Oct. 12, 2026
Contact Rick Kyte at 608-796-3704 or rlkyte@viterbo.edu
“NEIGHBORS AGAIN—HEALING, BELONGING, AND RESILIENCE AFTER THE 1994 GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TUTSI” PRESENTATION AT VITERBO UNIVERSITY OCT. 22
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Author, educator, and humanitarian Carl Wilkens will give the moving and thought-provoking presentation “Neighbors Again—Healing, Belonging, And Resilience after the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 in the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.
Wilkens will share firsthand stories from Rwanda from before, during, and after the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. Best known as the only American who chose to remain in Rwanda throughout the genocide, Wilkens witnessed both the depths of human cruelty and extraordinary acts of courage, compassion, and solidarity as he worked alongside Rwandan colleagues to deliver food, water, medicine, and protection to vulnerable children and families, helping save hundreds of lives during one of the darkest chapters in modern history.
Drawing on his experiences, Wilkens will explore what it means to rebuild trust after unimaginable violence. Through this powerful storytelling and lessons from Rwanda’s remarkable recovery, audience members will be challenged to examine belonging, empathy, and their capacity to bridge divides in their own communities.
Before the genocide, Wilkens served as country director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Rwanda. He later returned with his family to support reconstruction efforts and remains deeply connected to Rwanda’s ongoing journey of recovery and reconciliation. He is the author of the memoir I’m Not Leaving and is featured in the acclaimed documentaries Ghosts of Rwanda and The Few Who Stayed: Defying Genocide. His humanitarian work has earned numerous honors, including the Medal of Valor from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Dignitas Humana Award.
Today, Wilkens speaks around the world about moral courage, resilience, restorative justice, and the power of choosing connection over division. He is also the co-founder of World Outside My Shoes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people engage with “The Other” and stand against genocide, racism, and intolerance.
This event is part of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership fall lecture series. It is free and open to the public. No tickets are necessary, but seating is limited. For a full schedule of D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership events, visit www.viterbo.edu/ethics.
