Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of Holland Community Center
Throughout high school and college, Jim Sherbert had always been extremely fascinated by history and political science. That fascination has remained with him through the years, traveling with him from place to place as he embarked on a 35-year career running troubled companies all over the world.
In his free time, instead of reaching for the remote control, Sherbet read history books and conducted personal research, ceaselessly satiating his hunger for knowledge. Seven years ago, he moved to Arizona to be closer to his grandchildren.
Those grandchildren have since moved away but Sherbert and his wife loved Arizona so much that they decided to stay put. Mostly retired, he sought ways to share all of the knowledge that he had accumulated with others.
“I am of the belief that people who have the good fortune of having had an awful lot of world experience should try to share it with more people than just their family and friends,” Sherbert says. “I have traveled all over the world. I have been in government pieces, run corporations and done a lot of different things. As a result, I have developed a lot of knowledge. And rather than just sitting at home, I would like to do something with it.”
Five years ago, Sherbert voluntarily utilized his professional background to make Holland Community Center the holistic and outreaching amenity that it is today. Last year, he launched a monthly lecture series at the center featuring a broad spectrum of Americana topics — from sports, banking and politics to Native American culture, the supreme court and wars.
“I typically try to find something about a subject that is a little unusual or different,” Sherbert says.
“So, instead of talking about George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, I talk about the Founding Fathers who you have probably never heard of like Gouverneur Morris; and other people like Kit Carson and William Tecumseh Sherman — the guy who led the march to the sea during the Civil War. But did you know that he was also a banker in San Francisco who wrote part of the California State Constitution and was the chancellor of Louisiana State University before the Civil War?”
Sherbert adds that those types of personalities present people with a better understanding of history — a subject that he did pretty well in while growing up.
“You need to be able to understand how one thing led to the next rather than just look at something as it exists today and assume that it has always been that way,” Sherbert explains. “I also talk about the state of Arizona — including its canal systems, mining and agriculture. My lectures are largely meant to be mind-opening if not educational.”
Holland Community Center’s executive director Jennifer Rosvall says that Sherbert’s lectures — which typically take place on the third Tuesday of every month — perfectly align with the center’s mission to provide lifelong learning opportunities.
Of course, in addition to education, Holland Community Center is also dedicated to driving community enrichment through arts and service programs for all generations while promoting the cherishment of our desert environment. Rosvall encourages community members to frequently check the center’s website for exciting new projects, programs and lecture series.
“We are collaborating with other organizations in the community to broaden our reach,” says Rosvall, citing a five-part lecture series hosted by the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association, a monthly presentation by the Desert Foothills Land Trust and the Sonoran Arts League’s winter market as notable examples.
Sherbert adds to that list the Desert Mountain Leadership Academy — a 10-month course that educates, energizes and engages emerging leaders with the goal of enriching community life while responsibly mapping our future and sustaining our natural resources for generations to come.
Meanwhile, Rosvall says that Sherbert’s Americana lectures have proven to be a big hit, drawing inquisitive minds of all ages and from all over the Valley.
“He is a dynamic speaker and very engaging,” she explains. “His knowledge of history and little-known facts are unbelievable and make his presentations very popular.
“Jim is just one example of the wealth of knowledge that we have within our community. There are other people up here who are also passionate about sharing their experiences — and we would love to hear from them.
“Here is a personal invitation to those of you who are shaking your heads, ‘Yes, I’m one of those folks with a wealth of interesting material to share with others.’ And an invitation to the community to encourage potential presenters to pick up the phone and call Holland Community Center to discuss their idea.”
Experience
History of the American West // Tuesday, Nov. 15 // 4 p.m. // Holland Community Center // 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale // $10 donation // hollandcenter.org
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