Dr. Ahmed Samatar, a noted author, editor and lecturer will be the speaker at the next Cook County Higher Education guest lecture series. His presentation Escape from Hell: What Now for Somali-Americans? will be at the Higher Ed North Shore campus from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.
Cook County Higher Education, in cooperation with Great Decisions, will present Dr. Ahmed Samatar, noted author, editor and worldwide lecturer, at the June Higher Education Guest Lecture Series event on Tuesday, June 7 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Shore Campus in Grand Marais.
Samatar’s presentation Escape from Hell: What Now for Somali- Americans? will summarize how and why, as he says, “Somali society has come to this dragging grief.” He will help identify challenges that confront Somali-Americans as they attempt to find successful lives in the United States and he will discuss the role they might play in the stabilizing the situation in Somalia.
At least 25,000 Somali live in Minnesota, most in Minneapolis and the surrounding communities. Do they have a good life here? Are they finding work and acceptable living conditions? What problems do they encounter? Why did they leave Somalia? What can we learn about Somalia, its history, and its political situation? What about the frequent incidents of piracy in the Indian Ocean? How is our government involved in internal affairs in Somali? There will be opportunity for questions and discussion following the lecture.
Samatar, a native of Somalia, is a magnacum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse, with degrees from Denver University. He is currently the James Wallace Professor of International Studies and Dean of the Institute of Global Citizenship at Macalester College. His expertise is in the areas of global political economy, political and social theory, and African development.
Arrangements for Samatar’s presentation in Cook County were made by Randy Czeswik, a part-time resident of Hovland, and the leader of the local Great Decisions Foreign Policy Association group. Great Decisions meets monthly between September and June to discuss global issues. This group is open to anyone interested in policy issues and willing to read material prepared for the discussion.
The Guest Lecture series of Cook County Higher Education is offered to the community free, although donations are welcome. The series is sponsored by the Grand Marais State Bank and the Lake Superior Trading Post. Refreshments are donated by Birchbark Books and Gifts, Beth’s Fudge and Gifts, and Johnson’s Foods. The lectures are held at Cook County Higher Education’s North Shore campus, located at 300 West Third Street in Grand Marais. For more information call 387-3411.
Leave a Reply