CIIS Public Programs

Since Karim Baer has been in charge of CIIS Public Programs, it has become a «go to» list of what is cutting edge in the realm of culture, spirituality and the arts. Last week I went with the Diversity Committee I chair from Kaiser Permanente, and all 8 of us were totally impressed by Cornell West. Dr. West knew his audience, and took us from Chekhov to Bootsy Collins, talking about the relevance of history in our daily lives and how to have faith in these crazy times. This is one small example of the heavy hitting programs Karim has been booking. He has had the Soweto Gospel Choir play the Paramount Theater in Oakland, Sweet Honey in the Rock are coming up this winter, and last Spring we saw Anoushka Shankar play a packed house at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Watch out SF JAZZ and Cal Performances. Karim and his staff have an eye for what is of the moment, and the uncanny ability to capture what we Bay Area folks so crave; the inspiration to keep going. As a substitute programmer on KPFA for Music of the World, and a therapist at Kaiser Permanente, I go to the CIIS Public Programs schedule for my next infusion of hope musically, spiritually, and politically.