NEW ALBANY, IN (April 27, 2011) – U.S. Marine and author Rye Barcott will bring his message of making a difference to IU Southeast today.

Barcott, a Marine who served in Iraq, is also the co-founder of Carolina For Kibera (CFK) with Tabitha Atieno Festo and Salim Mohamed and the author of the memoir It Happened on the Way to War: A Marine’s Path to Peace.

He will speak at 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, in the IU Southeast Library.  

In his book, and during his presentation, Barcott explores the contrasts of community development in Africa and fighting counter-insurgency with the Marines as they clashed and converged in his head and heart.

He recounts his experiences building and learning from leaders in unlikely places-from the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya to the bomb-strewn streets of Fallujah and beyond. He shows the impact that small, diverse groups of committed people can have in the world.

Barcott’s presentation is co-sponsored by the IU Southeast Diversity Academy and the MFRI Operations Grant. The event is free and open to the public.