by Marta Neilson

Special to the Sounder

Carl Wilkens, the only American to remain in Kigali, Rwanda once the genocide began in 1994, will be the featured speaker at the next Community Mindfulness Forum, sponsored by the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership.

This free event is on Sunday, Jan. 17th at 5 p.m. at Orcas Center.

Wilkens will share highlights from his first-hand account of life with the people of Rwanda as their country collapsed, as well as stories of those who stood up against the killers. The evening will highlight what we, as global citizens, have in common and how our commonalities are so much greater than our differences.

A “true hero,” this dynamic speaker offers us not only inspiration to make the world around us a better place, but Carl’s story reinforces the abstract idea of the “Power of One.”

Transferred to a local level, his message can help us create our own local dialogue of how each of us can enter the world of the “other,” recognizing that the “other” may be under our own roof, in our neighborhood, on our own small island. How do we come together as a community in stressful times? What is our response to violence – from bullying to genocide?

Wilkens joins us on Orcas during a break from his 46,000-mile, nine-month bicycle journey around the nation, on which he is actively spreading the message to teens and community members that “One person can make a world of difference.”

For more on his work, Darfur, and his ride, visit www.WorldOutsideMyShoes.org