Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to speak at University of St. Francis
Robert Kennedy Jr. will speak at the University of St. Francis on Thursday, Oct. 6. Kennedy will discuss the messages in his most recent book, Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy. The public is invited to this free event at 7:30 p.m. in the university’s Recreation Center.
"Robert Kennedy Jr. shares our love for the university’s patron saint, Francis, and as a crusader for clean air and water, as a public servant and as a spiritual person, he
has dedicated his life to the values that we, at the University of St. Francis, also continually strive to achieve," said University of St. Francis President Michael Vinciguerra.
A father, devout Roman Catholic, crusader of the environment and member of a family famous for its public service, Kennedy claims Francis as his patron saint and believes the saint’s life bears important and even radical messages for children today. Kennedy has retold the story of St. Francis as a lesson and inspiration for children in his new book Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy.
Kennedy has earned a reputation as a resolute defender of the environment by leading the fight to restore the Hudson River. His efforts resulted in being named one of Time magazine’s "Heroes for the Planet" and spawned more than 125 waterkeeper organizations across the globe.
Kennedy serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, as chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and as president of Waterkeeper Alliance. He is also a clinical professor and supervising attorney at Pace University School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic, and is co-host of "Ring of Fire" on Air America Radio. Earlier in his career, he served as assistant district attorney in New Your City. He has worked on several political campaigns, including the presidential campaigns of Edward M. Kennedy in 1980, Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004.
He has worked on environmental issues across the Americas and assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands. Kennedy is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City’s water supply. The New York City watershed agreement, which he negotiated on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers, is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development. He also helped lead the fight to turn back the anti-environmental legislation during the 104th Congress.
Among Kennedy’s books are the New York Times’ bestseller Crimes Against Nature, The Riverkeepers and Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr.; A Biography. His award-winning articles have been included in anthologies of America’s Best Crime Writing, Best Political Writing and Best Science Writing.
A graduate of Harvard University, he studied at the London School of Economics and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. He then attended Pace University School of Law where he was awarded a master’s degree in environmental law.
The "St. Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy" presentation is sponsored by the university’s Center for the Study of Contemporary Ethics, the History/Political Science Department, the Duns Scotus Honor Society and the USF Society.
The University of St. Francis, at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet, is a Catholic, Franciscan institution that offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study in the areas of arts and sciences, business, education, music, nursing and allied health and social work. USF also offers 11 graduate programs in health care, business and education. The university serves more than 4,100 students nationwide.