Topics Include:

Finding Our Way Out of Violence... The Patriot Act... The Arab World... Latin America... Racial Diversity... Islam... Community Organizing... Theater and Politics... Culture Wars...

Sr. Maureen Connolly

A School Sister of St. Francis and an educator. She is program coordinator at New Covenant Justice and Peace Center in Omaha that offers classes and retreat experiences in the sprituality of active nonviolence.

Frank Cordaro

Born and raised in Des Moines, IA. B.A in Physical Education & Health from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA, in 1973; Masters of Divinity from Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, IA, in 1976; and two years of continued seminary formation at St. John's in Collegeville, MN, in 1983 -85.

Co-founded Des Moines Catholic Worker (DMCW) in 1976. Lived and worked at the DMCW until 1983 before becoming a priest. Through out his priesthood Cordaro continued his close association with the DMCW. He was arrested numerous times in non-violent acts of civil disobedience for a wide range of issues. In Spring of 1999, after his release from prison for his participation in the Gods of Metal Plowshares, Cordaro returned to the DMCW where he currently lives and works.

Ordained by Bishop Dingman to the Diocese of Des Moines in June 1985; on Aug 1, 2003 Bishop Charron accepted Cordaro's request for a leave of absence from the priesthood.

Sol Kleinsmith

BA in Political Science. Hundreds of hours of volunteer work. Executive Director of Omaha for Obama and Yes We Can Nebraska. Currently Executive Director of Nebraska Matters. Topics: grassroots, youth and non-traditional organizing (such as Facebook and other social networking resources).

Sharif Liwaru

Current President, Malcolm X Foundation, Omaha. Assistant Director of Student Organizations and Leadership Programs, University of Nebraska, Omaha. BA in Black Studies, graduate student in Public Administration. Topics: Malcolm X, Islam (geared toward schools and churches), Leadership, Diversity, the Black Cultural Experience.

Doug Paterson

Doug Paterson has been creating and teaching theatre and social change for thirty years. He was the Green Candidate for US Congress in Nebraska's Second District in 2002 and has been active in Omaha progressive politics since his appointment to UNO's theatre faculty in 1981. His education in theatre and political action culminated at Cornell University in 1972 with his PhD. For the last ten years he has been the nation's point person and leading advocate for the work of Augusto Boal and his Theatre of the Oppressed. The annual Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Conference, which he began in Omaha in 1995, now is hosted by cities nationally and attracts scholars, activists, theatre makers, and community organizers from across North America and around the world.

Jo Peterson

Associate Professor of Social Work - Social Welfare Policy, Conflict Resolution, Restorative Justice, Peace Studies, Social Problems and Mediation. Former coordinator of Nebraskans for Peace. Worked on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Treaty. Also has been a crisis counselor and youth mental health counselor. Interested in Creating a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence.

Cary Vigneri

A life-long activist interested in creating a climate for peace in the world, has been a staff member of Nebraskans for Peace, Omaha chapter. She uses a question and answer style and includes research on world peace as society's predominant culture, and solutions to global resource distribution. Discussions are geared to either high school or adult audiences.

Mark Welsch

Has been working on tobacco control issues for over 20 years as the president of the Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution (GASP) of Nebraska, Inc. GASP was the driving force that caused Omaha's city council to pass the smoke-free ordinance. That ordinance led to the State Legislature passing a comprehensive smoke-free law for the entire state. Those laws have caused a significant drop in the number of people who smoke in Nebraska. This has saved, and will continue to save many lives and reduce the health care costs - okay, it will slow the increases in the cost of health care.

GASP and I continue to work on tobacco control issues. Some of the things we want to do include:

• Raise the tobacco tax significantly. Nebraska ranks 26th in cigarette taxes among the states.
• Make all in-home day cares to be smoke free
• Help apartment owners and managers convert at least some of their buildings to be 100% smoke free.
• Raise the age to buy tobacco to 21 - so it matches the age to buy alcohol. This would help get tobacco out of our high schools.

Stuart Williams

Raised on a farm and has a degree in forestry. A Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala, working with peasant farmers in general agriculture. Advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture in Nicaragua, working in reforestation and soil conservation. Currently on the Omaha board of Nebraskans for Peace.

See Also:

Islamic Speakers Bureau of Nebraska, Inc.