Building Bridges Presenters

Ellen J. Kennedy, Ph.D.: Ellen J. Kennedy, Ph.D., directs the Genocide Intervention Network's work in Minnesota, focusing on education about genocide with special attention on Darfur; legislative advocacy for conflict resolution; and fund-raising to enhance both security and humanitarian aid in crisis situations.

Mark Turbak: The Center for Victims of Torture works to heal the wounds of torture on individuals, their families and their communities and to stop torture worldwide. Their client care program spans the disciplines of medicine, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, social services and massage and physical therapy.

Jean-Paul Bigirindavyi: Jean-Paul Bigirindavyi is an executive Director of the Minnesota Thunder P.L.U.S and Youth Intervention for Peace International. For both organizations, Jean-Paul has been a leading advocate for youth involvement in building a better and peaceful world.

Dr. Waziyatawin Angela Wilson: Dr. Waziyatawin Angela Wilson is a Wahpetunwan Dakota from the Pezihutazizi Otunwe (Yellow Medicine Village) in southwestern Minnesota. She received her Ph.D. in American history from Cornell University in 2000 and spent seven years teaching in the history department at Arizona State University. After earning tenure and an associate professorship at ASU, she left the academy in 2007 to work as an independent scholar.

Kids Against Hunger: The children of Darfur have experienced unspeakable horrors. They are living through a conflict some call “Rwanda in slow motion.” A report by UN, which was prepared by UNICEF, the Word Food Program and the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, found that 16.1 percent of children affected by the conflict suffer from acute malnutrition, compared to 12.9 percent a year earlier. Just what can one person do to make a difference?