Kathy Kelly, three-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, will be visiting the Central College campus on Sept. 13. Kelly is an author, peace activist and co-coordinator for Voices for Creative Nonviolence, an organization attempting to end U.S. warfare.
Dedicated to understanding the plight of those in war-torn countries, Kelly has lived side-by-side with those most affected. Since 2009, she has traveled to Afghanistan eight times and Pakistan twice, working closely with Afghan Peace Volunteers and developing relationships with Afghani people.
Cheri Doane, director of community-based learning at Central, learned of Kelly’s visit to Iowa and knew faculty and students would be enthusiastic about welcoming her to campus.
“Kelly is an engaged global citizen, as many of our students aspire to be, and her work as an advocate for peace is tremendously inspirational,” said Doane. “Her visit will allow our campus community to hear firsthand from a Nobel nominee about global social justice. A liberal arts institution is the perfect venue to hear about such commitment to positive social change.”
Kelly lived in Baghdad throughout the 2003 “shock and awe” bombing by the U.S. She also lived alongside local people during warfare in Gaza, Lebanon, Bosnia and Nicaragua. Within the U.S., Kelly has protested against drone warfare on various military bases by holding demonstrations with other activists.
Kelly will present her program “The Cost of War, the Price of Peace: Reflections on living with Afghan Peace Volunteers in Kabul” in van Emmerick Studio at 2 p.m.
