by Kelly Rogge
Kansas City Kansas Community College remembered a long-time educator Friday during the inaugural U.N.-Henry Louis Center peace roundtable.
KCKCC faculty, staff and students attended the event as part of the International Day of Peace. The International Day of Peace is celebrated each year on Sept. 21 and is dedicated to observing world peace. First celebrated in 1982, the goal is to educate the community on world peace and to reduce conflict and war throughout the world.
During KCKCC’s round table, military officers from Fort Leavenworth shared their experiences in the United Nation’s peacekeeping effort. In addition, those who attended learned about how they can help maintain peace within their own community and what they can do as private citizens to promote peace. Following the presentation, those in the audience had the opportunity to ask questions and to learn more about keeping societies peaceful. The event was sponsored by the Henry M. Louis Center for Global Transitional Justice at KCKCC, the Ralph Bunche Society, Students for Global Peace, the KCKCC-Leavenworth Center and the Intercultural Center.
“We had a great program on peace-making and peacekeeping on campus,” said Karen Hernandez, former KCKCC Board of Trustees member. “Henry Louis’ legacy lives on in all of those who model his extraordinary gift of bringing people together to celebrate diversity and work toward peace.”
The Henry M. Louis Center was named after former KCKCC professor Henry Louis, who is described as being a “global extrovert” and had a philosophy and vision of transitional justice throughout the world. An award at KCKCC is also named in honor of the educator, the Henry M. Louis Outstanding faculty Award – the hallmark award for KCKCC faculty. From 1967 until 2005 Louis served the college as teacher, chairman of the Social Sciences Division and finally as Dean of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. He was a historian who loved to teach and was considered a lifelong student of diverse cultures and histories. Louis had a keen eye for shared values, always respectful of differences and he continuously revised his courses, searching for new ways to encourage in his students the love of learning that shaped his life.
“Friday’s program was one of superior intellectual quality. I was proud to be a part of the audience, and was pleased to stay through two stimulating sessions,” said Pamela Louis-Walden, Louis’s wife. “I thank all those involved in the activities, and I am thrilled that Henry’s name is used with such fine programming.”
For more information on the International Day of Peace or the Henry M. Louis Center for Transitional Justice, contact Ewa Unoke, KCKCC professor, at [email protected] or by calling 913-288-7318.