William H. Dietz

By:Phil Lawson Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

What has caused the obesity epidemic? “Everything.”

William H. Dietz, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Disease Control, served as a contributor at the Healthcare Roundtable where he expounded on the causes of obesity throughout the Americas and their effects on the healthcare system.

His comments about obesity—that the causes are not really known were central to the discussion. He said, “I’m often asked what has changed to cause this epidemic and the answer is ‘everything'- the way we eat, the way we produce foods, the way we get from one place to another. Thirty years ago most children walked to school… I am not sure that trying to think about what the cause is, is as productive as trying to identify effective solutions.”

Dr. Dietz outlined target behaviors and strategies that the CDC has identified to help promote change. They included simple things like physical activity, increased rates of breast feeding, increased fruit and vegetable consumption, reduced television viewing, reduced consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, and the reduced intake of fast foods or high-calorie foods.

Dietz further elaborated on these strategies. He said, “The key to increased fruits and vegetables is improving access; about 30 percent of this country does not have access to supermarkets where they can buy healthy food at reasonable prices or where there are healthy foods. Dietz explained, “Alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages, like water in schools, is also very important. But, it turns out in Boston many schools can’t use their water supply because it comes through lead pipes.”

Other strategies involve social support for breast feeding—what Dr. Dietz described as, “Baby friendly hospitals where breast feeding is the expectation, and where formula is not the default.”

“What we are trying to do with respect to these strategies is think about environmental changes driven by policy,” Dietz said, zeroing in on an additional challenge expressed by another speaker during the July 8th session. “We heard today that this is often characterized as an ‘issue of personal responsibility.’ Well, people need to make the right choices, but in order to make the right choices they have to have those choices to make. And in many cases those choices are not available—the easy choices are not readily accessible. So we are focused on ways to make that an easier choice.”

Because obesity, which is a singular issue, is wrapped in a complex interconnected set of actions, what is one to do? Dietz says that, “Systemic changes are going to be required. The environment is what has changed, and what has led to the issue of obesity. Changing that environment in a healthier way is what our goal has become.”

William H. Dietz, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity at the CDC. Prior to his appointment to the CDC, he was a Professor of Pediatrics at the Tufts University School of Medicine, and Director of Clinical Nutrition at the Floating Hospital of New England Medical Center Hospitals. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970 and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine, a recipient of the Holroyd-Sherry Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics for his contributions to the field of children and the media, and the recipient of the 2006 Nutrition Research award from the AAP for outstanding research in pediatric nutrition.

Transnational Health Calls for Collaboration

By:Keenan Brugh Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

In today’s interconnected world, health issues in one country can quickly spread and challenge others.

Transnational health calls for serious collaboration. That was the goal of the Biennial of the Americas’ Roundtable on Health. By bringing health experts and leaders together, the forum gave rise to intelligent dialogue based on experience and offered practical approaches regarding hemispheric concerns. Some of the topics discussed included responses to contagious outbreaks, clean water and sanitation issues, and the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Throughout the discussion, it became apparent that the issues surrounding health are inseparably tied to other roundtable topics, such as education, poverty levels, and environmental resource use.

Dr. José Angel Córdova Villalobos, Mexico’s Minister of Health, explained what it was like to recognize and respond to a contagious new strain of flu like H1N1. The pandemic was a sobering reminder of how closely the world’s health is tied together and that what happens on one side of the planet can quickly affect those on the opposite side. This reality begs cooperation. Preventative preparation and planning along with real time communication is critical to be able to respond quickly and effectively.

Having systemic procedures in place allowed Mexico to quickly recognize that they were, in fact, experiencing an outbreak of a new flu strain. Despite interest group concerns about initial economic impacts, transparency allowed for a much better international understanding and response. Action plans such as education campaigns, vaccine distribution, and thermal scanners in airports allowed contamination control efforts to be more effective. Furthermore, the cooperation of the Mexican public in conjunction with the ministry’s campaign was outstanding. Shutting down public places in Mexico City, the most populated city in Mexico, was a huge accomplishment. Critically important was the open communication with officials from other governments. Such collaborative efforts allowed a quicker and more complete world understanding and prevented an even worse pandemic. These crucial actions helped to prevent infections, saved lives, and reduced the economic impact of the virus. This case serves as a great example of ideas that have been implemented and how these actions will influence the future of transnational health concerns. Preventative preparation and planning along with real time communication is critical to be able to respond quickly and effectively.

Clean water and sanitation access are also critical factors for basic health. “In Central and South America, one of five do not have access to good clean water,” said roundtable moderator Dr. Douglas Jackson of Project C.U.R.E. An enormous amount of time and money is lost because people must travel long distances to collect water which prevents, primarily women and children, from working or attending school, further detracting from the economy. Additionally, those who become ill from waterborne diseases experience extreme pain and often do not have access to health care. In fact, diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death of children under five in Haiti. Even before the earthquake, children could expect to fall ill between four and six times a year. Sanitation and infrastructure improvements have been made in many countries, but people are facing continual challenges. “In Central and South America, one out of five do not have access to good clean water.” - Dr. Douglas Jackson

The Central American Water Tribunal has issued a warning about water shortages in the region’s future. They say that the amount of available water per capita has dropped by 60% since 1950 and will continue to decline. Human environmental impacts play an important role in this decline. In El Salvador, for example, rivers often run dry in the summer months because excessive tree clearing has altered the water cycle, explained Mauricio Cermeno of the Salvadoran Ecological Union. People can make changes by being future-oriented, like Colombia’s National Planning Department which is working with cities to make plans to prevent a severe municipal water shortage in the future.

