M.L. Liebler, poet and teacher -- from Kabul to Casper

Here's a link to M.L.'s latest article in the Detroit Metro Times. M.L., who was in Cheyenne with Peter Lewis last year for Wyoming's Poetry Out Loud program, also works for the U.S. State Department in the division of cultural affairs, traveling to political hot spots to teach. 

M.L. is also part of the Wyoming Writers faculty this coming weekend at its annual literary conference. Check out his website and his Facebook page. He's won many awards, accolades, and has published several books. 

An incredibly generous man, dedicated to his teaching, he loves music, the Hollywood mystique, Pink's hot dogs, the Amoeba Records store, and will show up anywhere he has been invited to read and teach. We're glad he had the time to come back to Wyoming and see us!

Photographer and author Peggy Kelsey reports on the "Afghan Women's Project"

Gulalai, from the "Afghan Women's Project" 

From a Casper College press release:

Photographer and author Peggy Kesley will be at Casper College on Monday, March 28 to speak on the women of Afghanistan.

"Afghan Women's Project: Ten Years Later, the Follow Up" will feature a presentation by Kelsey as well as her photography of the Afghan women she interviewed.

"This is a perspective that seldom makes western mainstream news. Many important issues surrounding (Afghanistan) have been conflated to a simplistic view of their problems and therefore to simplistic solutions based on a western perspective. I believe that a more nuanced view of Afghanistan is transferable to other issues in other places. I believe that getting to know real people (by meeting them in person or vicariously) in one 'foreign' country conveys a broader understanding of people everywhere and the issues they face. I believe that awareness of and interest in people 'different from us' leads us to see our common humanity and enriches our lives," said Kelsey.

"If I have any agenda or message it is this: The situation for Afghans and specifically Afghan women may deteriorate during the coming years. But we, like the Afghans already do, must take a long-term view. What can be done now to secure the futures of the next generation for their children? There is one answer that doesn't depend on international politics and that is education, specifically rural education.

Kelsey will give three presentations on March 28: one at 10 a.m., one at 1 p.m. and one at 7 p.m., all in the Strausner Student Center, Room 217. The 7 p.m. presentation will be followed by a reception in Kelsey's honor. All presentations are free and open to the public.

The Afghan Women's Project: Ten Years Later, the Follow Up" photography exhibit and presentation are sponsored by Casper College, the Casper College Gender Studies Department, the Casper College Addictionology Department, the University of Wyoming Outreach School,and the Wyoming Humanities Council.

LCCC plans flurry of events leading up to March 29 visit by author and activist Greg Mortenson

Laramie County Community College sends out this updated list of activities the school has planned for the run-up to author Greg Mortenson’s March 29 visit:

Tuesday, March 22.       

·       MOVIE: 12:00-2:00 in the student lounge. Charlie Wilson’s War  (popcorn and snacks will be provided).

·       PUBLIC DISCUSSION: 6:30-8:00pm in CCI 129/130 (The Centennial Room). Prints of Central Asia: Peggy Kelsey’s Afghan Women’s Project.

o      An exhibit of Ms. Kelsey’s prints will go up in the Ludden Library in early February.

o     A reception in the library will follow Ms. Kelsey’s talk on March 22

Wednesday, March 23.

·       ETHNIC LUNCH: 12:00-1:00pm in CCI 1219/130 (The Centennial Room).

·       ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: 1:00-3:00pm in CCI 1219/130 (The Centennial Room).  Dr. Marianne Kamp, Dr. Mohammed Salih and Arshi Nisley will discuss Women and Islam: Confronting Misconceptions.

Thursday, March 24.

·       MOVIE: 12:00-2:00 in the student lounge. The Kite Runner (popcorn and snacks will be provided)

Friday, March 25:

·       BOOK DISCUSSION: 12:30-1:30pm. Discussion of Greg Mortneson’s book  Three Cups of Tea and/or Stones into Schools.  Students interested in participating should contact Jennifer McVay for information and to make arrangements.

LCCC students will be visiting local schools to discuss Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea. Where appropriate they will also be discussing the children’s edition Listen to the Wind.

Instructors at LCCC have integrated readings from Mr. Mortenson’s books into course curriculum.

The LCCC Ludden Library will be creating displays that look at life in Central Asia.

Finally, we hope to have LCCC students prepare poster presentations that examine different aspects of life in Central Asia.

FMI: David Marcum, LCCC Instructor of Political Science and Director of Government Studies and International Studies, 307.778.1220.

Questions that relate to Greg Mortenson’s actual visit on March 29 should be directed to the LCCC Foundation at http://www.lccc.cc.wy.us/

Teton Co. Library: "Iran Uncovered" March 12

From a press release:

On Friday, March 12, 7-8 p.m., the Teton County Public Library presents a free program in the Ordway Auditorium.

Join investigative reporter Robert Dreyfuss for an eyewitness account of the 2009 Iranian election and its aftermath and to hear about interviews he conducted with key Iranian decision-makers and analysts. Dreyfuss will discuss: Does Washington have an alternative to negotiations? Will sanctions work? Is a military confrontation inevitable?

Dreyfuss has written extensively about the post-9/11 war on terror, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the confrontation with Iran. He covered the Iranian elections for The Nation and is currently writing about this month's Iraqi elections on his blog The Dreyfuss Report at www.thenation.com/blogs/dreyfuss.

Dreyfuss also covers national security for Rolling Stone and writes frequently for Mother Jones and The American Prospect, as well as many other publications. His book, Devil's Game: How
the United States Helped Unleash Fundamentalist Islam, was published in 2005. Read more about Dreyfuss' background and find articles at http://www.robertdreyfuss.com/.

Dreyfuss spoke about Afghanistan to an enthusiastic crowd at the library last fall. "We are thrilled to have Bob back at the library, he is extremely knowledgeable as well as a very personable and engaging presenter," said Oona Doherty, Adult Humanities Coordinator.

For more information, contact Doherty at 733-2164 ext. 135 or odoherty@tclib.org. You can also visit the library online at http://www.tclib.org/.