Slosberg Lecture series
for social justice
The Slosberg Lecture Series is dedicated to the cause of social justice, which refers to the recognition of human dignity and human rights, and discussing critical issues facing our global society. The goal of the series is to bring attention to pressing social issues and to equip participants with the ability to effect social change through community engagement and civic responsibility. Accomplished leaders in the field are brought to the American University of Paris campus to educate and inspire. It also serves as a platform for further dialogue on social justice issues within the university and community. Learn more about past speakers below.
This series was launched in the fall of 2013 with its inaugural speaker, Dr. Neal Baer. Dr. Baer, a medical doctor and the producer of several of America’s hit television series (Under the Dome, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and ER), is a well-known activist on adolescent and global health. Hear some of Dr. Baer's lecture here.
Molly Melching, founder of Tostan and the community-led social change across over 450 African communities. In 1991, Molly founded Tostan to advance a community empowerment program built on respectful engagement of village members, work with traditional learning methods in local languages, and facilitating community ownership of the development process. By engaging communities in exciting, inspiring explorations of their human rights and their power to improve their own health and well-being, Molly and Tostan have helped to bring about something once thought impossible: public declarations by thousands of villages to support human rights and abandon practices such as FGC.
Professor Martti Koskenniemi, who gave a critical assessment of contemporary institutions in International law and explained how they relate to the modern discourse in politics. Koskenniemi is the director of the Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights and is a kansainvälisen oikeuden professori (professor) of International Law at the University of Helsinki in Finland.
Mallence Bart-Williams, founder and creative director of the Freetown-based creative collective FOLORUNSHO, a ‘SHARITY’ that she initiated with street kids in Sierra Leone. Her diverse background enables her to see creative solutions to common problems. Within their 3 years of operation, her collective has taken homeless children off the streets and into school, developed a sneaker and clothing collection, published a book and documentary of their story, and has produced fine art exhibitions. Through her work with FOLORUNSHO she connects cultural contrast, enabling people to share ideas, take action, and get results. Mallence led a workshop teaching students how to take the first step in creating a ‘sharity’, handling strategic challenges, and how to use the global community towards implementing social change.