John Prendergast to Discuss the Power of Activism to Fight Injustice
02/14/2017
Media contacts: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
* M E D I A A D V I S O R Y *
Wednesday, Feb. 15
12:30 to 2 p.m.
WHAT: Human-rights leader John Prendergast, who works with actor George Clooney and other celebrity activists to expose crimes and war profiteering around the world, will lead a free program on the power of social activism for the campus and community.
Prendergast’s talk will draw on his 30 years of experience leading human-rights campaigns with actors Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and others, and will highlight how the public can become involved in fighting injustice wherever it occurs.
Prendergast is a board member and adviser to Clooney, Pitt, Damon and Cheadle’s international advocacy and humanitarian aid organization, Not on Our Watch. In 2015, Clooney and Prendergast created The Sentry, an investigative group determined to “follow the money” in order to dismantle the financial networks that endanger lives and support human atrocities in South Sudan and other African countries. Both Not on Our Watch and The Sentry grew out of the Enough Project, founded by Prendergast to end genocide and crimes against humanity in Africa.
Prendergast, who was UMass Lowell’s 2012 Greeley Scholar for Peace, previously served in the Clinton administration and the U.S. Department of State. He has worked for members of Congress, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, the National Intelligence Council, the International Crisis Group and the U.S. Institute of Peace. A New York Times best-selling author, he has received the United Nations Correspondents Association’s Citizen of the World Award, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award and the U.S. State Department Distinguished Service Award.
As a Greeley peace scholar, Prendergast was in residence at UMass Lowell in 2012 and led programs for students, faculty, staff and the public. UMass Lowell’s 2017 Greeley Scholar for Peace will be on campus in April to speak at programs including the annual Day Without Violence on Tuesday, April 4. The honor recognizes distinguished humanitarians who promote peace and conflict resolution locally, nationally and globally.
WHERE: O’Leary Library Learning Commons mezzanine, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell. Contact UMass Lowell media relations for directions and parking information.