Civil War to Civil Discourse: Lessons from the Middle East for Syria

Announced by the University of Pittsburgh

On Tuesday, December 14,at 4:00pm in Barco Law 229 (Alcoa Room) Faisal Al Mutar will lead a discussion, “Civil War to Civil Discourse: Lessons from the Middle East for Syria.” Al Mutar will draw on his experiences in his native Iraq during a period of conflict and reflect on the challenges of fostering democracy, education, and civil discourse in Syria and the Middle East. He will also explore the broader implications of his efforts to support education, innovation, and civil society in a region marked by conflict and instability.

Faisal Saeed Al Mutar is a social entrepreneur, refugee, and founder of Ideas Beyond Borders, an organization that has driven large-scale change and fostered growth in the Middle East and beyond. He has built the organization into a leading platform for advancing innovation and policy reform in the Arab world, which has provided support to millions of people across the region with access to resources that promote critical thinking and freedom of speech. Al Mutar received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama and an honorary doctorate from Whittier College in California.