(March 25, 2014)

CNN Hero of the Year to speak at Centenary

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College's World House for Environmental Sustainability, in cooperation with community partner Shreveport Green, will host Chad Pregracke, CNN Hero of the Year for 2013, Thursday, April 3. The Living Lands and Waters founder and president will deliver a convocation at 11:10 a.m. and a workshop-styled lecture at 4 p.m. in Kilpatrick Auditorium. Both events are free and open to the public.

Chad Pregracke
Chad Pregracke, CNN Hero of the Year

What: Convocation by Chad Pregracke, CNN Hero of the Year
When: Thursday, April 3, 2014, at 11:10 a.m.
Where: Kilpatrick Auditorium, Centenary College

What: Workshop: Goal Setting and Realization
When: Thursday, April 3, 2014, at 4 p.m.
Where: Kilpatrick Auditorium, Centenary College

Pregracke has dedicated his life to cleaning up the Mississippi River and other domestic waterways. Since 1998, nearly 70,000 volunteers have helped Pregracke and his non-profit remove more than 7 million pounds of garbage from 23 rivers across the country.

Living Lands and Waters is currently the world's only "industrial strength" non-profit river cleanup organization. Pregracke formed the organization at age 23 after growing up and working on the Mississippi River. He was disgusted by the amount of garbage in the river and decided that if no one else was going to do something about it, he would.

He has broadened his mission to include projects from a MillionTrees and Adopt-A-River Mile as well as a new floating classroom aboard a barge that he and his crew live on seven months of the year, teaching students, educators, and citizens about the value of our rivers and natural resources.

Centenary's World House for Environmental Sustainability is one of three common residences with a common purpose. The World House for Environmental Sustainability will work to leave the planet better than it was for the next generation through efforts such as creating green space, decreasing the impact of energy exploration and development on the environment, energy conservation, surface and ground water quality, carbon footprint reduction, and alternative transportation.