Celebration of Public Service: Jody Williams
"What You Do Matters: Creating Communities to Solve Global Problems”
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams, founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, is an eloquent and outspoken advocate for peace and human rights. The founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), she is one of only ten women globally to receive the Nobel Peace Prize—and only the third from the U.S. to do so. Williams, as chief strategist and spokesperson for ICBL, has overseen the organization’s growth to include more than 1,300 NGOs in 85 countries. During the September 1997 Oslo diplomatic conference, in an unprecedented cooperative effort with governments, UN bodies, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICBL achieved its goal of negotiating an international treaty to ban antipersonnel landmines. Since then 133 countries have signed the treaty. Williams, now ICBL’s campaign ambassador, speaks on its behalf all over the world. As an activist for global social change, her accomplishments in humanitarian work have been extraordinary, all because she pondered a problem and found a way to create a solution.
In recognition of this work, the Center for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will honor Williams with its annual Public Service Award and Celebration of Public Service event in September. Speaking on "What You Do Matters: Creating Communities to Solve Global Problems,” Williams will focus on strategies for positive social change, peace-building and improving civil society. The event is free and open to all.. A public reception will follow.
The Center for Public Policy and Administration was established in 1998 as a non-partisan interdisciplinary center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. CPPA, part of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, is committed to improving public policy and governance by educating leaders for public service and conducting and applying interdisciplinary research.
Each fall a “Celebration of Public Service” recognizes an inspiring leader with the CPPA Public Service Award for lifetime achievements. By bringing top public servants to campus where they actively interact with the community, CPPA intends for students—and others—to think seriously about the choices they can make that will enable them to contribute positively to the world. Last year’s recipient was former Masschusetts governor and U.S. presidential candidate Michael Dukakis.
