Public Affairs Conference April 21-24 in Springfield, Missouri, Focuses on Sustainability

The fifth annual Public Affairs Conference April 21-24 will bring speakers from around the world to Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.

The keynote speaker is Jessica Jackley Flannery, co-founder of Kiva, the world’s first peer-to-peer online micro-lending Web site. Flannery will present “The Power of Connection” from 7:30-9 p.m. April 21 at Juanita K Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.

Other speakers include:

• Albert "Al" P. Carey, president and chief executive officer of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division
• Daniel Greenberg, founder and executive director of Living Routes, which develops accredited ecovillage-based education programs that promote sustainability
• John Francis, known as the Planetwalker.

Among those presenting on a variety of panel discussions are:

• Will Davis, director of the United Nations Information Center in Washington, D.C.
• Jian Li, representative in the 17th National Congress of China’s Communist Party in 2007
• Dr. Bob Young, American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist
• Jana Gastellum, associate director for energy at the Energy Future Coalition.

The conference is free and open to the public.

Free parking is available in visitor’s lot 13 at National Avenue and Monroe Street. Additional parking is available at BearPark North and BearPark South. A free shuttle will provide transportation from the parking garages.

For more information, contact Alexander Wait, Provost Fellow for Public Affairs, at 417-836-5802 or alexanderwait@missouristate.edu.

For more information about Springfield, Missouri, visit the Convention & Visitors Bureau Web site or call 800-678-8767.

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