Pulitzer Prize-winning Writer and President of Covenant House to Speak at University

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Tina Kelley and Covenant House International President Kevin Ryan will discuss their book “Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope” at The University of Scranton Thursday, Sept. 19. The discussion, which is the second Annual Ignatian Values in Action Lecture, begins at 7 p.m. in the Byron Recreation Complex. It is free of charge and open to the public.

Kelley was a staff writer for the New York Times for ten years and shared in a Pulitzer Prize for the paper’s coverage of the September 11 attacks.

Covenant House International is the largest privately-funded agency in the Americas providing shelter and other services to homeless youth. The Covenant House provided residential and non-residential services to more than 61,000 youth in its 2012 fiscal year.

“Almost Home” is the required reading selection for the University’s incoming class of 2017. Members of class will attend the lecture. In addition, the students will encounter themes from the book throughout the year in classes and extracurricular opportunities. 

The purpose of The Ignatian Values in Action Lecture is to introduce students and the larger community to the mission and core values of the University. This year’s lecture is intended to foster discussions on youth homelessness, as well as more in-depth conversations about related issues that include mental health, health care, youth advocacy, abuse, juvenile justice and living wages. The ultimate goal is for the discussions to lead to a transformational learning experience for students that includes understanding, as well as constructive action, to address critical issues facing the world.

“We are thrilled that The University of Scranton has embraced ‘Almost Home,’” said Ryan. “We hope they are as inspired as we were by the transformation stories of the six remarkable young people in the book, and we hope these new readers join us in our movement to prevent youth homelessness in the first place. Working together, we can ensure that vulnerable kids get the bright futures they deserve.”

For additional information, contact Rebecca Haggerty, director of assessment and accreditation for the College of Arts and Sciences, at rebecca.haggerty@scranton.edu or 570-941-4399.