Introduction to Memorial Service
by David Wiley, Kim's Academic Advisor

Why have we gathered here today?

We gather today because we still are in shock and disbelief at the news of this terrible tragedy in the streets of Accra, Ghana that took the life of Kim and of an unnamed street vendor, whose family today also grieves at their loss.

We gather today with Kim's parents, Estrella and Alberto, and her brothers, Ken and Kevin, to share with each other our sorrow and loss now that we no longer can see and talk to - or look forward to being with Kim again.

We gather to because we want to share with each other and hold on to the vivid memories we treasure of this vital and energetic Kim Perez.

We gather to try to find sense and meaning in this awful taking of a life that leaves us feeling senseless and oh so perplexed by this loss of so young and vivacious woman in the prime of her life.

We gather to mourn as well because it seems that, never ever has the world needed so much a new generation of leaders, especially of women who so innovatively combine the personal and the political, knowing that Kim was the model of such.

But we gather as well not just to grieve, as we must, but to celebrate who this woman was.

We celebrate that truly, Kim Perez did pour into her 30 years more intense living, more linking to people, and perhaps more travel to see friends than most of us can in three or four score years.

We celebrate the free spirit we saw in Kim's soaring to greet the new day and new challenges with astonishing energy, enthusiasm, and wonderment.

We celebrate the astonishing work ethic and accomplishments of this engaging free spirit of a woman - who danced and flew through all her days in spite of illnesses, challenges, and even self-doubts about her capacities - but who, then, like a young eagle who had tumbled, shook off the moment, and soared again to new heights.

We gather because in Kim we can celebrate a unique woman, who also is one of a new generation of women intolerant of the fundamentalisms and materialisms of the new world order and intolerant of the inhumanity of nations and peoples in this era where the powers extol the virtues of the unfettered market.

We gather to celebrate the incredible globalism of this woman who created her own international community of friends and acquaintances literally around the world, a community that has sent so many messages of distress, sadness, and loss - and of admiration and love - from England, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kosovo, Thailand, and all across the United States.

We gather together today to share and celebrate the feelings of love and respect for Kimberly Rosario Perez that we are experiencing more than ever before.