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Since 1985, the International Center of Indianapolis has honored a foreign-born or Indiana resident who has made an outstanding contribution to Indiana and the world in the fields of business, culture, education, government, medicine, media, research, sports or community service. On the 35th anniversary of its founding, the Center presents the International Citizen of the Year Award to recognize and honor the IU-Kenya Partnership. (more…)

The Eric Parker Social Justice Award honors a film that confronts the audience with urgent social problems and provokes innovative solutions. After each screening of the two finalists, Provocate will hold discussions with audience members & local experts. The discussions — your ideas — will determine the winner of the award. (more…)

Rape is used as a weapon against tens of thousands of women and children in Congo’s civil war: it destroys families, disrupts the economy by crippling breadwinners, contributes to the HIV/AIDS plague … and because of shame the victims feel they cannot speak and thus suffer from “The Greatest Silence.” Filmmaker Lisa Jackson used a horrific event from her past to engage Congolese rape survivors, to get them to speak. Now Lisa comes to Indy to help us understand how we can be part of helping the Congolese solve their problems. (more…)

10 million people die each year from diseases with available cures, and nearly 1/3 of humanity does not have regular access to essential medicines. Find out about the challenges facing access to essential medicines in IU-affiliated countries, what IU is doing to address them, and what you can do to help (that doesn’t necessarily involve a $2,000.00 round trip!). (more…)

Dr. David Matthews is an IU surgeon who spent four years doing surgery and directing a mission hospital in Cameroon, and five years in Kenya performing and teaching surgery. He should be able to explain how cross-cultural experience can kindle a service-oriented career. (more…)

Consider the eight topics of the Great Decisions series: unending war in Iraq, the EU, grudging diplomatic discussions with our enemies, policy for an overstretched military, Latin America’s Leftists, undemocratic Russia and Putinism, trade with China, private philanthropy and foreign aid. All apparently disconnected from one another, all far away … but they all intimately touch Central Indiana, and we have a chance to contribute to solutions. (more…)

Thirteen different Indianapolis performing arts organizations will return to Clowes Memorial Hall for one night of entertainment, complete with music, dance, theatre and spoken word, like no other in the city. Don’t worry if that sounds like too much fun … it’s for an important cause. (more…)

What does the Secretary General of the World Medical Association worry about? Global efforts in TB resistance, torture and medical professionals, health and human rights, and the next revisions to the Declaration of Helsinki, for starters. (more…)

Saturday, February 23rd the Provocate Book Club will discuss Chris Abani’s novel GraceLand at the new Central Library’s cafe at 11am.

Don’t miss hearing Chris Abani speak at Butler.

Check out other book club picks, visiting writers, and Africa-related events.

Join the discussion now by posting a comment below.

Questions, comments, requests, contact Gwyneth Sutherlin at gwynethsutherlin@hotmail.com

This panel discussion will provide an overview of Kenya, and how Hoosiers are copnnecting with a country on the other side of the world. (more…)