Ken Nwadike, Free Hugs Project Founder, peace activist and video journalist will speak at ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University on Monday, March 6 at 8 p.m. in the lower level of the Barone Campus Center. The event is sponsored by the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University Student Association (FUSA) and is free and open to the public.
Nwadike will discuss his Free Hugs Project , an interactive program that to inspire change and raise awareness about various social issues while encouraging people to have understanding and compassion. The Free Hugs Project was founded in 2014 in response to Boston Marathon bombing. Equipped with a Free Hugs sign, camera, and tripod, the event was captured on video and instantly went viral reaching millions of views. The project continued to gain popularity in 2016 when it made headlines for peace efforts and de-escalating violence during protests, riots and political rallies.
“While viewing the devastation of the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon, I was determined to be a participant in the next race. I failed to qualify by just 23 seconds, so I decided to attend the event in a different way. I provided free hugs to runners as encouragement along the route. This simple act made national news headlines and lifted runners’ spirits. Hugs produced smiles and gave runners an extra boost as they ran,” stated Nwadike.
Nwadike has made appearances on news programs and radio broadcasts worldwide, including CNN, USA Today, Good Morning Britain, and BBC News.
To learn more about the Free Hugs Project, visit .
Photo Source: Free Hugs Project
