(Chicago, Illinois)—March 12, 2015.
The Social Justice Initiative at the UIC will welcome Nobel peace laureates Leymah Gbowee of Liberia and Jody Williams of the USA to Chicago on Monday, March 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, a group focused on promoting women’s contributions to peace around the globe. Jane Addams was its first president.
The Nobel peace laureates will be joining Chicago leaders—including community activists, philanthropists and academics—to discuss the current impact of peace movements in the U.S. and around the globe and to strategize ways to bring greater social justice.
As well, the “special guest” will be Jane Addams—or a cardboard version of America’s beloved social justice activist. She is departing on the train from Santa Cruz, California on March 10, and will be joining the celebration events on March 16.
The day-long event is by invitation only and is co-sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (US) and the Nobel Women’s Initiative.
The following individuals are available for interviews:
Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate, 2012 (Liberia)
Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate, 1997 (USA)
Barbara Ransby, Professor, Historian and Director of the Social Justice Initiative at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Mary Harrison, President, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (US)
Page May, lead author of a shadow report submitted to the UN Committee Against Torture and one of the eight youth delegates from We Charge Genocide (Chicago) who traveled to the UN in 2014.
To arrange an interview, please contact Ms. Emily Williams ([email protected] or 312-355-5922; 815-871-0397) or Liz Bernstein ([email protected] or 613-262-1969 or 613-569-8400 x 113).