Wangari Maathai: Visionary and Environmentalist

Wednesday, September 11, 7-8:30pm

Katie Villaire and Alita Kelly

Learn about the remarkable life of the world’s most famous woman environmentalist, Dr. Wangari Maathai (1940 –2011). Born in the Kenya, she became the first African woman to obtain a PhD and was founder of the Green Belt Movement. Educated at Catholic schools in Kenya, she was awarded the Kennedy Scholarship to attend college at a Benedictine institution in the United States. Retuning to Africa, Wangari was able to bring a spiritual component to the hard work of encouraging women to renew the land by planting millions of trees, she also stood against governmental corruption and the degradation of women in Kenya.

Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her courageous work. Her Green Belt program of earth renewal has been adopted by countries throughout the world. Through discussion and video, including clips from the longer documentary, Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, we will learn more about her faith, perseverance and wisdom.     CFD:    ($10 donation requested)

Katie Villaire is a retired college professor and a member of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.

Alita Kelly is a graduate student from the University of Michigan in Environmental Policy.

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