Wednesday, November 19, 2014

If you're coming to the SOA this weekend, don't forget to arrive a little early on Friday night and join us for our 14th annual gathering of Pax Christi USA at the SOA! 

This year's program, "Pax Christi USA at the SOA: Resisting Militarization of our Youth-from Central America to Ferguson" will be held on Friday evening, November 21, from 6-7:30pm in Room 205 at the Columbus Convention Center (801 Front Ave). Seating is limited this year, so please arrive early to guarantee a seat!

We have two incredible speakers lined up. Rev. Ismael Moreno Coto, S.J., popularly known as Padre Melo, is a Jesuit priest and human rights activist in his native Honduras. He directs Radio Progreso (radio station) and E.R.I.C,  The Team for Reflection, Research and Communication, whose work encompasses: grassroots radio programming; training on human rights, community organizing, and empowerment; the formation of leadership committed to social change; and aiding migrant families.

   Padre Melo's broadcast station, Radio Progreso, shut down by the military around the time of the June 2009 coup, has been occupied several times since. During this same time, over 50 journalist and social commentators have been murdered in Honduras, and many more have been kidnapped, tortured, or suffered death threats.

   In April 2014, one of the Radio Progreso team members, Carlos Mejia, was brutally murdered. In a press conference following the tragic event, Melo stated at a press conference that 16 ERIC/Radio Progeso employees, including Mejia, have received significant death threats since the 2009 Honduran coup.  Fr. Moreno has also previously testified before the U.S. Congress at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission regarding the human rights situation in Honduras and the fear he and his staff and others in the journalism sector experience.

Tony Neal is currently President/CEO of Educational Equity Consultants. He served as Director of Southern Illinois University East St. Louis Charter School for eleven years. In addition to this full time position, Tony is adjunct professor for Webster University where he teaches in the Communications department. He is also a senior partner with Educational Equity Consultants.

   Tony has served as faculty and trainer for numerous Dismantling Racism Institutes of the National Conference for Community and Justice and has trained for the Anti-Defamation League/A World of Difference and for the Coro Midwestern Leadership Center.  

   In 1991, Tony received a United States Court Appointment to the Educational Monitoring Advisory Committee, St. Louis Desegregation Program. Canada. Tony has presented at that International Principals' conference in London, England and Toronto, Canada. Tony holds a B.A. degree from Morehouse College and a M.A. degree from Washington  University. He is a 2000 graduate of the Focus St. Louis Leadership program, a 2003 graduate of the Harvard University Urban Principals' Institute, a 2006 graduate of the Vanderbilt University/Peabody College Summer Fellows program, and a 2007 graduate of the National School Leaders Network Facilitator's training at Wellesley College. He currently is regional facilitator for the St. Louis Metropolitan School Leaders Network.

Click here to read more on the program and information on connecting with other Pax Christi USA members at the SOA.