The great progress in health over the past 50 years is due to the combined efforts of local care providers and regional and worldwide coordination organizations such as the World Health Organization. Dr. Jon Andrus, Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization, has had success in many aspects of responding to transnational threats of communicable diseases like polio. He says that, “Before, we lived in an era where infectious diseases were the biggest threat, but now, even in developing countries, the greatest cause of death is non-communicable diseases.” Of course contagious diseases still remain a threat, but this change is a sign of the progress that has been made and the new challenges that must still be faced. Dr. Andrus believes the health gains achieved through safe water, immunization, and sanitation will be reversed if we don’t tackle childhood obesity. “We see a lot of people who have what could be considered a self-induced disease,” says Dr. Patricia Gabow, CEO of Denver Health and Hospital. “We need to give people the tools to take control of their own health,” said Dr. Jeffrey Sturchio, President of Global Health Councils.

This Roundtable was an eye opening experience. Health is not an isolated issue but it is inextricably linked to other concerns. Health requires cooperation between individuals, communities, health care professionals, businesses, governments, and international organizations. When asked about the value of events like the Biennial Roundtables, Dr. Jon Andrus said, “You can always meet someone who has a connection that can help you with your mission’s work.” He said, “People working together are the key to a healthier future."

Thomas Steyer

By:Phil Lawson Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Is the Highest Return on Investment Always the Best Formula?

Wandering the aisles of a new Do-it-Yourself (DIY) store during his last visit to Latin America, Thomas Steyer, Founder of Farallon Capital Management, was moved by the sight of entire families participating in the process of improving their homes. DIY stores, similar to Home Depot in America, are a new concept to Peruvians that allows them to take charge of home improvements “room by room.”

“For people who often have not had running water and electricity in their house, all of a sudden they come in as a whole family and buy what they need,” Steyer explained. “When I saw it, I thought it was one of the most impressive and exciting things I’d seen, because literally the whole family comes in: the grandmother comes in, the parents come in, the kids come in, and they fill up a huge shopping basket to build their next room.”

This model of “sustainable growth,” Steyer insists, is exactly what his company looks for when it comes to investment decisions.

“Our model of investing has to do with investing in a country and participating in that country’s growth,” Steyer further explained. “By definition, we are not people who are coming in to extract resources. We are coming in to make investments over a long period of time and be part of the community. We don’t believe in people coming from the United States, staying for a few years, and coming back. Basically, if you want to work for us in Latin America, you have to live in Latin America. You have to send your kids to school in Latin America. You can’t be an outsider—that doesn’t work. So, from our point of view, part and parcel of what we see as success is a successful society.”

What additional criteria represent success in Steyer’s view?"Gross domestic product" tops the list, he said, but many other factors play a role.

The first question is: Are standards of living rising for the average person? Steyer said, "That’s the first measure of success for a society. That’s something we’re going to look at before we ever invest because, if they are not fair, that’s probably not a place that is going to work very well for us. If it’s corrupt we can’t really participate in it." "If you have a kind of slash and burn mentality, it’s not going to work out. If you really believe you are going to do well at the expense of somebody else’s economy, I think you are fooling yourself." - Thomas Steyer

The question remains: Does GDP have as much relevance when there’s a sizable gap between the rich and poor? And the answer, according to Steyer is, “It still does.”

“Normally, when we look at societies where there is a huge gap between rich and poor, they’re normally extraction-based societies. And that’s been the traditional case in Latin America where basically you are extracting minerals or other resources from the society and those societies tend to be very desperate in terms of incomes. That’s still true. Those aren’t really the things we specialize in. What we specialize in are the kinds of businesses that have to do with growing the average income.”

What about socially responsible investing—theconcept that corporations favor practices that promote environmental stewardship, consumer protection and more?

“That is something I spend a ton of my personal time on,” Steyer said. “I’d say the way that we think about it from the point of view of our funds—where we are representing other people—is from the traditional American Medical Association, first of all, 'Do no harm.' We can’t be participating in things that cause harm. We have to be participating in things that are positive.”

Does Steyer play the numbers game? Promote a high return-on-investment formula? Or, do his solutions comprise different numbers for different locations and industries?

“It depends on the recipe,” Steyer explained. “There is no one number; it depends on what you are actually doing and how much risk you’re taking … To put it down to “one” number would be, you know, way too simplistic and inaccurate. That’s not the way to think about life.”

Steyer’s approach appeared to reflect a blend of Wall Street and the new Impact Investing model. “We take a long term view,” Steyer said. “If you have a kind of slash and burn mentality, it’s not going to work out. If you really believe you are going to do well at the expense of somebody else’s economy, I think you are fooling yourself. It’s not going to happen. We believe that it actually lines up—that the kinds of investments that help people are the kinds of investments you make money from… I’ve looked all around the world—in all seriousness; we’ve visited countries on every continent, probably in the last quarter (and) being part of a rip-off does not work; is not satisfying; will lead to a bad end in all ways and so we just won’t do it. But I also believe that businesses are what provide jobs; they are what create higher living standards; they are what raise people out of poverty and let them educate their kids, having a decent standard of living and dignity, so I in no way despise private enterprise. I believe it is the thing that actually helps people.”

Prior to founding Farallon in 1986, Mr. Steyer’s background included working for Goldman Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. He currently oversees Farallon’s investment activities. The firm employs approximately 165 people in eight offices globally, and manages equity capital for institutions and high net worth individuals.

