You are Changing the World Whether You Like it or Not
In a world where it's easy to feel powerless, David LaMotte wants to empower people and help them realize their potential. Author of "You Are Changing the World Whether You Like it or Not," LaMotte examines how ordinary people can create change without feeling daunted or immobilized by the enormity of today's issues.
LaMotte is a songwriter, speaker, and author who draws from folk roots in his music and speaking career. He has released 13 albums and performed over 3,500 concerts with hits atop the folk charts in a career spanning over 30 years. His music, including the Folk Radio #1 hit "September Me," has been featured on "Our Town" (Broadway), "This American Life", and national television. As a speaker and author, he addresses peace and conflict resolution. He has delivered TEDx talks (one a TED Editor's Pick) and keynoted events at the U.N., Scottish Parliament, and Rotary International.
In 2009, he suspended his music career for two years to study international relations in Australia and India for his master's degree as a Rotary World Peace Fellow at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. He and his wife founded PEG Partners,
a nonprofit that supports mentoring, education, and artistic expression in Guatemala. He has published four books, including two illustrated children's books. "You Are Changing the World Whether You Like it or Not" is his fourth book and draws on his many international experiences, including personal interviews he conducted. It is used in college classrooms across the U.S. and abroad.
The event is part of the Dr. David and MaryAnne Kozak Gannon READS (Reading to Enhance the Awareness of a Diverse Society) program, in which Gannon University freshmen were given copies of the book to read and discuss in their freshman seminar courses.
*This is a Dr. Davin and MaryAnne Kozak Gannon READS event.
Date/Time: Thursday, October 16, 2025 7:00-8:30PM
Location: Warner Theater, 811 State St, Erie, PA 16501
Admission: FREE
Parking: TBD
David LaMotte is an award-winning songwriter, speaker, and author who has performed over 3,500 concerts worldwide and released thirteen albums. His music, including the Folk Radio #1 hit “September Me,” has been featured on Our Town (Broadway), This American Life, and national television. A sought-after speaker, David has delivered TEDx talks (one a TED Editor’s Pick) and keynoted events at the UN, Scottish Parliament, and Rotary International. He is a Rotary World Peace Fellow with a master’s in International Relations, and the founder of PEG Partners, a nonprofit supporting education in Guatemala. David has authored four books, including You Are Changing the World Whether You Like It Or Not, used in college classrooms across the U.S. and abroad. He is also part of the interfaith musical group Abraham Jam. He lives in Black Mountain, NC, and continues to tour, write, and advocate for peace and justice.
