Author, musician and peacemaker David LaMotte to speak at Westminster

David LaMotte, award-winning singer-songwriter, peace activist and author of “You Are Changing the World Whether You Like It or Not” will speak at Westminster College at 4 p.m. Monday, July 22, in Mueller Theater of the McKelvey Campus Center.

LaMotte, who will be on campus as part of the New Wilmington Mission Conference (NWMC), will discuss his book, which examines how large societal changes happen and what society’s role in those changes can and should be. A book signing will take place following the event. Both are free and open to the public.

“You Are Changing the World Whether You Like It or Not,” published in 2023, was used as a textbook last spring in the Westminster College course, “Changing the World One Community at a Time,” which brought together Westminster students and community members.

Angie Urban, director of the Sharon Community Development Corporation and former Lawrence County community organizer, said she’s read LaMotte’s book several times and it has challenged the way she thinks about how change happens in the community.

“In my work both in New Castle and Sharon, and as a resident of New Wilmington, I often reference his examples and experiences to encourage others to become involved in the changes we all want to see happen. I would love for people who are engaged or want to be engaged in changing something about their community to join us and be inspired,” she said.

“I would love to get David in front of as many folks in this region as we can. Change is inevitable and to help guide what we want that change to look like, is to be engaged in the process. We can all do something and together it adds up,” Urban added.

LaMotte has built a devoted community of enthusiastic fans through over 3,000 concerts, 13 albums, three books and performances across 50 states and five continents. He is also a Rotary World Peace Fellow and co-founder of Senderos, a non-profit organization that promotes mentoring, education and artistic expression in Guatemala.

As part of the NWMC, LaMotte will also offer a free public concert at 8:45 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at Westminster College’s Anderson Amphitheater.

Monday’s event is co-hosted by the Sharon Community Development Corporation, New Visions for Lawrence County, Oneness, Westminster’s Office of Professional Development and Community Engagement and Office of Faith and Spirituality.

For more information, please contact Dr. Helen Boylan, professor of environmental science and Faculty Fellow for Community Engagement at boylanhm@westminster.edu or the Rev. Jim Mohr, College chaplain, at mohrjr@westminster.edu or 724-946-7117.

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