Human Rights activist to speak on Roma equality struggle March 6 at UW-Green Bay
An Eastern European human rights activist will speak about the Roma people of Slovakia’s struggle for equality during International Women’s Day events Wednesday, March 6 in the University Union at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive.
Lubomira Slusna of Bratislava, Slovakia will speak during a public event from 4-4:45 p.m. in the University Union’s Christie Theatre. A free public reception will follow in the Union’s 1965 Room, where Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt will present Slusna with the key to the city of Green Bay. The event will run from 4:45 until approximately 5:45 p.m.
Slusna’s public address will follow her remarks during UW-Green Bay’s International Women’s Day Luncheon, which will take place from noon until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Phoenix Room of the University Union. The campus-only event is free but registration is required through UW-Green Bay’s Office of Student Life. Slusna also will speak Thursday, March 7 during a luncheon at the YWCA of Green Bay-De Pere.
The International Women’s Day events will mark Slusna’s third visit to UW-Green Bay, where she visited in 2003 and 2007. Associate Prof. Sarah Meredith Livingston, Music and Women’s and Gender Studies, and Prof. Angela Bauer, Human Biology and Women’s and Gender Studies, have worked with Slusna to organize two travel courses to Slovakia, working with Roma communities there. UW-Green Bay’s International Education Committee, Office of International Education and Office of Student Life are sponsoring Slusna’s visit to UW-Green Bay.
Slusna is the head of the Association for Culture, Education and Communication, a Slovak outreach program that aims to create understanding, support international cultural exchanges and communication and deepen education in Slovakia and around the world. Slusna worked with Meredith Livingston to create the association’s “Gypsy Spirit” project, which brings music to the Roma people while providing a public platform for presenting positive contributions.
Slusna’s UW-Green Bay engagements are part of the University’s Women’s History Month schedule of events. More information is available at http://news.uwgb.edu/log-news/releases/02/18/womens-history-month-events-1326/.
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