Join the Alaska World Affairs Council for a special screening of the documentary Seize the Summit, followed by a discussion and Q&A with award-winning journalist and INARA founder Arwa Damon. Seize the Summit chronicles the extraordinary journey of four young war survivors—from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine—as they unite to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and take a powerful stand against war. The documentary captures their thrilling ascent up Africa’s highest peak while revealing profound lessons about resilience, hope, and the universal impact of armed conflict on young lives.
About the Speaker
Arwa Damon is a multi-award winning former senior international correspondent for CNN best known for her ability to draw out nuanced human stories in the midst of war and other crisis. Among her multiple awards is an Emmy for the documentary Return to Mosul. She has reported throughout the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa.
After witnessing injured children in warzones fall through the gaps in access to medical care, she founded the charity INARA in 2015. It was through organizing the Kilimanjaro summit for INARA in 2022 that she recognized it was a unique opportunity to present the incredible stories of war survivors to a diverse audience. It was Arwa’s belief in the power of this documentary that led her to take the risk of leaving CNN, pursuing and self-funding the production of this project.
It has long been her passion to delve into the documentary film world and translate her vast 17-year storytelling experience into something that would bring global issues to a diverse audience in an unexpected way. This is her documentary directing debut. Arwa speaks Arabic, Turkish, English and French.
Event Details
- Check-in will begin at 5:30 PM with seating available on a first-come first-serve basis. The program will begin at 6:00 PM.
- Those with online reservations do not need to present ticket confirmation at the door, we will have all confirmed attendees on a list at check-in.
- Online registration closes at 6:00 PM on February 17 or when event sells out.