Seven years ago, Syrian American Elias Matar responded to the refugee crisis in the Middle East by  providing humanitarian aid on the front lines and raising awareness through three documentaries shot in Greece, Turkey and Lebanon. He founded the Lighthouse Peace Initiative (LPICorp), a non-profit organization, dedicated to raising the quality of life for vulnerable communities around the world. Most recently, he established the Manara Center in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon  to support adolescents and young adults through courses in the arts, language  technology, sports, vocational training, and professional psycho-social support. Matar will  speak about the Manara Center’s filmmaking projects and share extraordinary student work. This night promises to be informative, an eye-opener, and inspiring.