Abdelkader Education Project - Annual May Forum

5^th Annual AEP Forum “Art, Ethics, and the Emir”…May 4^th in Elkader, Iowa

Elkader, Iowa – The Abdelkader Education Project will host the 5^th annual AEP Forum on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the historic Elkader Opera House beginning at 2:00 p.m. This free public event will honor the 2013 Abdelkader Global Leadership Prize essay winners, feature international speakers, and offer time for networking and discussions. American, European, and North African presenters will discuss Abdelkader’s legacy of ethical leadership and moral courage in regard to this year’s theme: “Art, Ethics, and the Emir.”

Distinguished guests include: Ambassador Abdallah Baali, Algerian Embassy, Washington DC; Fouad Chergui, artistic director, Emir Abd el Kader International Festival, Lyon, France; Ali Jazairy, head of Innovation and Technology, WIPO, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland;  John Kiser, author, Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abdelkader, Virginia; Dr. Liang Chee Wee, President Northeast Iowa Community College; Jerene Mortenson, retired educator and school administrator; and Tim Knepper, associate professor of philosophy at Drake University and chair of Department of Philosophy and Religion.

The featured presenter is Ahmed Moustafa, Egyptian calligraphic artist in London. Moustafa is a leading international authority on Arabic art and design who attaches paramount importance to building cultural bridges of mutual respect and understanding through the medium of his art. His work has been featured at venues including the Vatican, a milestone in the development of Christian-Muslim relations; the British Museum; Oxford University; the Scottish National Museum; and U.S. Naval Academy.

On May 4^th, the Opera House doors will open at 1:30 pm for a meet and greet with live music followed by the 2:00 pm program. Awards will be presented at 3:30 pm with refreshments and conversations following at 4:00 pm.

At 7:00 pm, “Of Gods and Men,” the Cannes Film Festival 2010 award winning film based on John Kiser’s book The Monks of Tibhirine, will be shown at the Opera House and introduced by the author.

The Abdelkader Education Project promotes cultural literacy, understanding, and respect, while renewing historical awareness of a “Great Man” with relevance for today. The multi-faceted life of this widely acclaimed 19^th-century Arab statesman, humanitarian, warrior, religious scholar, and ethical leader, Emir Abdelkader, is the vehicle for the global education program.

To learn more, please visit www.abdelkaderproject.org or contact Kathy Garms at abdelkaderproject@gmail.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Principal Financial Group, Embassy of Algeria in Washington DC, Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities, Opera House Players, and Friends of Abdelkader for their continued support.