Feb. 9 humanitarian talk at SVCC now offered for free

Skagit Valley College, which along with Western Washington University is a member of the Northwest Higher Education Coalition, is holding its annual GlobalFest from Feb. 9 to March 8.

The kickoff international dinner and keynote speech will feature internationally-acclaimed author and humanitarian Lisa Shannon. Previously $25, the talk is now being offered for free.

Shannon is recognized for supporting women’s struggle against torture and oppression in war-torn regions of central Africa. She's the author of "A Thousand Sisters: My Journey of Hope into the Worst Place on Earth to be a Woman" and founded Run for Congo Women, a grassroots series of runs/walks taking place throughout the United States and Europe that have raised more than $1,000,000 in sponsorships that help support Congolese women. Shannon was featured in O Magazine’s "2010 Power List," Shape Magazine’s "2010 Women Who Shape the World" and Nicholas Kristof’s "DIY Foreign Aid" in New York Times Magazine on women social entrepreneurs.

The dinner is presented by Skagit Valley College’s International Programs Office. Guests are served specially prepared dishes from around the world and personally interact with international students at their table.

The dinner is set for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the McIntyre Hall Performing Arts Center in Mount Vernon, with the keynote speech beginning at 7:30 p.m.

To purchase tickets for the dinner, go online or call (360) 416-7727 ext. 2 or (866) 624-6897 ext. 2.

Sponsorships from $250 to $2,000 also are available. For more information, contact carl.young@skagit.edu.

GlobalFest is a month of events and activities that engage the campus and community in learning about world cultures, global service, international business, human rights and the global environment.