Saint Mary’s to host discussion about ‘fragile’ nations March 20

WINONA, Minn. — The public is invited to a panel discussion about “Fragile Nations and the Minnesota Connection” Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20, at Saint Mary’s University's Twin Cities and Winona campuses.

More than 50 nations are in a state of fragility or conflict today. From Haiti to Somalia, these countries suffer from weak infrastructure, internal conflict and economic despair, often severely impacting the security and well-being of their local populations — with global consequences. Throughout the world, efforts are being made to stabilize these nations. Does peace finally have a chance?

Fred de Sam Lazaro, director of the “Under-Told Stories Project” at SMU and a correspondent for PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer will lead an in-depth look at these fragile nations, the peacebuilding efforts to stabilize them and a panel discussion on the local impact for Minnesota communities.

Special guests will include Jina Moore, a Pulitzer Center journalist who specializes in post-conflict and human rights reporting;  Dr. David Lynch, chair of the Saint Mary’s Department of Social Science (on March 20); and  Hassen Hussein, adjunct professor, M.A. in Management Program (on March 19).

This events will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, in the Saint Mary's University Center, 2540 Park Ave., Minneapolis, and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center on the Winona campus.

This events are made possible by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, the Under-Told Stories Project as seen on the PBS NewsHour, and are sponsored by the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

The “Under-Told Stories Project,” produced by and in partnership with Saint Mary’s University, shares stories from around the globe through PBS NewsHour and other media organizations. The partnership brings de Sam Lazaro to the university’s Minneapolis campus, provides new learning opportunities to Saint Mary’s students, and is intended to raise awareness for the local ramifications of global issues.