Kerry Kennedy to Speak at Scarsdale League of Women Voters Spring Luncheon

Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, and author of New York Times best seller, Being Catholic Now: Prominent Americans Talk about Change in the Church and the Quest for Meaning, will speak at the Scarsdale League of Women Voters Annual Spring Luncheon on May 8th.

Ms. Kennedy will speak on “The Power of One: Stories of Inspiration from Women on the Cutting-Edge of Social Change.” She will address the challenges faced by women in today’s world, and will include personal stories about women who have faced poverty, domestic violence, sexual slavery, honor killings, and more with dignity and courage.

Ms. Kennedy started working in the field of human rights in 1981 when she investigated abuses committed by U.S. immigration officials against refugees from El Salvador. Since then, her life has been devoted to the pursuit of justice, to the promotion and protection of basic rights, and to the preservation of the rule of law. She established the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights in 1988. She has led hundreds of human rights delegations across the globe. Kennedy is the founder of Speak Truth to Power, a global education initiative, which includes her book, Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World, the play, the photographic exhibition by Pulitzer Prize-winner Eddie Adams, the PBS documentary film, the education packet (a 12-week course taught to millions of students around the world), five public service announcements, the award-winning website, and federal legislation which increased funding for the protection of defenders. In 2010 she founded RFK Compass, which convenes leaders in the financial industry to consider the impact of human rights violations, environmental degradation and corruption on investment outcomes.

Ms. Kennedy is Chair of the Amnesty International USA Leadership Council and serves on the boards of directors of Human Rights First, Inter-Press Service and the United States Institute for Peace. Ms. Kennedy received high honors from President Lech Walesa of Poland for aiding the Solidarity movement and is the recipient of many other prizes, including being named Woman of the Year 2001 by Save the Children.

Ms. Kennedy has served in numerous political campaigns, and she is a member of the Massachusetts and District of Columbia bars. She is a graduate of Brown University and Boston College Law School, and holds honorary doctorates of law and honorary doctorates from other institutions. She is the mother of three daughters, Cara, Mariah and Michaela.

The public is invited to the Scarsdale League’s annual spring luncheon. The luncheon, which will follow the League’s annual meeting, will be held at the Scarsdale Golf Club on May 8, 2015, at 11:45AM. Admission is $40 ($45 at the door), High School and college students discounted to $20. Please RSVP by May 5 to: Anne Lyons, 82 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale, NY 10583 or online at lwvs.org., Event Tickets. Questions: please contact Anne Lyons, aulyons@gmail.com.