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Missouri State University, along with presenting sponsor The Springfield News-Leader, will host the fifth annual Public Affairs Conference, themed “Sustainable Actions for a Sustainable Future.” The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held April 21-24 and bring a variety of speakers from around the world to Springfield.
The keynote speaker is Jessica Jackley Flannery, co-founder of Kiva.org, the world’s first peer-to-peer online micro-lending web site. Jessica will be speaking on “The Power of Connection” from 7:30-9 p.m. April 21 at Juanita K Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Kiva is the fastest growing social benefit web site in history.
Plenary speakers scheduled at the conference include: Albert (Al) P. Carey, president and chief executive officer of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division; Daniel Greenberg, founder and executive director of Living Routes, which develops accredited ecovillage-based education programs that promote sustainability; and John Francis, known the world over as the Planetwalker.
Among those presenting on a variety of panel discussions are Will Davis, director of the United Nations Information Center in Washington, D.C. I.; Jian Li, representative in the 17th National Congress of China’s Communist Party in 2007; Dr. Bob Young, American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist; and Jana Gastellum, associate director for energy at the Energy Future Coalition. A complete list is available online.
“This conference addresses economically viable, socially equitable and environmentally sound practices for providing a high quality of life,” said Dr. Alexander Wait, conference chair. “The conference addresses sustainability across all areas: from energy to water to theater to art. Furthering the foundation for sustainable development at Missouri State University, in Springfield, Missouri, in the Ozarks, and across the globe, is the goal of this year’s Public Affairs Conference.”
Free parking will be available for the event in the visitor’s lot 13, located off National Avenue and Monroe Street. Additional parking is available at BearPark North as well as BearPark South. A free shuttle service will provide transportation to Plaster Student Union from both parking garages.
