In “How to Change the World with Your Bare Hands,” Booker spoke about his struggle through political procedures; a lack of hope in the Newark community; and his personal growth through his professional life. He also discussed about the strength of positive thinking and encouraged attendees to look at each thing in their lives as a “positive possibility” for something to flourish from.

City of Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Photo submitted

Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, N.J., has been selected as the next guest in the college’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

The third event in the series takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, in McKenna Theatre.

Booker became mayor of the City of Newark in May 2006. Prior to his election for the top post, he served as a councilman in Newark’s Central Ward.

The former varsity football player, class president at Stanford University, crisis hotline director, and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, is dedicated to civic responsibility and encourages others to get involved in creating change in their communities.

In August 2009, Booker will be featured in a documentary series called “Brick City,” which focuses on how the City of Newark is working to become a defining example of urban transformation.

“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” said Booker. “It’s about rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. Change comes from good people coming together with collective struggles and doing something about it.”

The Distinguished Speaker Series was created in 2008 to connect students and their families, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and community members with well-known luminaries. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dave Barry was the inaugural speaker in November 2008. Jonathan Alter, senior editor of Newsweek, visited the campus in April 2009.

Tickets will go on sale in August. For more information, visit the Distinguished Speaker Series Web site.