91探花

Laura Simms, award-winning performer, writer, and educator, advocating storytelling as compassionate action for personal and community transformation, will highlight the 2014 International Development Week at 91探花. This year's theme is 'International Storytelling.'

Simms received the Brimstone Award for Engaged Storytelling, the CHOICE award for best story collection, and Sesame Street's SUNNY DAYS award for her work with children worldwide. She is the mother of Ishmael Beah, former child solider from Sierra Leone, and author of 'A Long Way Gone,' an international best seller.

Simms' lecture entitled 'Healing through Story,' will take place, on Thursday, February 6 at 4:30 pm in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium (Room 242), Don and Marion McDougall Hall, with a reception and book signing to follow in Schurman Market Square. Tickets can be purchased for $20.

To purchase tickets and to view a full schedule of events for 91探花's International Development Week, visit