Administration

Communications

Ibtisam Barakat to speak at annual Kraus Lecture
Monday, February 22, 2010

CANTON, Mo. – Palestinian-American poet and author, Ibtisam Barakat will be presenting “Growing up Palestinian and Healing the Hurts of War through Literature” at Culver-Stockton College’s annual Kraus Lecture on Thursday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Merillat Chapel located in the Robert W. Brown Performing Arts Center.

Barakat will speak about her experiences of growing up in Palestine and focus on the female voice in celebration of Women’s History Month. She will also speak on healing from war by utilizing creativity and language. This presentation will include a reading from her memoir and a time for questions and answers with a book signing to follow.

Barakat grew up in Ramallah, West Bank and now lives in the United States. She has taught at Stephens College and is the founder of Write Your Life seminars to empower people from various groups to contribute to writing history by sharing their voices, perspectives, and personal stories. Her memoir, Tasting the Sky: a Palestinian Childhood, won numerous awards and honors. As an international speaker and educator, Barakat has spoken at such places as the Kennedy Center and the New York Public Library. She was also a delegate to the third United Nations conference on the Elimination of Racism and represented Palestine in the sixth World Poetry Conference in Venezuela.

The Kraus Lecture is a part of C-SC Academic and Cultural Events (ACE) program and is free and open to the public.

The Kraus Lecture was established by Joe W. Kraus in memory of his wife, Kathryn Elizabeth (Betsy) Curtright Kraus. Joe Kraus earned an undergraduate degree in English from C-SC in 1938 and an undergraduate degree in library science in 1939. Betsy Kraus attended C-SC from 1935-1937.