Date: August 28, 2010
Times: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

A self-described "ordinary guy," Carl Wilkens was the only American to remain in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. Carl was working in Rwanda and decided to stay when the violence began, even after the United Nations pulled out. Carl did everything in his power to protect civilians from harm - from secretly ferrying food and water to those in need to talking to members of the Rwandan army, even urging the Prime Minister to provide protection. As a result of Carl's decision to stand up to genocide, hundreds of lives were saved. His story demonstrates each individual's ability to have a hand in stopping genocide.

Since his return, Carl has been recognized with several humanitarian awards, including a 2005 Medal of Valor from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Dignitas Humana Award from Saint John's School of Theology Seminary. He was featured in the PBS Frontline documentary, "Ghosts of Rwanda," as well as in "The Few Who Stayed: Defying Genocide," an American Radio Works documentary which aired on National Public Radio.

In early 2008, with no end in sight to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan, Carl left his job in Oregon and began traveling full-time to communities across the US, sharing what he witnessed in Rwanda in hopes of inspiring others to take action. He hopes that his story will empower Americans who care about ending genocide to hold their elected officials and communities accountable to doing all that they can to stop and prevent genocide.

Location: Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory/Walla Walla University
15510 Rosario Beach Rd.
Anacortes, WA 98221