Sharon Riggle, a United Nations official whose work focuses on the plight of children fleeing or caught up in armed conflict, will visit refugee children and high school students in the Kansas City area this week as part of her visit to be keynote speaker at the 2015 United Nations Day Dinner.
The dinner, which marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, is hosted by Mayor Sly James. U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II also plans to attend.
“Our area’s ties to the United Nations go back to the organization’s founding in 1945, when President Truman signed the UN Charter,” James said. “We continue to celebrate our connection with this annual dinner and recognition of those whose lives have reflected the vision for peace and hope on which the UN was founded.”
Riggle is the Chief of Office in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the UN office formed to strengthen the protection of children affected by armed conflict and to foster international cooperation to improve their protection.
On Friday, Riggle plans to visit refugee children at Della Lamb Community Services, 500 Woodland Ave. On Thursday, she will visit students in the Model UN program at Liberty North High School.
She will speak on Friday evening at the annual UN Dinner. Alice Kitchen, a long-time social service advocate in Kansas City and internationally, will receive the 2015 World Citizen Award. More information about the dinner is available at www.una-kc.org.
WHO: Mayor Sly James, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II and Sharon Riggle, Chief of Office in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
WHAT: 2015 United Nations Day Dinner and area visit of UN Official Sharon Riggle
WHEN: 6:15 – 9:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
WHERE: InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza | 401 Ward Parkway | Kansas City, MO 64112
DETAILS: To arrange an interview with Chief of Office Sharon Riggle, contact John Martellaro at .