Steve Vetter

By:Keenan Brugh Issue: La Bienal de las Américas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Building Collaborative Partnerships Throughout the Hemisphere

In 1962, President Kennedy called for collaboration among the citizens of the Western Hemisphere. Today, some 48 years later, this inspiration toward collaboration is at the core of Partners of the Americas (Partners) and its President, Steve Vetter. Partners has become the largest volunteer-based organization promoting social, economic, and cultural development in the Western Hemisphere. Vetter said, “We cross borders. We collaborate. And we make a difference.”

Vetter oversees the organization’s 60 citizen-led partnerships between 45 U.S. states and 31 Latin American and Caribbean countries. These partnerships are in varying fields, such as agriculture and natural resources, civil society and governance, gender and equality, as well as many others. By connecting people from different places, valuable knowledge can be shared and relationships built. But to build stronger ties, Partners helps promote city-to-city and state-to-state relationships — like the San Francisco/Mexico City partnership or the Colorado/Minas Gerais, Brazil relationship.

In addition to speaking English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Vetter is uniquely qualified for this position because of his extensive background in domestic and international leadership roles with private enterprise, philanthropic groups, and governmental organizations. Much of this work has focused on reducing poverty and improving the economic and social development of disenfranchised peoples. “We are now seeing a tremendous interest in corporate social responsibility in the Latin American countries,” said Vetter during the Biennial Roundtable, “However the need for resources to fund these programs is also very real.”

Just a few years after Kennedy first called for collaboration, Vetter served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia - already showing dedication to improving lives in the hemisphere. He also worked for the Inter-American Foundation (IAD), a public corporation existing to support the self-directed advancement initiatives of communities in the Caribbean and Latin America. At different times, he worked as foundation representative to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, and Brazil; director of outreach; program vice president; and interim president. Vetter and the IAD acted in the important role of helping local NGOs to develop sources of financial sustainability to strengthen self-directed community development efforts.

As the president of Eureka Communities from 1996-2005, he worked to invest in leaders of grassroots organizations by providing them fellowships enabling peer-to-peer learning throughout the U.S. Through this endeavor, over 500 fellowships have been awarded to leaders improving education for impoverished children within their communities.

Vetter, along with the organizations that he has worked with over his career, is supporting collaboration through their many programs. By emphasizing and helping grassroots initiatives, sustainable and effective solutions can address the specific issues for the local areas in which they serve.

Rigoberta Menchu Tum

By:Michael Connors Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Vision and Light

What many Latin American countries are going through right now is no less than a battle for the soul of the region, and greater partnerships are needed to help promote sustainable development. Many countries face unbearable poverty, a history of corruption, and a tragic legacy of bloody civil wars. Clearly, what is needed now is a renewed sense of collaboration and partnership to help bring down the barriers to success. And perhaps no one best personifies the soul of Latin America and exudes hope better than Rigoberta Menchú Tum.

There is a gentle intensity that lies behind the eyes of Rigoberta Menchú Tum. She is a woman who has experienced all the devastation that war has to offer, and yet she is a force for what is best in humanity. Of Mayan ancestry, many know of her family’s suffering in the bloody civil war in Guatemala that lasted for more than thirty five years. Despite her fear and outrage, she was able to turn the tragic loss of so many so close to her — both her parents, two brothers, a sister-in-law, and three nieces and nephews were killed by Guatemalan security forces — into a passion for peace. Her endurance is truly amazing.

In the tradition of the Dalai Lama and Reverend Desmond Tutu, she is a spiritual force that uplifts those around her. And her participation at the Biennial of the Americas was an inspiring example of her leadership.

While the Biennial was an ideal forum in which to highlight the issues that most concern Tum, including indigenous people’s rights, poverty, war, and women’s rights, perhaps no other organization better reflects Tum’s values more than the Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI). Looking at her work with the NWI is an ideal way to encapsulate her stance on moving Latin America and the global community forward. It is well-known that war, disease and pestilence tend to predominantly impact women and children. In a recent report published by the Economic and Social Council, it is noted that, “Evidence shows that the loss of women’s income more adversely affected children and caused generations of families to remain in the poverty trap than the loss of men’s earnings.”

“Healthy and educated women are empowered, both for the shorter term and in an inter-generational sense as their daughters grow and learn more. This leads to better decision-making on the welfare of the family and the community, a better-balanced demographic, and improved social and economic conditions in which to live within the cultural context that applies in each case,” said a study from World Population Day. Both governments and individuals around the globe are coming to understand the importance of empowering women. "We must support all of the women who fight in conflicted areas; who are making a culture of peace, who are in mediation processes for peace, or who are educating for peace, creating peace leaders." - Rigoberta Menchú Tum

Tum clearly recognizes the importance of women on a global scale, but she also has a unique and powerful perspective that begins with her relationship with the six other members of the NWI.

She understands that in order for meaningful relationships to develop between industries, nations and continents, people must first have meaningful relationships with those around them. During our interview, she noted that, “The Nobel Woman’s Project has various motives, but one of them is the solidarity among the six living female Nobel Prize winners. We have to have a deep connection, a profound solidarity, a sisterhood between us. We must support all of the women who fight in conflicted areas; who are making a culture of peace, who are in mediation processes for peace, or who are educating for peace, creating peace leaders.” This statement reflects her profound understanding of the problems women face, and she has a true grasp of the solutions. Unless women are empowered as leaders and have full participation in the policy-making arena, mothers, wives, daughters and sisters all over the world will continue to suffer the disproportionate burden of poverty, violence, and subjugation.

As the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) stresses, “There is a direct link between increased female labor participation and growth. It is estimated that if women’s paid employment rates were raised to the same level as men’s, America’s GDP would be nine percent higher; the euro-zone’s would be 13 percent higher, and Japan’s would be boosted by 16 percent. . . Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, produce 50 percent of the food, but earn ten percent of the income and own one percent of the property.”

