Mark Kelly is widely known as the loving husband of Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman shot in an assassination attempt in 2011.
But he's also a former astronaut and newly published children's book author, a decorated Gulf War fighter pilot and the father of two teenaged daughters. Despite a plate spilling over professionally and personally, Kelly will be in Minneapolis Oct. 13 to champion his newest passion: Returning civility to politics.
Talk about a combat mission.
But Kelly is pleasantly optimistic. "People have realized that we're off-course here," he said, during a telephone interview Wednesday. "Regardless of who wins [the presidential election] next month, I get the sense that members of Congress are going to want to work together."
Kelly will speak at 8 p.m. Saturday as part of the Voices of Inspiration Speaker Series at Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Av. S., in Minneapolis. The 10-year-old series has brought in luminaries including Elie Wiesel, Paul Rusesabagina of Hotel Rwanda and Maya Angelou.
Temple Israel Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman said Kelly is the perfect pick for the topic: Gathering Together As a Nation and A Community.
"In this world where being able to listen to each other is no longer the norm, Mark Kelly is the voice to help us bring back a sense of civil discourse and understanding," she said.
Kelly never set out to redefine his life with this focus. But he received the worst call imaginable on Jan. 8, 2011. His wife of just over three years had been shot in the head during a political meet-and-greet in front of a grocery store in Tucson, Az. Six people were killed, including a 9-year-old girl.