Writer, historian, art critic, and social activist Rebecca Solnit will be the inaugural speaker at the new annual “Speaking for Justice” Sewell Lecture, sponsored by the First Unitarian Church, on Thursday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m., at First Unitarian Church, 1211 SW Main St.

Solnit’s lecture will focus on the incredible yet common stories of people helping one another through disastrous circumstances.  Solnit’s research and writing shows that the typical response to calamity is spontaneous altruism, self-organization, and mutual aid.  Her book A Paradise Built in Hell was named by The Nation as “the most valuable non-fiction book of 2009.”

The Sewell Lecture is named for Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell, Minister Emerita, who retired as Senior Minister in 2009, and honors her commitment to social justice during her long tenure at the church.

Tickets for the event are $10 and are available through BrownPaperTickets, at the church following Sunday services, and at the door.