Northland College to host guest speaker and journalist William Powers

March 30, 2012

Author and journalist William Powers will speak at Northland College about living "off the grid" in a 12 square foot cabin on Tuesday, April 3. The event will be held at 7 p.m. in the Sentry Room of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute. Powers' visit, another offering in the Northland College Community Connections series, is free and open to the public.

Powers authored "Twelve By Twelve: A One-Room Cabin off the Grid & Beyond the American Dream." The book chronicles his experience living in a small cabin owned by North Carolina physician Jackie Benton. Powers takes her place at the rustic home and examines a new way to find meaning and purpose while living with less.

"Each of us can look for that in our own lives. What's that 12x12 space that we can foster creativity and joy and simplicity and find that life is about being more - not having more," says William Powers.

Powers will speak about the book and how he was able to slow down and reflect on what it means to live a good life. Powers, who has written for the Washington Post and New York Times, challenges people to seek out similar situations in their own lives.

In addition to being an author, Powers is also an aid worker. He has led aid and environmental initiatives in Latin America, Africa and Washington D.C. Other works by Powers include his memoirs "Blue Clay People" and essays "Whispering in the Giant's Ear."

The event is part of "Keep Northland Beautiful Week" at Northland College from March 28 through April 4. Powers' visit is sponsored by the Northland College Student Association along with the A.D. & Mary Elizabeth Hulings Chair in the Humanities.