Only by close collaboration and a model of inclusion, can barriers start to crumble. Tum’s passionate commitment to women’s causes, as evidenced by her participation at the Biennial, brings hope and guidance to those in the world who truly wish to make a difference. She will stand at the pantheon of great religious leaders when her history is written, and all people will be the beneficiaries of her life’s work.

Oscar Morales

By:Keenan Brugh Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

One Million Voices Against FARC

In 2008, Oscar Morales was a regular Colombian citizen, and, like many others, was infuriated about the violence of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). While originally “fighting for the people,” FARC had strayed from its ideals, a side effect of decades of violent authority changing hands. Attacks on infrastructure and innocent citizens hurt thousands and terrified millions. Wanting to take a stand, Morales created a Facebook group, “One Million Voices Against FARC,” which used social media to illuminate the atrocities of the organization. Within a month, the use of social media gave a voice to over 12 million Morales supporters who were outraged by FARC activities. Morales and supporters organized protests in Colombia and cities around the world, and that public voice gave rise to public and political momentum against FARC. Although FARC still exists, its numbers are the lowest in its history. FARC has returned hundreds of kidnapping victims, and it is clear the group’s terrorizing violence is no longer tolerated.

Morales and these protests are in accord with Colombia’s changes over the last decade. The multi-faceted issues surrounding poverty reduction are major goals for citizens, governments, and business interests alike. Ambassador Brownfield, another Roundtable participant, discussed the infrastructure and security issues of the country and used a poor rural farmer as the example. They said that even with the seeds to grow crops, the tools to harvest, and access to a truck and road to transport the goods, none of it mattered if the farmer was going to be robbed, kidnapped, or killed while driving his crops to the market — begging the question: Is security a central issue to poverty reduction measures? Morales said, “Violence can end and destroy lives. Communities hurt. Countries suffer. In order to increase the well-being of a population, it is important to have stable and secure environments in order to invite investment, such as that of a small farmer investing labor into a crop.” Ambassador Brownfield added, “They need to have a good sense of the risk and return. The lack of security discourages investments and that capital is invested in a safer venture. As a country with a violent history, Colombia is now a shining example of the benefits of increased security for its citizens and business communities.”

One Million Voices is a fascinating case because of its use of social media to engage otherwise disconnected communities through social media platforms. These platforms allowed for discussion and action initiatives to be organized on an unprecedented level. As access becomes more widespread and as people learn more about their capabilities, people are going to be using the latest media to influence their world.

Morales stressed the importance of citizens interacting in the political arena by saying, “Such direct political and media access has never been possible before this century’s Internet and mobile media innovations, especially to the poor. Previously disenfranchised people now have a voice, especially when speaking in concert with others. It’s a new channel for democratic discussion and action and a new era in global citizen politics.” Morales' success is an open invitation for others to begin to share their crisis observations, discuss their concerns, invoke passions, and incite action.

Nell Merlino

By:Beth Parish Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

One Million Women to $1 Million Dollars

Nell Merlino, founder and CEO of the U.S. based non-profit Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, challenged the audience to empower women because often times women-owned businesses get stuck, due to lack of resources, access to capital, limited networking skills, and familial caregiving responsibilities.

Other participants on this dynamic and thought-provoking panel pointed out that women tend to be less aggressive than their male counterparts when it comes to networking ,and sometimes they don’t believe in their power as the majority in the business world. Merlino and Count Me In are out to challenge the physical, mental, actual, and perceived barriers faced by female business owners. Count Me In wants to help one million women-owned businesses, earn to $1 million. She says that these million businesses could easily translate into one trillion dollars in revenues and at least four million new jobs.

When asked why she founded Count Me In, she said that diversity is the key to growth in the economy, and that women cannot be players in this economy without money and that business ownership is key to financial influence, social impact, and overall community development. Merlino pointed out that, “Many male-owned businesses have failed, and communities have faltered because they are only operating with one hand.” She argued that, “The community is stronger when it realizes that it needs both men and women-owned businesses. Communities that empower women and help them grow small businesses to large businesses, are successful.”

Merlino used an example from Norway to make her point. In the late 1990’s and the early part of this decade, most public corporate board members were male, and all lived within a ten block radius of one another. Once the homogeneous composition of these boards was brought to the public’s attention, the trade minister enacted legislation in 2003 that promoted gender and geographic diversity on boards. Boards of directors in Norway are now composed of successful men and women, and most agree that the gender diversity on corporate boards has improved performance by bringing a new perspective to issues and recommendations.

In fact, today in the U.S. only 2.6% of women-owned businesses earn over one million dollars, compared to 6% of male-owned businesses. For many women, microloans have been tools that have helped them start their businesses. And while a great entry tool for some, these microloans have kept businesses small and have not allowed for a continuum of growth. She notes, “Growth is not for every woman, nor is it for every business. Women need to realize that there is a path for business growth.” And, Count Me In is committed to helping one million women understand and follow the growth path. Through events and online social media tools, Merlino’s organization helps empower the female entrepreneur to grow her business.

“I believe that women are not aware of their own power,” said Merlino. “I am here to help them harness their power, solve their economic problems, and move from microbusiness entrepreneurs to large corporate owners, which leads to community leadership opportunities, public office, and corporate board participation.” As Merlino reinforces often, communities are stronger with diversity in their leadership, and she feels moving one million women towards businesses that earn over one million dollars will create jobs, bring revenues to the local economy, improve collaboration, and advance communities.

Count Me In!

