Raise the Hammer

The McMaster Laureates of Peace Lecture Series seeks to tap into and share McMaster University’s rich and varied research interests and expertise on issues affecting all of us as global citizens. Critical analysis, provocative ideas and thoughtful insights will be highlighted, as leading scholars, global thinkers and resident experts tackle an eclectic range of topics in history, art, politics, religion, health and public affairs.

Marc Kielburger is a social entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author and gifted orator.

Along with his brother Craig, Marc is co-founder of Free The Children, an international charity and educational partner that empowers youth to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change.

Marc is also the co-founder of Me to We, an innovative social enterprise that advances the vision of philanthropy and provides people with better choices for a better world. Half of Me to We’s net profit is donated to Free The Children, while the other half is reinvested to grow the enterprise and its social mission.

Every year, Marc and Craig organize a series of We Days, Free The Children’s signature event attended by 200,000 students from over 8000 schools. We Day also reaches nearly 6 million viewers through televised broadcasts and has more than 3.5 million followers on Facebook.

Marc has shared the stage, and his voice, with Nobel Peace laureates, heads of state, celebrities, rock bands, actors and icons, including Malala Yousafzai, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sir Richard Branson, among many others.

Marc graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, completing a degree in International Relations. He was later awarded a coveted Rhodes Scholarship and went on to complete a law degree at Oxford University. Marc has also received 10 honorary doctorates and degrees for his work in the fields of education and human rights. He is the recipient of many honours, including the Order of Canada, and was selected by the World Economic Forum as one of 250 Young Global Leaders. His work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes, as well as in National Geographic, TIME, and The Economist.

ALL ARE WELCOME.