BRATTLEBORO — Musician, human rights activist, and award-winning speaker Arn Chorn-Pond will share his riveting story as a child prisoner and survivor of Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia. Hear his inspirational account of his escape to the U.S.
, and subsequent return to rebuild and heal Cambodia by revitalizing its endangered artistic heritage by founding Cambodia Living Arts. The power of the arts to bring healing and reconciliation in times of conflict is his timeless message. Arn will speak at the Latchis Theatre, 50 Main St.
, in Brattleboro, at 4 p.m. Oct.
6. Having attended Brown University and graduating from Providence College, Arn received the Amnesty International Human Rights Award, the Kohl Foundation International Peace Prize, and the Spirit of Anne Frank Outstanding Citizen Award. He has shared his story at schools, universities, conferences, and places of worship.
Born into a family of artists, Arn grew up in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime. Sent to a child labor camp and forced to play propaganda music during that period, Arn escaped to a refugee camp on the Cambodia-Thai border, where he was adopted by Reverend Peter Pond and moved to northern New Hampshire. In 1984, Arn became the first Cambodian child soldier to speak publicly about the atrocities that occurred during the Cambodian genocide, in a speech delivered to 10,000 people at the Cathedral of St.
John the Divine in New York. Arn then co-founded Children of War, an organization that helps youn.