Beth Parish is a Doctoral student teaching business classes at Regis University. She sits on the board of Rocky Mountain MicroFinance, a Colorado-based microlender committed to helping promote self-sufficiency through business ownership.

Mayu Brizuela

By:Kristin De La Oliva Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Changing Roles for Women in El Salvador

Mayu Brizuela served as the first woman Minister of Foreign Affairs in El Salvador from 1999-2004 and has had high level positions in banking and industry. Brizuela spoke about women in El Salvador, even giving her own example of how she was named valedictorian of her high school, but had to give the title to a male classmate because she was a woman. She said, “Major change is presently occurring in El Salvador by incorporating women in education decisions. We have moved from quantity to quality. Now, all El Salvadorian children have the opportunity to go to school.”

According to Brizuela, Salvadoran progress and development have been indirectly led by women. Because of the country’s civil war in the 1980s, many people, especially men, left the country, making women’s roles even more important. Women began to fight for their rights to work outside the home, get loans for businesses, have medical care, and economic support for their children. Although Brizuela believes El Salvador’s greatest achievement was achieving peace, she trusts that women will continue to be vital in improving education and politics, while proving themselves role models in the private sector.

Maria Hinojosas

By:Jeanne Brown Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

A Woman Not Afraid to be Herself

From the moment she walked on the stage, Maria Hinojosa was in charge and on a mission. Moderating a panel of 12 highly acclaimed and passionate people on the topic of Women: Drivers of the New Economy seemed to be a natural task for her. It was obvious that the Senior Correspondent for PBS had prepared carefully for this role, as there was never a lapse in the tempo, or lack of a provocative personalized question to each and every panelist. She transitioned respectfully from one person to the next through an unscripted and engaging dialogue with roundtable members all the while skillfully enabling an open, spirited, and inclusive discussion.

Roundtable and audience members spoke Spanish and English and although translators were provided, Hinjosa inserted real-time fluent translation in both languages to keep the continuity flowing and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the exchange of ideas and learning. It is clear that the organizers of the Biennial knew what they were doing when they asked Maria Hinojosa to facilitate this roundtable.

When asked afterwards if the result was as she had planned, Hinojosa answered that she could have used a little more time because the real dialogue was just getting started. Having just walked away from a non-stop two-hour facilitation, she was still full of energy and ready to keep going.

Born in Mexico City, Hinojosa is a magna cum laude graduate of Barnard College. It was there that she had her first journalism experience as host of a Latino radio show. She majored in Latin American studies, political economy and, women's studies.

Hinojosa resides in New York City with her husband, son and daughter and uses her personal experiences as a Mexican-American career woman, wife and mother as a foundation for her writing. Maria honors her mother as the key influence for her life, career, and commitment to the topics women face.

Her style is decidedly earthy and real, bringing issues to light through the stories of unsung heroes. Her unique perspective from the front lines of the real life issues in America today makes audiences both laugh and cry while she tells the stories of being a mom and working journalist in today's turbulent world.

She is a recognized Latina, journalist, and author. Some of her awards include: National Association of Hispanic Journalists Radio Award, Unity Award, Top Story of the Year Award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists for her NPR story on gang members entitled "Crews”, NAMME Catalyst Award from the National Association of Minority Media Executives (2005), NAHJ top television award for CNN documentary, “Immigrant Nation: Divided Country” (2005), Emmy recognition for coverage of the September 11th attacks (2002), Latino Heritage Award from the Latino Alumni Association of Colombia University (2002), Lifetime Achievement Award from Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (2005), Hispanic Business Magazine's "100 Most Influential Latinos" (1995), Robert F. Kennedy Award for “Manhood Behind Bars” (1995), National Association of Hispanic Journalists Radio Award and New York Society of Professional Journalists Deadline Award for "Kids and Guns" (1993), Named one of the 25 “Most Influential Working Mothers” by Working Mothers Magazine, and the Associated Press award for her coverage of Mandela for WNYC Radio.

Ms Hinojosa has been a producer for CBS This Morning, CBS Radio, Where We Stand with Walter Cronkite, The Osgood File and Newsbreak. She is the author of the book Crews: Gang Members Talk with Maria Hinojosa (1995) and Raising Raul: Adventures Raising Myself and My Son (2000). Maria has also been a contributing essayist in the 2004 book, Borderline Personalities: A New Generation of Latinas dish on Sex, Sass and Cultural Shifting, and in the 2006 book, Why I Stay Married.

Larry Palmer

By:Cori Plotkin and Jane McGillem Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Approaching Philanthropy with Open Ears

To be a successful philanthropist, one might assume that it only takes an open heart. Ambassador Larry Palmer would tell you differently. From his extensive experience as a diplomat and philanthropic inspiration, he knows that to truly make a difference, one must approach philanthropy with open ears. As President of the Inter-American Foundation, Ambassador Palmer leads the independently run U.S. government agency according to the mantra of “Tell us, and we’ll provide.” This open-ear approach to philanthropy has led to the agency’s successful funding of over 5,000 projects, to the tune of $750 million, each focused on establishing sustainable and participatory self-help programs that promote philanthropy and community stability in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Ambassador Palmer took a few minutes to share some advice from his years of experience identifying and facilitating opportunities for philanthropic support in the world’s most vulnerable communities. He shared insights into the world of cross-cultural philanthropy and adopting grass-roots thinking as key to making a sustainable impact.

