Wassmuth Center for Human Rights

Idaho, the Environment, and Latinos: New Stories for the Past and Future

Dr. Emily Wakild, Cecil D. Andrus Endowed Chair for the Environment and Public Lands, Boise State University

Wednesday evening at our June Speakers at the Center event Dr. Emily Wakild guided us through the most amazing history of Latina/os in Idaho and their impact on our environment, our history, and our lives today. We learned about Idaho’s deep connections to Mexico and Tejano roots and that Hispanic students currently account for 19% of our student population today. It was fascinating to learn about the long History of Mexico National Parks and how that country's vision and history has influenced conservation in Idaho as well.

This history and impact is important. We as Idahoans need to make sure that we are learning and sharing accurate histories and stories of Latino/as roots in Idaho. This event was informative and inspiring. We all left feeling like we can do more to honor the stories and impact of our fellow Latino/a Idahoans, but also, we left in awe of the Latino/a legacy and history in Idaho.

We feel so honored to be able to share such amazing speakers with you and our August speaker will be another event that you will not want to miss. Join us as we learn together and work towards creating truly inclusive communities for our future.

Register here to join us: https://tinyurl.com/536h6c7j

The pink triangle went from a N**i concentration camp badge to a global symbol of pride. That history didn't happen by accident — and neither did the backlash we're seeing today.

Join Dr. Jake Newsome, author of 'Pink Triangle Legacies,' for "Never Again is Now: Learning from LGBTQ+ History to Fight for the Future." He'll walk through 10 key lessons from the N**i persecution of LGBTQ+ people — and what they demand of us right now.

📅 Tuesday, June 16 | 1:00–2:00 PM MDT

💻 Free online event

🤝 In partnership with Holocaust Center for Humanity, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, and Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center

Register: https://tinyurl.com/SpecialSpeakerJune16

Whether you're an educator, a professional, a student, a parent, or someone who wants to live with greater clarity and compassion, this course was designed for you.

This six-module, fully online experience offers more than knowledge. It offers a framework for living with intention with practical information to turn shared values into everyday action. You'll learn alongside a cohort of fellow learners from across the globe, all seeking to connect, learn, and create just and joyful communities. 

Summer Session details:

Six human rights-themed modules, released every 1–2 weeks

Flexible and self-paced

Open to learners everywhere

Investment: $100

Registration closes June 7.

Register today: https://tinyurl.com/SummerHumanRightsCertificate

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Jim Everett has spent forty years betting on people — and winning. As a member of the Wassmuth Center board, he brings a lifetime of proving that when you give people a fair shot, they do amazing things.

That belief took root in Detroit, where Jim grew up with Motown as the soundtrack and the civil rights movement as the backdrop. He watched people with nothing but conviction change the course of a nation, and he never forgot it.

Jim spent a career proving that out. He transformed the Treasure Valley YMCA from a single branch into the largest provider of child care and youth services in Idaho. He co-led the College of Idaho to record enrollment, welcoming students from more than 100 countries. Over four decades, he helped raise more than $250 million — not for buildings, really, but for what happens inside them.

When Jim talks about leadership, he points to two people. Marilyn Shuler, a polio survivor who never raised her voice but never flinched from injustice. Governor Phil Batt, a proud conservative who fought for farmworker protections because he believed rights belong to everyone. From both, Jim learned that principle matters more than power, and quiet conviction outlasts everything else.

Now Jim — married to Linda for nearly 53 years, surrounded by grandkids and rescue animals — brings that same energy to the Wassmuth Center. He would love to see Idaho become the most welcoming place on earth. He's spent a lifetime working on it, and he's not done yet.