November is jam-packed with a series of compelling speakers at the Clinton School of Public Service. The School will welcome individuals from around the world to share their stories, the line-up including a Physics genius, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, the ninth President of Duke University and more.
Reserve your seats at any of the events by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling (501) 683-5239. If you have to miss any of the programs in person, you can watch most live on the Clinton School’s website.
“Overcoming Addiction and Ending the Stigma,” Ginny Atwood Lovitt
Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. in Sturgis Hall
Ginny Atwood Lovitt is the executive director of the Chris Atwood Foundation, which works to provide recovery support and resources to people and families affected by addiction. The Chris Atwood Foundation began in 2013 after the Atwood family lost their son and brother, Chris, to an accidental heroin overdose.
“The Robinson Center: Honoring the Past — Anticipating the Future”
Thursday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Robinson Center
Join members of the Robinson Center renovation project for a panel discussion about the rich history of the building, design details of the project, economic impact to the region, capabilities of the building’s future and the significant impact to the arts in central Arkansas.
The panel includes:Mark Stodola, mayor of Little Rock
Bruce Moore, city manager of Little Rock
Gretchen Hall, president & CEO of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau
Kevin McClurkan, management partner of Ennead Architects
David Porter, principal architect of Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects
Moderator: Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School of Public Service
“Sandboxes to Ballot Boxes: Creating a Local Children’s Movement,” Margaret Brodkin
Monday, Nov. 14 at noon in Sturgis Hall
Margaret Brodkin has spent 30 years fighting for children, turning child advocates and service providers into a political force to be reckoned with in her home city while creating the country’s first local dedicated budget carve-out for children, which now garners $75 million annually for children’s services.
Taylor Wilson, American nuclear physicist
Tuesday, Nov. 15 at noon in Sturgis Hall
Physics wunderkind Taylor Wilson became the youngest person in history to produce fusion at age 14. Wilson, now 22, intends to fight nuclear terror in the nation’s ports with a homemade radiation detector priced much lower than most current devices. In 2012, Wilson’s dreams received a boost when he became a recipient of the $100,000 Thiel Prize.
“Incarceration in Arkansas: A Public Health Crisis and A Call to Action,” Nickolas Zaller
Wednesday, Nov. 16 at noon in Sturgis Hall
Nickolas Zaller, an expert in physical and mental health issues related to incarceration, will lead discuss the impact of incarceration in the state of Arkansas, which now leads the nation in the percentage of prison population growth.
“Locally Laid: How We Built a Plucky, Industry-Changing Egg Farm From Scratch”
Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. in Sturgis Hall, with a book signing to follow
Lucie Amundsen, co-founder and marketing chick for Locally Laid Egg Company, tells the story of how a midwestern family with no agricultural experience went from a few backyard chickens to a full-fledged farm. Amundsen will discuss how these mid-sized farms, situated between small-scale operations and mammoth factory farms, are vital to rebuilding America’s local food system.
“From Banking to the Thorny World of Politics,” former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz
Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. in Sturgis Hall, with a book signing to follow
Shaukat Aziz served as Prime Minister of Pakistan between 2004 and 2007, following five years as its Finance Minister and 30 years at Citibank. While in office, he steered one of the biggest economic turnarounds in recent history, saving Pakistan from the brink of bankruptcy. His time in government was marked by high economic growth, exchange rate stability, a reduction in poverty and an upsurge in local and foreign investment. He also survived a suicide bombing by Al Qaeda while on the campaign trail, driving him to engage in the fight against global terrorism.
Richard Brodhead, president of Duke University
Wednesday, Nov. 30 at noon in Sturgis Hall
Richard H. Brodhead is the ninth president of Duke University and the William Preston Few Professor of English. Brodhead led the expansion of Duke’s financial aid endowment to ensure that admitted students can afford to attend regardless of their financial circumstances. Under his leadership, Duke has engaged in a renewal of iconic campus buildings that has preserved historic exteriors while transforming interiors into welcoming spaces that foster true community.