For over 40 years, Ambassador Palmer’s impressive career has been filled with positions where collaboration was a necessity. Starting his professional path as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1971, Ambassador Palmer entered the Foreign Service in 1982, serving in the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Ambassador Palmer went on to work in the U.S. State Department and eventually served as the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras – a post he proudly held until October 2005. Following his diplomatic service, Ambassador Palmer took on the role of President of the Inter-American Foundation where he led the philanthropic agency in providing funding for partnerships among grassroots and non-profit organizations, businesses and local governments. Representing an agency striving to improve quality of life and strengthen participation, accountability and democratic practices, this position was well suited for him and reflected the charitable spirit that has always driven his professional and personal endeavors. Ambassador Palmer could not stress enough the importance of listening to the needs of communities before implementing plans for change.

More recently, Ambassador Palmer’s cross-cultural understanding and ability to innovatively respond to international needs were once again recognized when President Barack Obama nominated him as the U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela in June, 2010. Ambassador Palmer’s experience no doubt qualifies him as one of the Western Hemisphere’s most knowledgeable individuals when it comes to understanding the importance of collaboration in a world where cultural sustainability and quality of life are challenged on a daily basis.

With decades of experience successfully addressing some of the developing world’s most challenging issues, Ambassador Palmer could not stress enough the importance of listening to the needs of communities before implementing plans for change. As stated by Ambassador Palmer, “We (the Inter-American Foundation) are a responsive organization. We listen to the communities we serve, hear their problems, and fund the most compelling proposals with the most realistic plans for sustainable improvements.” The philosophy of the Inter-American Foundation is that people in need know what tools they require to achieve long-term success; thus the Foundation does not just fund vulnerable communities, but it collaborates with beneficiaries to ensure sustainability. Knowing that government agencies more often than not implement from the top-down, Ambassador Palmer believes strongly that the reverse approach is more effective. He states, “We fund from the bottom-up…the grass-roots approach has always been the most successful for us.”

In a world where need is far greater than available resources, the old adage "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime” could not ring more true. Ambassador Palmer shared a poignant story that demonstrated the relevance of this saying. The Foundation once funded a project where Mexican goat farmers received educational training from international experts on effective milking and herding methods. One of the recipient farmers reported incremental increases in productivity from his small farm and shared with Ambassador Palmer that “(he) used to be a goat farmer – now (he) is a citizen of Mexico.” This transformation from individual farmer to contributor to the greater good was an intended result of the project, founded on collaboration between nations and bringing expertise to needy communities for the purpose of sustainable change.

When asked how this open-ear approach to philanthropy could apply in the United States, Ambassador Palmer’s response was direct. “It is America’s job to listen. Listen to the people in our communities – they know best what they need to make lasting changes. Our people are capable, but we must instill in them a certain amount of trust if any sustainable progress is going to be made.”

The Philanthropic Evolution

By:Cori Plotkin and Jane McGillem Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Collaborative Solutions for Pressing Needs In Our Most Vulnerable Communities

To understand philanthropy, you must remove the old notion from your mind that only the wealthiest of individuals have the capacity to make a difference. As we move farther into the 21st century, like so much of our society’s customs, the concept of philanthropy has followed an evolutionary course. With the trying economic times casting a dark shadow on the charitable sector, not just nationwide but around the world, the definition of “philanthropist” has shifted. Today, the smallest of gifts can make a difference and the contributions of valuable human time and talent have become the foundation and strengthening force for many of the world’s charitable organizations. In this changing world, it is safe to say that everyone has the capacity to be a philanthropist.

As American philanthropy evolves, countries around the world are establishing customs that bring new meaning to the act of giving. Like so many past movements that have crossed cultural boundaries, success has only been achieved as a result of strong leadership. American society would be remiss not to recognize that the time has come for collaboration with other nations if we are to successfully support the charitable sector on a grander scale.

The concept of collaboration among nations was ever present throughout a moving panel discussion on the power of worldwide philanthropy during the month-long Biennial of the Americas this past July. This unique event presented the combined voices of international philanthropic leaders, each addressing the same question – How can philanthropists, government leaders, and international aid agencies work in a more integrated fashion, both within their own countries and abroad, on behalf of other nations? In line with the spirit of the Biennial, the discussion enforced the belief that nations of the Western Hemisphere must listen to each other’s needs and collaboratively identify methods for support. Also stressed was the importance of considering cross-cultural boundaries and paying respect, not offense, to cultural differences – without this important factor, sustainable change can never be made.

On July 6, 2010, nearly 1,000 observers joined together in Denver’s historic Ellie Caulkins Opera House as one-by-one an eclectic group of world leaders walked onto the stage. Each impressive individual represented an important faction of the Western Hemisphere’s philanthropic sector. Welcoming the audience, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Timothy Schultz, president & executive director of the Denver-based Boettcher Foundation, shared brief remarks on how partnerships and strategic collaboration between the public, private and governmental sectors have shaped the Denver community over the last few decades. Mayor Hickenlooper’s words in particular set a platform for the discussion by creating a sense of pride for the philanthropic and collaborative accomplishments that we, as a society, have achieved in the last decade.

Introduced one by one, the moderator welcomed to the stage the first tier of panelists: U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan; Ambassador Larry Palmer, current President of the Inter-American Foundation and recently nominated U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela; Harriet Fulbright, President of the J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center; Steve Vetter, CEO of Partners of America; Rigoberta Menchú Tum, 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner from Guatemala; and Lisa Quiroz, Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility with Time Warner.

Secretary Donovan spoke first, recalling a time in the late 1970's when widespread riots led to the destruction of a Bronx neighborhood in New York. He remembered, “The rebuilding of this neighborhood was my first experience in seeing public and private entities partnering for community benefit and development.” As this approach evolved into a model for neighborhood revitalization, so did the understanding that collaboration plays a key role in achieving success through philanthropy. Mr. Donovan then segued to the topic at hand and the discussion quickly turned to understanding the current and cross-cultural definition of philanthropy based on decades of evolutionary changes in perception.

