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Biography

Kerry Kennedy is the President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. She is the author of The New York Times best seller “Being Catholic Now: Prominent Americans talk about Change in the Church and the Quest for Meaning,” published by Crown Books/Random House in September 2008, and “Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World,” (Random House, 2000).

Ms. Kennedy started working in the field of human rights in 1981, when she investigated abuses committed by U.S. immigration officials against refugees from El Salvador. Since then, her life has been devoted to the pursuit of justice, to the promotion and protection of basic rights, and to the preservation of the rule of law. She established the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights in 1988. She has led over 50 human rights delegations around the globe.

Ms. Kennedy is the founder of Speak Truth To Power, a global education initiative, which includes her book, the play, the photographic exhibition by Pulitzer Prize-winner Eddie Adams, the PBS documentary film, the education packet (a twelve-week course taught to 300,000 high school students around the world in 2009-2010), five public service announcements, the award-winning Web site, and federal legislation which increased funding for the protection of defenders.

Ms. Kennedy is Chair of the Amnesty International USA Leadership Council and serves on the boards of directors of Human Rights First, Inter-Press Service and the United States Institute of Peace. She received high honors from President Lech Walesa of Poland for aiding the Solidarity movement and is the recipient of many other prizes.

Ms. Kennedy is a graduate of Brown University and Boston College Law School and she is a member of the Massachusetts and District of Columbia bars. She has campaigned in every Presidential election since 1968.

She is the mother of three daughters, Cara, Mariah and Michaela.

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In Other News:

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, United States

Robert F. Kennedy Center - Europe

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, United States

FOUNDER
Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy *

CHAIR
Orin S. Kramer *

VICE CHAIR
Robert Smith *
Vista Equity Partners

TREASURER  and SECRETARY
Anthony Williams *
DLA Piper US LLP

Directors

Harry Belafonte
Activist, Entertainer

Alan Buerger
Founder and CEO, Coventry

Larry Cox

Professor Peter B. Edelman *
Georgetown University Law School

Mark E. Freitas *

Jonah Goodhart
WGI Group

Claudio Grossman
Washington College of Law

Richard Iannuzzi
President, New York State United Teachers

Philip W. Johnston
Philip W. Johnston Associates

Kerry Kennedy 
President, RFK Center for Justice & Human Rights

Joe Kennedy, III

Matt Kennedy

Marialina Marcucci

Elisa Massimino
Human Rights First

Terry Mazany
CEO, Chicago Community Trust

Walter Raquet
WR Group

John Rogers
Founder, Ariel Investments

Marvin S. Rosen
Fusion Telecommunications International

Malika Saada Saar
Human Rights Project for Girls

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey Sachs Associates

Martin Sheen
Actor and Activist

Paul van Zyl

Luz Vega-Marquis
The Marguerite Casey Foundation

Jake Walthour
Head of Business Development and Client Service, Cliffwater

Robert Wolf
CEO, 32 Advisors, LLC

Ex Officio Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Lynn Delaney * 
Executive Director, RFK Center for Justice & Human Rights

* Executive Committee

Robert F. Kennedy Center - Europe

Honorary President
Kerry Kennedy
International lawyer

President
Marialina Marcucci
Entrepreneur

Treasurer
Riccardo Monti
Value Partners S.p.A. - Director of the Rome office

Board
Francesco Aletti Montano
Aletti Montano & Co Family Office Srl – President

Board
Marco Gualtieri
Entrepreneur

Board
Phil Johnston

Board
Orin S. Kramer

Board
David Stein
Stein Hotels - CEO

Board
Donato J. Tramuto
Physicians Interactive - CEO

Board
Adolfo Vannucci
Entrepreneur

Board
Anthony Williams
DLA Piper LLC - International lawyer