Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 17th 2008, 7:07am By Eli George

World peace is something that has always been dreamed, but may never be achieved. However, that will never stop efforts from being spawned all over the world, including right here in Buffalo. For the seventh year, Buffalo State College’s Conference for Peace will be held in the hopes of encouraging those minds on the brink of leadership to make a difference in the world and remain informed about the challenges in the world encroaching on the ability to create a sustainable peace.

Guest scholars, community leaders, college faculty, and students will attend and provide presentations revolving around this theme: “Diversity and Peace: Integrating Inquiry and Action.” All and any community members can attend to watch and listen to the presenters, which will include essays from a competition specifically centered on the Peace Conference, by four finalists selected from around fifty entrees.

The featured guest speaker this year will be Abraham Awolich, a Lost Boy of Sudan who spent years in refugee camps before being resettled in the United States. The Lost Boys of Sudan, some of which are the picture with this post, were a group of around 27,000 boys who were displaced and some orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Awolich was separated from his family and endured a grueling journey through the desert and other trials as he struggled to survive.

Awolich co-founded NESEI, the New Sudan Education Initiative, which will help children in Sudan get an education by building twenty secondary schools. Their very first school opened in May of this year, and more will follow. Awolich will give a presentation at 1:35 PM about his organization, a video of which can be found here, and his struggles as a Lost Boy of Sudan.

The rest of the schedule for October 23rd is below. Besides student essayists and Awolich, the Peace Conference will also include an open mike discussion and a video presentation with a global and regional focus to help spawn discourse.


Agenda:
9:15 AM - Dr. Muriel A. Howard, Buffalo State College President
9:25 AM - Lisa Morrison-Puckett, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
11:40 AM - Milton Rogovin, social-documentary photographer, honored
1 PM - Brenda McDuffie, Buffalo Urban League President
2:15 PM - Awadiya Ahmed-Yahia, Darfur native and activist
3:40 PM - Elea Mihou, WNY Peace Center President
3:50 PM - Clifford Cawthon, Students for Peace President



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