It was Ambassador Larry Palmer who was the first to say that, “The concept of philanthropy is not new; it is evolving.” As the primary representative from the American business sector, Lisa Quiroz from Time Warner agreed that, “Philanthropy is not a new idea… it is an idea that has been built from quintessential American values.” It was Ms. Quiroz who also shared the belief that as a leader in philanthropic thinking and successful endeavors, the United States has an obligation to participate in and facilitate strategic partnerships between public, government, and private sectors that help meet community needs on a global scale. Bringing together leaders from culturally differing nations is a first step in this mutual understanding – and, as made clear from the sentiment that afternoon, the United States is well positioned to take the lead in establishing a global network of philanthropic endeavors.

With the audience intrigued, a second set of panelists joined the group and brought with it a fresh perspective. Representing varying nations and cultures, this group of individuals added an additional cross-cultural element to the discussion. The individuals included Dr. Paul Latortue, Dean of the Graduate School of Business, Universidad de Puerto Rico; Martha Smith de Rangel, Interim CEO of the United States/Mexico Foundation; Diana Campoamor, President of the U.S.-based Hispanics in Philanthropy; Juan Fernando Fonseca, Columbian singer and songwriter; and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. With the welcoming of the new panelists came a shifted focus to the shared belief that citizens of the world are all interconnected, and therefore must work together to find solutions for pressing needs in our collective nations’ most vulnerable communities.

Along with the sharing of thoughtful information on the current state of the charitable sector, each panelist raised poignant questions about the future of philanthropy: What does it look like and who are the drivers? How can we, as leaders in this game, encourage our communities not to dwell on the past, but instead remain hopeful for the future? Diana Campoamor of Hispanics in Philanthropy remarked quite simply, “Philanthropists are not just rich people – we are all philanthropists… The act of philanthropy is about all of us delivering action through interconnectedness and knowing that we have the capacity to change the world… We need to gather citizens of the world together – when we shift our minds, we shift the world with our actions.”

While there is no lack of goodwill in societies, what is missing worldwide is the ability to connect individuals. It is clear from this experience in the presence of great philanthropic minds that we, each with our own stake in this world, must take it upon ourselves to listen to the needs of our communities, and instill the capacity to take action. Although the definition of philanthropy is organic, the need for support has not changed. As we move farther into the future, we must identify how we as societies and cultures can work together to share best practices for sustainable growth. “We need to acknowledge the accomplishments that have already been made,” said Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, “We make progress every year and this should give the people of the world hope.”

Cori Plotkin and Jane McGillem both work for Galloway Group, a Denver-based community and public relations firm. Cori holds an M.S. in public relations from the University of Denver and, as VP of Communications for Galloway Group, enjoys working with both businesses and non-profit organizations identifying ways for increasing community support. As the newest member of the Galloway Group team, Jane holds a B.A. in Communication from the University of Denver and has a particular interest in using the written word for strategic communications. To contact Cori and Jane visit www.gallowaygroup.com or email [email protected].

Jeffrey Sturchio

By:Jenny Spencer Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Confronting Transnational Health Threats

The president and CEO of Project C.U.R.E., the Mexican Secretary of Health, and a previous Merck vice president may seem like a mismatched group. They clearly have very different backgrounds and from the differences between non-profit, governmental, and corporate organizations they probably do not agree on the best approaches to most problems, let alone issues as complex as global public health. However, at The Americas Roundtable on Health: Transnational Threats at the Biennial of the Americas, Dr. Jeffrey Sturchio explained that creating diverse groups like these, from local clinics, to policymakers, to multinational corporations, is one of the most important pieces in addressing healthcare issues in the Western Hemisphere.

Dr. Sturchio’s commitment to global health did not come from working directly with suffering patients, but emerged from his experience at the pharmaceutical company Merck, where, as vice president of corporate responsibility, he observed the power of public-private partnerships to combat and eliminate public health threats.

River blindness is a disease that used to be found in 35 countries throughout the world, primarily in Africa and Central America. However, Merck was able to significantly decrease, and even eliminate river blindness in some countries by facilitating a partnership that included ministries of health, non-governmental organizations, the WHO, UNICEF, and the World Bank. It is this model that Sturchio points toward when asked about how to combat other transnational health threats. “It was a case where each of the partners contributed one of the resources that they had and it had a tremendous impact – that’s the way forward for many of the challenges we face.”

Partnerships like this have become more common in recent years as all sectors of society are using their unique resources and skills to contribute to public health solutions. Sturchio says that companies can contribute through the discovery and development of products like new drugs and vaccines and by refining processes to deliver them through supply chain management and organizational planning. Merck not only donated drugs to combat river blindness, but also organized an expert committee which developed an effective distribution system. Essentially, Merck developed and delivered the healthcare product; the government facilitated the policy framework and program, and non-governmental organizations focused on strategic implementation. Each sector used its own strengths to combat the disease at every angle. Creating diverse groups like these, from local clinics, to policymakers, to multinational corporations, is one of the most important pieces in addressing healthcare issues in the Western Hemisphere.

In addition to outside organizations, individual communities play an important role in addressing their own needs. As Sturchio pointed out when communities are empowered to advocate for themselves, they can force influential people to pay attention. He said, “One of the things that has enabled us as the global community to really make progress was that the communities and the people who were involved made it impossible for the politicians to ignore it, made it impossible for the medical community to ignore it, and made it impossible for the communities they live in to ignore it.”

