Peace Prize Winner Makes Pit-Stop in Memphis

Turning conversation into action is how one Nobel Peace Prize winner described her tactics in banning landmines since 1997. Jody Williams spoke on the University of Memphis campus at Rose Theatre on March 4, to a crowd of high school and college students, professors, and fans of her efforts. Williams talked about her experiences as an activist in humanitarian projects. She was involved in relief efforts for the people of El Salvador when the United States intervened in the civil war going on in the country in 1991, and shortly after she served as the chief strategist for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Before Williams spoke, a Hamilton Elementary Pre-Kindergarten class sang and danced about peace, and The Distinguished Gentleman of Hamilton Elementary read a poem about kindness. Williams’ main point during the lecture was to explain to her audience that complaining about problems will not change anything, but volunteering and working for non-profit organizations can have a positive impact on the community. With all eyes and ears on her, she challenged her listeners to impact the world instead of only thinking about what to do. Williams said: “I want to make people understand that there’s more to caring than just complaining. We as people must take on a responsibility to make the world the way we want it to be.”
Williams continued her speech by elaborating on how individuals could improve the world. She challenged everyone in attendance to volunteer one hour a month to community work. Williams encouraged the audience to join local groups, gain experience, and decide whether to continue working or not.
Carlos Reid, a freshman at the University of Memphis, agreed with Williams’ ideas on how citizens could become more active. “If everyone contributed an hour of their time, it would definitely make an impact on society,” says Reid. This feeling seemed to be similar throughout the audience. People began talking amongst themselves about where they could find non-profit groups to join. Throughout the lecture, a few people began leaning forward in their seat to hear every word from the speech, but there were still audience members falling asleep from the former advocate’s stories.
At the end of her lecture, Williams had a question-and-answer session with the audience. Questions that referred to topics such as the bill to ban landmines and her previous job experience were answered in vivid, 15 minute tirades. Once the lecture was over, a reception followed immediately where listeners could mingle with each other and discuss what was just said in the previous two hours.
Doug Johnson came to the lecture with his wife and a friend because he had heard of Jody Williams’ work in El Salvador. “I thought she was very inspirational,” said Johnson, “and I think that her work in the past was a great achievement for the United States.”
Although the kindergarteners who performed before the lecture received loud applause, Williams left to a standing ovation. The event, which was hosted by the Student Activities Council at the University of Memphis, was one of several that are being developed to keep the college campus active. “I enjoyed coming to this University and speaking with all of you,” said Williams, smiling as she walked off the stage. The 1997 Nobel Peace Prize winner’s next stop is in Colorado, where she will speak at another event being held by PeaceJam, the organization that Williams now works for by traveling around the country promoting peace and human rights.