“A Small Act” inspires Wright State’s “Quest for Community”

Film director/writer Jennifer Arnold will be the keynote speaker at the 2011 Quest Conference.

When an ordinary Swedish woman paid for the education of an African boy she’d never met, she had no idea how many lives she would change forever.

An official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, A Small Act tells the story of Chris Mburu, a young man from Kenya and his astonishing journey from an impoverished village to Harvard Law to the United Nations. The documentary film shines a light on the incredible power of giving—no matter how small the gift.

The film will be the centerpiece of the 11th Annual Quest for Community: A Call to Action. Wright State University will celebrate its diverse campus during the conference on Friday, April 22. This year’s theme is “Developing a Legacy of CommUNITY.”

The all-day event will begin at 9 a.m. in the Student Union Apollo Room with a screening of A Small Act. Following the film, its writer/director/producer Jennifer Arnold will deliver a keynote address.

During the conference luncheon, the Kim Goldenberg Quest for Community Award will be presented. The award is for the campus unit or organization that demonstrates commitment to and success in the enhancement of the campus climate for diversity.

Attendees can participate in two periods of breakout sessions after the luncheon. One session will examine the prevalence of colorism in the African American community. Another will explore ways to improve the experience of first-generation college students. Other sessions will feature presenters from The Dayton Dialogue on Race Relations, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and the student group Raiders Educating and Advancing Cultural Horizons (REACH).

The entire conference, including the luncheon, is free and open to the public. Registration is required by April 15. For more information, including an event schedule and online registration, visit http://www.wright.edu/quest.

The Quest conference is sponsored by the University Center for International Education, the Dayton Council on World Affairs and the Wright State University First Year Experience.