Helene Cooper is a native of Liberia who came to the United States at 14 years of age. She grew up at Sugar Beach, a mansion by the sea, and lived a childhood filled wealth and advantages. It was also an African childhood, filled with knock foot games and hot pepper soup, heartmen and neegee. But after the coup d'état in 1980, Helene, her mother, and her sister fled Liberia for America. Helene will discuss her memoir, a deeply personal story and an examination of a violent and stratified country. It is also the story of Helene Cooper's long voyage home.

Ms. Cooper holds an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill. She has been the diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times, based in Washington, since 2006.