It is estimated that more than 30,000 Sudanese boys were orphaned or separated from their homes and families by the civil war that tore apart South Sudan between 1984 and 2005. Atem Aleu, from the Dinka tribe, was seven years old when his village was attacked. When Atem, out in the fields tending the cows with the other Dinka village boys heard the gunshots, they fled and began the one thousand mile walk, barefoot from Sudan to Ethiopia and finally to the Kenyan refugee camp in Kakuma. The survivors of this tragic escape became known as the ‘Lost Boys of Sudan.’

In the following three modules, students will learn how Marian uses storytelling, film, and poetry in her activism. Her stories of Black heroes round out our history books. With love and humor, she finds allies, and starts important conversations in her effort to build a “beloved community”– one that is civil, equitable, and harmonious.

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is drying up and molecular biologist Bonnie Baxter’s message is the harbinger of environmental devastation to come. Her unprecedented research of the lake's two major food chains, brine shrimp and brine flies, shows that both are on the brink of collapse due to increased salinization as lake shorelines recede.

In this unit, Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin talks about how her career as an artist took shape. Aside from downright hard work, she shares her candid insight on what it takes, and what it means.

Rhonda ‘Honey’ Duvall is an inspirational advocate, R&B singer, powwow dancer, and Native American storyteller. She is from the Navajo Nation (Diné) of the Tangle Clan and grew up splitting her time between the Navajo Blue Gap reservation in Arizona and Salt Lake City, Utah where she currently lives and records her music.

Jorge Fierro was born in Chihuahua, Mexico to a family who valued education and wanted Jorge to become a success: either a lawyer or a doctor. But Jorge soon realized that he would follow his own path. Since he was a boy, he had always admired the philanthropic nature of the people of the United States– generous people who promoted the welfare of others by donating to good causes. Following his heart, and to the disappointment of his father, he leaves Mexico for the USA.

Lorin Hansen grew up in Utah and has spent close to two decades studying Samba- a dance form associated with the Afro-Brazilian religion, culture, and history many centuries old. She started a nonprofit in Salt Lake City, Utah: SambaFogo.org, where she teaches Samba drumming and dance, and brings home the party and the lessons of her Brazilian mentors and teachers, cultivating the growing Utah Samba community.

Dr. Masha Shukovich is a neurodivergent person with acute synesthesia that she describes as her superpower. Synesthesia essentially means that their brain interprets words and narratives as moving images (similar to videos); numbers as colors; tastes as images, shapes, colors and sounds; and so on. For example, she can taste or smell a recipe before actually making it, simply by reading it or hearing it read out loud, which has greatly enriched their experiences as a chef, an artist, a storyteller and their current fictional/magical realism novel, The Taste of Names. ​

Almost one quarter of the people in the world are Muslim. But how much do we really understand Muslims here in America? Maysa Kergaye, a Muslim woman who calls Utah home, but has lived in multiple countries and US states, opens up the conversation about what it means to be Muslim, her experiences as a Muslim woman in America , and particularly as a minority in Utah.

​Salt Lake biologist Nalini Nadkarni shares her personal journey of becoming a treetop canopy biologist. At a young age she faced a career crossroads. Her decision led her out of Paris and deep into the tropical rain forests. In this unit, Nalini reflects on how she makes big decisions, when to take the leap, and how she found her life's work, up in the treetops, the vantage point where she sees the world, big and small.

​Noemi Hernandez-Balcazar grew up in Mexico City where she developed a lifelong love for art and celebrations, such as Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. Now an artist and educator in Salt Lake City, she shares her insights into this iconic Mexican celebration. Her first-hand knowledge provides a pathway to appreciating art, food, folklore, music, history, and Mexican cultural values.

Spanish artist Pilar Pobil shares three modules for ARTrageous online about art, culture and identity. Named one of Utah's Most Influential Artists by Utah's Art Magazine in 2019, shares how her unique works of art reflect her life journey. ​At 94 years old, Pilar continues to create art, write, and encourage others to follow their passions in life.

Logan physicist, professor, and climate disruption activist and communicator Rob Davies tells his story about our current climate crisis. To convey the urgency that each of us needs to “pick something and make it ours,” to help the planet, he works with artists.

​Utah kitemaker Scott Hampton shares his passion and skill for kite making– a true nexus of art, science and math. Raised as an “army brat” and moving from school to school, he recounts how he rose in the ranks from a checked out student doodling in class to becoming a visual arts teacher and kite maker, wowing festival crowds with his unique and colorful life-like figure kites.

​In this unit, you will meet all 3 generations as you hear Tiana’s story and learn about 5 Polynesian Islands through dance (Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, and New Zealand). Dance is a major cultural element across all of the islands (and tells stories of life– recounting genealogies, and narrating history. And though the island cultures have many similarities, each island has a unique history, traditions and dance.

Water conservationist Zach Frankel grew up paddling rivers. His love for water and nature evolved into his lifelong dedication to protecting the health of Utah rivers, lakes and streams. For 20+ years now, Frankel has been working to increase public awareness about water use, overconsumption and projects that dry up our lands; and encouraging all of use to get out into nature and enjoy the adventures our waterways offer.