Northwest Language Academy’s series, “Fireside Chats,” features Jen Marlowe speaking about her book “The Hour of Sunlight: One Palestinian’s Journey from Prisoner to Peacemaker,” co-authored with Palestinian peace activist Sami al Jundi. Marlowe will give a presentation and reading at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, followed by a question and answer session.
A donation of $25-$15 is suggested at the door.
Fireside Chats are a forum to engage around socially important issues central to NWLA’s mission of helping people develop the capacity to thrive in a global community. Join around the fireplace in the intimate, relaxed surroundings of the Cultural Center’s large sitting room, and engage with renowned international speakers, researchers, journalists and travelers.
“The Hour of Sunlight” illuminates the Palestinian experience through the story of one man’s struggle for peace. As a teenager in Palestine, Sami al Jundi had one ambition: overthrowing Israeli occupation. With two friends, he began to build a bomb to use against the police. But when it exploded prematurely, killing one of his friends, al Jundi was caught and sentenced to 10 years in an Israeli jail. It was in prison that his unlikely transformation began.
Al Jundi was welcomed into a highly organized, democratic community of political prisoners, and left prison determined to fight for his people’s rights — but with a very different notion of how to undertake that struggle. He co-founded the Middle East program Seed of Peace Center for Coexistence, which brings together Palestinian and Israeli youth.
Marlowe is a Seattle-based author, documentary filmmaker, playwright and human rights advocate. She lived and worked in Jerusalem from 2000-2004, using techniques from her past in theater to engage in dialogue-based conflict resolution with Palestinian and Israeli teenagers. She has also done conflict resolution work with youth in Afghanistan, Cyprus, India, Pakistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Her award-winning documentaries include “Darfur Diaries: Message from Home,” “Rebuilding Hope, and One Family in Gaza.” Her next book, “I am Troy Davis,” is the story of Troy Davis, who was executed by the state of Georgia in 2011 despite an international outcry over his strong case for innocence, and his sister Martina Davis Correia, who staunchly defended him while battling terminal breast cancer.
Reserve a seat early by calling 321-2101 or email info@nwlanguageacademy.com. To learn more about NWLA and upcoming programs or classes, visit www.nwlanguageacademy.com.
