Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai’s husband divorced her on the grounds that she was too strong-minded for a woman and he was unable to control her. He was right. Maathai went from being born in a small Kenyan village to becoming the first woman in East or Central Africa to earn a Ph.D and head a department at the University of Nairobi. She also shed light on Kenya’s environmental issues by founding the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organization that has planted over 30 million trees in Kenya to prevent soil erosion. The government has attempted more than once to thwart her efforts: She’s been arrested and jailed several times, received death threats, and was once beaten unconscious by the police. But this is not a woman who steps down easily. Maathai continues to campaign for women’s rights and environmental issues, and will co-host the Global Greens Conference in 2008 to negotiate further green efforts. Tonight she’ll share her experiences and efforts to improve the quality of life in Kenya. It’s an opportunity to listen to one of the most phenomenal women in the world speak about overcoming oppressive conditions and working toward turning ideals into reality.

Wed., Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m.