February 5 Panel in NYC on Iraqi Refugee Crisis and Arts Advocacy

The polls don’t close till 9 pm tomorrow night, so there’s time for New Yorkers to attend an important panel discussion at Fordham University. Human Rights First is co-sponsoring the panel along with Fordham University and the Nailya Alexander Gallery. It’s entitled “Iraqi Citizens: War and Exile.” The panelists will address topics including the consequences of the Iraq war for Iraqis – more than 4 million of whom have fled their homes – the potential for visual artists to bring public attention to human rights issues, and the relationship between visual arts, human rights advocacy, and policy change. A question-and-answer session will follow. The panel’s in conjunction with a photo exhibit at the Nailya Alexander Gallery by photojournalist Lori Grinker – which received a nice notice in the New Yorker last week. The exhibit was also written up in January in the Huffington Post.

Complete info: Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 7 to 9 pm, Fordham University Lincoln Center, 113 W. 60th Street at Columbus Avenue, Room 816. Panelists include Lori Grinker, HRF advocate Amelia Templeton, former Iraqi translator Nour Al-Khal, and WITNESS communications and outreach coordinator Matisse Bustos Hawkes, and the conversation will be moderated by Fred Ritchin. It’s free, but seating is limited, so please RSVP to martinezb@humanrightsfirst.org.