Release Date: March 27, 2006

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Heather Brady, assistant professor of French in Monmouth College’s department of modern foreign languages, will present an International Luncheon lecture April 5 at noon in the Whiteman-McMillan Highlander Room of the college’s Stockdale Center.

Entitled “Writers, Activists and Nuns: Grassroots Lessons About Kenya,” her talk will focus on her Christmas break trip to Kenya, where she worked on completing an anthology of African short fiction.

During her stay, she traveled from Nairobi to the Lake Victoria region and met with creative writers, teachers, students, publishers and activists. She will speak generally about the Luo community, where she heard traditional storytelling sessions and stayed with teachers and nuns in a missionary convent. She will also describe the lessons she learned about rural poverty, environmental devastation and the controversial role of writers in transforming their experiences of survival into beautiful art.

A buffet lunch, featuring international foods, is available for $6.25. Lunch reservations should be made in advance by contacting professor Sue Holm at 309-457-2150 or susan@monm.edu.

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