WNYPC’s 53rd Annual Event: An Evening with Dr. Cornel West!

Western New York Peace Center  presents our 53rd Annual Event: 

An Evening with Activist, Professor and Author, Dr. Cornel West!

On Monday, November 9th at 7pm, please join us for a live virtual keynote by Dr. Cornel West! He’ll address the vital question:

Where do we go from here?

See the above promo video Brother West did for us, after a discussion of current events in Buffalo and WNY!!

See below to purchase your ticket to view this presentation through your own Zoom meeting with family or close friends (one ticket per computer). There will be a live Q&A session after the lecture. (A big screen showing at North Park Theatre has turned out not to be feasible – sorry!)

Before and during this special evening, you will also have the opportunity to participate in our virtual basket raffle, auction, and marketplace. If you are interested in donating, please email assistant@wnypeace.org.

During this time of tremendous upheaval due to COVID-19, racial injustice, police brutality, disinformation and election interference from the White House, and threats of post-election strife, getting guidance and inspiration from beloved Brother Cornel is an opportunity not to be missed!

About Dr. Cornel West

Professor • Philosopher • Author • Activist

Cornel West is a prominent and provocative democratic intellectual. He is Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University and holds the title of Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He has also taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale, Harvard, and the University of Paris. Cornel West graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in three years and obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy at Princeton.

He has written 20 books and has edited 13. He is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters. His most recent book, Black Prophetic Fire, offers an unflinching look at nineteenth and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies.

Dr. West is a frequent guest on the Bill Maher Show, CNN, C-Span and Democracy Now. He made his film debut in the Matrix – and was the commentator (with Ken Wilbur) on the official trilogy released in 2004. He also has appeared in over 25 documentaries and films including Examined Life, Call & Response, Sidewalk and Stand.

He has produced three spoken word albums including Never Forget, collaborating with Prince, Jill Scott, Andre 3000, Talib Kweli, KRS-One and the late Gerald Levert. His spoken word interludes are featured on productions by Terence Blanchard, The Cornel West Theory, Raheem DeVaughn, and Bootsy Collins.

In short, Cornel West has a passion to communicate to a vast variety of publics in order to keep alive the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. – a legacy of telling the truth and bearing witness to love and justice.

Dr. West very kindly (as always) did a wonderful press conference for us on November 6. You can watch it here:

Agenda for the Evening

6pm Doors Open; virtual Program Book will show as slide show (also downloadable as a pdf)

7pm Gnohnyoh – Indigenous Opening/Thanks-giving; by Jill Yagwoneest Clause, Tuskarora

7:10pm Intros to Beloved Brother, Dr. Cornel West; student groups (D’Youville, Niagara University, SUNY Buff State, University @ Buffalo); and Awards

— Two Surprise Awards

— Lifetime Achievement Awards: Roger Cook and June Licence, Riverside Salem UCC/DC, Environmental Cottage (and more)

— Emerging Leaders Award: Jalonda Hill, WNY Law Center, Fair Fines [No] Fees Coaltion, Colored Girls Bike Too

— “Alt-imate” Activist Award: Jillian Hanesworth, Poet, Director of Leadership Development at Open Buffalo, Free the People

— “The Revolution Will Rhyme” – Jillian Hanesworth

7:30pm Dr. Cornel West – “Where Do We Go From Here?”

8:00pm Live Actual Q&A with Dr. West, with questions from Attendees and student groups

End with Gnohnyoh – Haudenosaunee Closing

Virtual Marketplace with Silent Auction and Virtual Vendors will start, and continue at least one week (tbd)