As part of Charlotte SHOUT!, and in partnership with Charlotte Ideas Festival, UNC Charlotte presents “Timelines: Past Perspectives. Future Insights.” This full-day signature event on Saturday, April 5, at The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City features thought-provoking conversations, interactive panels and creative expressions that explore how storytelling, science, community and culture shape our lives and our future.

FREE for UNC Charlotte faculty, staff and students with ID.

Alumni receive 20% off with code NINERNATION.

“Timelines: Past Perspectives. Future Insights.” 

10:30 to 11 a.m.

Registration and Networking

11:00 a.m.to 12:15 p.m.

Story in Time: Voices in Historical Fiction

Explore the power of storytelling to make history come alive with celebrated authors in conversation about narrative, memory and truth.

Featuring:

• Joy Callaway, “What the Mountains Remember”
• Camille di Maio, “Come Fly With Me”
• Vanessa Miller, “The American Queen”
• Adele Myers, “The Tobacco Wives”
• Susie Orman Schnall, “We Came Here to Shine”

12:15 to 1 p.m.

Book Signing and Lunch

1 to 2 p.m. (Choose One)

Cultivating a Culture of Connection

A conversation hosted by TEDx Sugar Creek Women, exploring empathy, leadership and building inclusive spaces.

Featuring:

• Cara Truitt, founder and executive producer, TEDx Sugar Creek Women
• Christine Edwards Pitkin, founder, Civility Localized
• Shefalee V. Patel, Cultural Connector

Independent Picture House Short Film Screening and Filmmaker Q&A

Discover local voices in film and join an engaging discussion with the creator.

(Speaker TBA)

2 to 2:30 p.m.

Networking Break

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (Choose One)

Food as Medicine: The Power of Nutrition in Health Care

A timely session exploring the intersection of wellness, policy and food systems.

Featuring:

• Elaine Jones, senior dietitian, Atrium Health
• Chayil Johnson, executive chef, Community Matters Cafe
• Genny Komar, associate professor, Johnson & Wales University
• Leslie Van Horn, associate professor, Johnson & Wales University

Building Community with the Periodic Table of Human Emotions

A creative and scientific approach to understanding emotional intelligence.

Featuring:

• Ian Binns, associate professor of elementary education, UNC Charlotte

3:30 to 4 p.m.

Networking Break

4 to 5 p.m. (Choose One)

The Internet Age: From PC to AI

Unpack the digital transformation of our world from early internet days to the current AI evolution.

Featuring:

• Min Jiang, professor of communication studies, UNC Charlotte

I Love a Parade

A whimsical and insightful exploration of performance, pageantry and public memory.

Featuring:

• Matthew Gin, assistant professor of architectural history, UNC Charlotte

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Choose One)

The Marvel Universe in Old and New Media

From comics to cinema, Marvel has shaped pop culture and identity.

Featuring:

• Aaron Kashtan, assistant teaching professor of writing, UNC Charlotte

Timekeeping and the Great Beyond

A reflective conversation on how we perceive time, legacy and the unknown.

Featuring:

School of Architecture students on behalf of Kyle Spence, assistant professor of architecture, UNC Charlotte.

• Ethan Lampel
• Claire Lippert
• Maximiliano Rodriguez.