Human Rights Activist Prendergast Speaks at TAMIU March 29
John Prendergast, best-selling author and world-renowned human rights activist in Africa, will speak about his peace efforts in Sudan and the Republic of the Congo Thursday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Texas A&M International University’s Student Center Ballroom.
Prendergast’s presentation, entitled, “War and Peace: Success Stories in Africa and the Implications for the Congo and Sudan,” is free and open to the public.
Author or co-author of 10 books, including his newest, Unlikely Brothers, Prendergast will make his presentation as part of his visit to TAMIU’s Foundation of Leadership class, said Dr. Barbara Baker, University College instructor, who co-teaches the class with Dr. Carol Waters, associate vice president for academic enrichment and international development.
Prendergast, who has served as a ‘big brother’ under the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America mentorship program for 25 years, will speak to students in the Foundation of Leadership class and TAMIU Leadership Student Affairs Program before his public presentation.
Students from the Foundation of Leadership course are participating in a community service learning program with Laredo’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program and serving as role models for local children, said Dr. Baker.
Baker said she hopes students will become inspired to participate in human rights work after listening to Prendergast’s presentation.
“As part of his work, John has traveled all over the world including Africa, Japan, China and has been a guest lecturer in Egypt,” she said, “I hope students get to see what’s beyond Laredo. That’s all part of being a globally aware, international person.”
Dr. Waters said Prendergast serves as a role model for leadership not just in the United States, but throughout the world given the impact he’s having on important current issues like genocide.
“He is the author of Unlikely Brothers, which we are reading in our Foundation of Leadership class and shows the importance of mentoring” she said, “This visit complements the service learning project the class is doing, which is working with Laredo Big Brothers and Big Sisters to be a mentor to a community child.”
Prendergast has worked for peace in Africa for over 25 years. He is the co-founder of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity affiliated with the Center for American Progress.
He has worked for the Clinton White House, the State Department, two members of Congress, the National Intelligence Council, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group and the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Under the Enough Project, he has helped create a number of initiatives and campaigns. With actor George Clooney, he helped launch the Satellite Sentinel Project, which aims to prevent conflict and human rights abuses through satellite imagery.
With Tracy McGrady and other NBA stars, he co-founded the Darfur Dream Team Sister Schools program to fund schools in Darfurian refugee camps and create partnerships with schools and universities in the United States. Last year, TAMIU started a student Darfur Dream Team Organization.
Prendergast helped launch two campaigns under Enough: the Raise Hope for Congo Campaign, highlighting the issue of conflict minerals that fuel the war there, and Sudan Now, focused on bringing peace to that embattled country.
For more information, please contact Baker at 326.2744, email Barbara.baker@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in Billy Cowart Hall 207A.
The University will observe Spring Break March 12-18.
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