Thanks!
… to all the panelists, volunteers and attendees who helped make our forum a success! Check back here in the coming days for more from the event!
News coverage:
Editorial: SW Florida has voice in U.S. role in Middle East [The News-Press]
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This month marks the eighth anniversary of the 2003 Iraq invasion. Join EPEC and an expert panel as we take a look at the current state of armed conflict, and examine what stands between us and an elusive peace.
“Perspectives on Conflict in the 21st Century: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Beyond” is a free public forum set for 
7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at the Riverside Community Center, 3061 E. Riverside Drive, Fort Myers.
EPEC is proud to feature the following panel:
David Plazas, moderator
Plazas is community conversation editor of The News-Press and news-press.com. He chairs the editorial board, manages the print and online opinion pages, and coordinates community outreach and social media efforts. Awards and recognition for his work have come from the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, and Gannett Company, the parent company of The News-Press. He is set to receive his M.B.A. in May from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Dr. Richard Coughlin
Coughlin is an associate professor in the Division of Public Affairs at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has lectured on international relations, political theory, and comparative government since receiving his Ph.D. from Syracuse University in 1993, and has taught at FGCU for more than a decade. He has a brother currently serving his third tour of duty in Iraq.
Jeremy Gentile
Gentile is Armed Forces Coordinator for the American Red Cross of Lee County. He recently ended 12 years of active duty in the Army and Marine Corps, during which he served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He works to aid service personnel, their families, and veterans with financial assistance, job placement and other support services in his capacity with the Red Cross.
Jeff George
George is an Army veteran, former U.S. House of Representatives candidate and documentary filmmaker. His extensive travels throughout the Middle East included time producing the film “Islam: Seekers of Knowledge” in 2004. This year he founded Awareness Net, a new media company designed to harness the power of social media applications to encourage community civic involvement.
Dr. Hootan Shambayati
Shambayati is an assistant professor in the Division of Public Affairs at Florida Gulf Coast University. He formerly taught at Bilkent University in Turkey, and has performed extensive research and lectured on Middle East politics. He recently delivered a presentation entitled “Controlled Democratization, Moderate Islam, and Radical Secularism: Lessons from Turkey and their Implications for the Middle East” at a Stanford University workshop.
For more on the forum, check back here, and also see our blog and our Facebook page!
Press releases:
Community experts discuss wars, path to peace
Worldwide unrest prompts time for talk
Forum offers insight on world conflict
Discussion to explore what’s next after eight years in Iraq
3 Responses to Perspectives on Conflict in the 21st Century
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[...] about our upcoming community forum that includes some additional information about our panelists. Click here to check it out if you haven’t already! And of course, be sure to join us for “Perspectives on Conflict in the 21st Century: Iraq, [...]
[...] at the Riverside Community Center, 3061 E. Riverside Drive, Fort Myers. For more information, see our forum page! If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing [...]
[...] out what’s going on in the world — and what might be happening next! Join EPEC tonight for “Perspectives on Conflict in the 21st Century: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Beyond,” at 7 p.m. at the Riverside Community Center, 3061 E. Riverside Drive, Fort Myers. [...]