I foresee John Prendergast having a tremendous impact on our students. With this visit, we have the opportunity to address much more than the history of these events, but real-world applications for making the choice to do something.
Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) March 26, 2015
Tampa Preparatory School is excited to welcome human rights activist and best-selling author John Prendergast to Tampa Prep on Thursday, April 2 to speak to students about his passion for peace and how it has led to the end of genocide and crimes against humanity in several regions in Africa. Prendergast is the Founding Director of the Enough Project and has worked for the Clinton White House, the State Department, two members of Congress, the National Intelligence Council, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group, the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Mr. Prendergast’s impressive resume includes a number of awards for the awareness he has brought to injustices inflicted on the people of Africa and his ongoing initiatives to right these wrongs. His wisdom and experiences will help reinforce the themes of tolerance, peace and action Tampa Prep students have studied.
Tampa Prep hosts speakers who enhance areas of study with their life experiences. In History classes, students discuss the role each student plays in shaping historical narrative. Classes explore how each person contributes to society as a witness to his/her experiences. Through participation in our Global Studies Academic Concentration and several extracurricular clubs, students can further explore activism and social justice.
“The mission of our school is to ‘Think, Create, Be Yourself, Aspire to Excellence, and Go Beyond: A Preparation for Life with a Higher Purpose than Self,’” History Teacher Lisa Harman explains. “Our community embraces this mission, and hearing from Mr. Prendergast would not only reinforce our mission, but also help our students continue to seek ways to affect change. This will be a meaningful, relevant, and engaging program to every member of our school community.”
Through the Enough Project, Prendergast has created a number of initiatives and campaigns focused on human rights, such as the Satellite Sentinel Project, the Darfur Dream Team Sister Schools Program, the Raise Hope for Congo Campaign, Sudan Now and participate as a board member and Strategic Advisor for Not On Our Watch. While in government, Prendergast participated in a facilitation team to end the two-year war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the deadliest war in the world at the time. Prendergast also participated in the peace processes for Burundi, Sudan and Congo.
“We are honored to have a guest like John Prendergast visiting the school to teach our students about his humanitarian efforts,” said Head of School Kevin M. Plummer. “His life’s work emulates our School values with our focus on character education, honor, and the mission established forty years ago.”
Tampa Prep’s focus on global issues can be seen throughout the curriculum, including the addition of the Global Studies academic concentration in 2012. The three-year program seeks to equip graduating students with a range of experiences that prepare them for further opportunities in this field. Prendergast’s vast experiences will provide students with personal accounts of the ways one person can make a difference.
“I foresee John Prendergast having a tremendous impact on our students,” Lisa Harman proclaimed. “With this visit, we have the opportunity to address much more than the history of these events, but real-world applications for making the choice to do something."