TAMPA, Fla. – Ken E. Nwadike Jr., peace activist, video journalist and YouTube personality, most commonly known as the “Free Hugs Guy,” will speak at the University of South Florida next month as part of the student-run University Lecture Series. Nwadike will appear at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in the Marshall Student Center Oval Theater.
Founder of the Free Hugs Project, Nwadike is known for spreading love, inspiring change and raising awareness on social issues through his motivational videos that have totaled hundreds of millions of views on Facebook and YouTube. Overcoming his struggles as a former homeless athlete, he is also the owner of Superhero Events, an event production company that raises funds and awareness for homeless teens.
Nwadike takes a fun and interactive approach when bringing his Free Hugs Project to a live audience, with the goal of engaging participants in conversations of compassion and understanding. The event concludes with a keynote address that will explore how society can overcome differences, build communities and inspire change.
The lecture is free and open to the public on a limited first-come, first-served basis following priority seating for USF Tampa students. For more information about the lecture series, including the audience policy, visit the ULS website.