The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center will host a virtual conversation with Samantha Power, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
In this intimate and thought-provoking dialogue, Samantha Power will discuss her New York Times-bestselling memoir,
The Education of an Idealist
Thursday, March 18,
at 7 p.m. EST. via Zoom
Themes discussed in Power’s memoir are aligned with social issues explored in the Humanity Gallery within the Holocaust & Humanity Center’s museum at historic Union Terminal. In “The Education of an Idealist,” Power explains how she coined the term “upstander,” and how we all have the opportunity to be upstanders in unique ways.
Upstanders are individuals who stand up for others and their rights. They fight against injustice and unfairness, and they use their character strengths to inspire action and become the best of humanity today.
“Every day, almost all of us find ourselves weighing whether we can or should do something to help others,” Power writes in the book. “We decide, on issues large and small, whether we will be bystanders or upstanders.”
Humorous and deeply honest, “The Education of an Idealist” lays bare the searing battles and defining moments of her life and shows how she juggled the demands of a 24/7 national security job with the challenge of raising two young children. Along the way, she illuminates the intricacies of politics and geopolitics, reminding us how the United States can lead in the world, and why we each have the opportunity to advance the cause of human dignity. Power’s memoir is an unforgettable account of the power of idealism—and of one person’s fierce determination to make a difference.
Hosted in partnership with Joseph-Beth Booksellers, the public can reserve their admission for this exclusive event online. For $30, attendees will receive a copy of “The Education of an Idealist” in addition to admission to the event. Admission, without a copy of the book, is available to reserve for $10.
Event Made Possible by:
Elizabeth Riorden earned her Master of Architecture degree from Columbia in 1981. After working as an architectural designer and registered architect, she returned to an earlier career interest: archaeology. With B.A. degree from Brown in Ancient and Medieval Culture (magna cum laude 1978), Riorden had a deep interest in the built environment of past civilizations. In 1989 she participated in excavations at Troy in Northwest Turkey. Her Troy drawings and articles appear in Studia Troica. In 2002 she became a full-time academic, teaching architectural design, history and preservation at the University of Cincinnati’s School of Architecture and Interior Design.
Mr. Qaisar Shareef concluded in 2011 a career of nearly 30 years with Procter & Gamble. He joined the company at headquarters in 1981, and spent a dozen years living and working abroad as P&G country manager in startup ventures in the emerging markets of Pakistan and Ukraine. The subsidiaries he led in those two countries continue to thrive today in spite of difficult circumstances. P&G Pakistan received from the U.S. State Department an Award for Corporate Excellence in 2012.
Robin Wright has keenly observed the Middle East throughout her long career in journalism. Her new book, Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion Across the Islamic World, has been heralded as an insightful analysis of the turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East.