Washington State University Vancouver will offer a March 23 screening of the Human Rights Watch video “Darfur Destroyed,” with eyewitness commentary and reflections on the situation in the African country.
The film and discussion is slated for 7-9 p.m. in the Student Services Building, Room 110. The event is free and open to the public.
Guest speakers include Mary Beth Morand, a member of Mercy Corps’ Global Emergency Operations Team, who will discuss the destruction and relief efforts taking place in Darfur; and Kayse Jama, founder and director of the Portland-based Community Language and Culture Bank, and Griffin Jack, former director of Mercy Corps Northwest, will offer their reflections on the situation in Darfur.
Morand spent October and November of 2004 on the ground in Darfur as a member of Mercy Corps Global Emergency Operations Team. She recently returned from working on Tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia and will speak briefly about those efforts as well.
Jama formed the Community Culture and Language Bank in the aftermath of the anti-immigrant backlash following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The organization seeks to foster intercultural understanding among immigrants, refugees and long-time community members and provides opportunities for the community to organize, mobilize, and act among and across cultural lines.
Jack, a community relations specialist for Mercy Corps, has worked on the ground in 12 African nations. From September 2001 to June 2004, she served as director of Comfort for Kids, Mercy Corps’ 9-11 Program in New York.
Jack is the former director of Mercy Corps U.S. Programs and former director of Mercy Corps Northwest.
The WSU Vancouver Center for Social and Environmental Justice will sponsor the event. For more information on human rights efforts in Darfur, visit http://hrw.org/campaigns/darfur/ and http://www.mercycorps.org/sudan.
WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205. Parking is available in the blue lot for $1.75 or at parking meters.
