Elizabeth Martinez, an author and social activist will speak at The Evergreen State College Oct. 17 as part of the college's 2006-2007 Diversity Series. The event is free and open to the public. It begins at 6 p.m. at Lecture Hall 3 near Red Square.

Martinez has published six books and many articles on social movement in the Americas, addressing racism, multiculturalism, women's struggles and social movements. She is a graduate of Swarthmore College and has worked at the United Nations as a researcher on colonialism in Africa, as well as at The Nation magazine as books and art editor.

The college's Diversity Series aims to engage the campus community with diversity issues and create an opportunity for sustained academic study. For more information, go to www.evergreen.edu/genderandrace.