Source: Meagan Bozarth, 785-539-8763, meaganb@tryufm.org
News release prepared by: Megan Molitor, 785-532-3452, molitor@k-state.edu
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011
SHINING A LIGHT: LOU DOUGLAS SPEAKER ILLUMINATES NEED FOR VALUING IMMIGRANTS IN SOCIETY
MANHATTAN -- This semester's first lecture in the Kansas State University Lou Douglas Lecture Series on Public Issues will be "Defining a New Consensus on Immigrants and America," presented by Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum.
Taking place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, in the K-State Student Union's Forum Hall, Noorani will speak on the importance of ensuring the nation's public policies once again value immigrants and immigration in our nation. He will discuss how this will ultimately require a wide range of stakeholders with strong leadership from the areas of law enforcement, state and local government, faith and business, as well as how understanding the interests of these seemingly disparate stakeholders is critical to create political space and pragmatic policy.
Born in California, Noorani is the son of Pakistani immigrants and one of the few immigration leaders of Muslim heritage. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and received his master's degree in public health from Boston University. Noorani has appeared on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, NBC News, ABC News and various other radio and local news programs to provide a principled and reasoned voice on immigration policy and politics.
As executive director of the National Immigration Forum, Noorani works toward the forum's goal of using its communications, advocacy and policy expertise to create a better, more welcoming America that treats all newcomers fairly and respects the rights of all.
The Lou Douglas Lecture Series is dedicated to Lou Douglas, a distinguished professor of political science at K-State from 1949-1977. Douglas was widely known for his power to inspire students, faculty and citizens to instigate change. He was also one of the founders of UFM Community Learning Center. After his death in 1979, the organization began a lecture series to honor him. More information is available at http://www.tryufm.org.
