies, and Leadership in Diverse Communities and Organizations. Furthermore, Dr. Harvell taught in a learning community designed for under-represented males. In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Harvell and his esteemed colleagues coordinate the Black Male and Quintessential Unique Essence of Ebony Necessary Sisters (QUEENS) Focus Group, an academic and social support network designed to address equity on the campus of Henry Ford College.

Currently, Dr. Harvell also serves as the president of the Michigan Sociological Association. Additionally, he is the chief intellectual officer (CIO) at Harvell & Associates, an educational consulting firm involved in the production of asset-focused, culturally responsive educational programming. However, of all of his accomplishments and letters, the letters he is most proud and passionate about are D A D D Y!

The program takes place on Saturday, February 16th , at Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield. Doors open at 5pm. The program begins at 6pm. Please note the new starting time!

Adult members: $4, or a strip of 4 tickets – $12
Adult guests: $5
Children 12 and under: $2
Members receive free admission in the month of their birthday

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There’s no Monthly Meeting (or ExComm Meeting) this month. Have a great holiday season!

We’ll see you next month for Winter Bash! on Saturday January 19th from 6pm-11pm. Guests of members are welcome. Ticket information is available on the Winter Bash! page.

Regular meetings will resume in February.

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