River blindness is now history in some Central American nations thanks to the Merck collaboration. However, HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other diseases are still rampant, not only in Central America but throughout the world. Dr. Sturchio’s now works as president and CEO of Global Health Councils (GHC), an organization dedicated to brokering cross-sector public health solutions. GHC acts as a convener and neutral marketplace of ideas, encouraging all types of organizations to gather to compare notes and determine how to work together for the health of the world’s people. The organization is both a voice for action, as demonstrated through programs like the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, and a voice for progress, ensuring that the latest best practices and medical advancements are shared through platforms including Global Health magazine and an annual conference.

To explain his passion for encouraging corporate participation in public health, and collaboration across different sectors in society, Dr. Sturchio remarks, “Without working together and identifying the issues, identifying what the individual partners can contribute and their objectives, we won’t get very far.”

Jenny Spencer is completing her B.A. in International Affairs at the University of Colorado. She is interested in social entrepreneurship, cross-sector partnerships, and international development. In her spare time, she volunteers as a youth leader for an incredible group of freshmen girls. Jenny is an independent writer for ICOSA.

Harriet Fulbright

By:Lucy Bryan Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Awareness and Involvement Are Key to Philanthropic Collaborations

We may not all be Fulbright scholars, but we all have something to learn from Harriet Fulbright. Mrs. Fulbright, known for the Fulbright Scholar Program and her role as president of J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center, is a woman with experience.

From her bright blue business suit to her compassionate smile, it is clear that Harriet Fulbright knows what she is doing. Luckily for others, this also translates into a great deal of wisdom, empathy, and awareness. Throughout the roundtable discussion, Fulbright demonstrated all of these qualities through her thoughtful engagement with the issues and her fellow dignitaries.

Mrs. Fulbright, who has long been interested in Latin America, was immediately attracted to the Biennial. She said, “I thought it was really wonderful that a state in the middle of this country was enlightened enough to create this event.” Her interest in Latin America traces back to when, after her mother passed, Mrs. Fulbright’s father married an Argentine. Then, at age fifteen, Harriet spent an entire summer in Colombia. Mrs. Fulbright continued to build upon such travel and has lived abroad teaching English in Germany, Korea, and Russia. These experiences demonstrate her lifelong devotion to the field of education as well as her international interests.

Her global perspective continues into the present. Right before participating in Denver’s celebration of the Western Hemisphere, she attended an event in Brussels where participants discussed leadership issues with a specific focus on women. Although Mrs. Fulbright humbly states, “I haven’t been at the forefront of the women’s movement,” she is certainly an admirable female figure. Recollecting the discrimination she and others faced in years past, she is conscious of her role as a woman and says, “I have certainly worked very hard to make sure that women do get their rightful place.”

Her advice, particularly to young people, is to get involved and bond. Her global perspective reveals itself again as she advocates using the plentitude of information and communication technology at everyone's disposal. “Awareness is not enough,” Mrs. Fulbright advises. “We must not only be aware, but willing to involve ourselves in the issues that concern us.” This is, according to Fulbright, the solution.

Born in New York City, Mrs. Fulbright graduated from Radcliffe College and earned her MFA from George Washington University, after which she continued to spend much of her life in the field of education.

Fonseca

By:Kristin De La Oliva Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

The Colombian Singer/Songwriter Engages in Social Responsibility

Juan Fernando Fonseca, known as Fonseca, won both a Latin Grammy for his hit song Te Mando Flores, (I Send You Flowers) and an MTV Latin America Tongue award for his video Como me Mira, (How You Look at Me) in 2006. Fonseca has used his popularity as a recording artist to promote more social awareness and change around the world, especially in his native Colombia. This was evident in his participation at The Americas Roundtable on Philanthropy where he shared the stage with other dignitaries. After the Roundtable session, he shared his opinions regarding Colombia’s current situation as the country moves forward from a troubled past. He said, “Currently there are partnerships within the private sector and the government. However, if they want to move forward, they need to trust each other. If a private company is going to donate a sum of money, the government must ensure that the money is used correctly to avoid corruption.”

As an artist and public figure, Fonseca believes that he has a social responsibility to his community. However, he believes that everyone has social responsibility to their communities, not just public figures. He said, “Colombia is in a reconciliation process. The public’s needs must be addressed. People who have just put their guns down, those who have decided to leave the guerrilla life, need to be re-incorporated back into society.”

Commenting on the political divisions that are currently happening within South America, Fonseca predicts that South America will once again be united as it has been in the past. Because the cultural union among all of the South American countries is strong, he believes that if the public and private sectors continue to work together in good faith, Colombia and other Latin countries can successfully achieve the reconciliation process and be united.

Enrique Penalosa

By:Maria Luna Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

A Vision of Social Spaces

Enrique Peñalosa, the former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, transformed high crime areas into public spaces, rejuvenated plazas and created pedestrian sidewalks. He was awarded the Stockholm Challenge Award for instituting the city’s first “Car-Free Day,” which encouraged motorists not to use their car for one day and to use some form of public transportation instead. With over 6.4 million people and over 830,000 cars in Bogotá alone, on any given day, the transportation thoroughfares of the city are often clogged and pollution can be at alarming levels. Studies have shown that almost 70 percent of all car trips are shorter than three kilometers — so the government proposed alternative days of transportation to ease pollution and traffic. The Stockholm Award provided a network for collaboration to build a better world by promoting social and human development through equality – with transportation becoming the method for interaction between the city’s diverse populations.

Peñalosa is an accomplished statesman, who has invested in communities by establishing dynamic living environments. His work takes rhetoric to reality with projects that improve society and the environment. His strong pursuit of public space creation has not only alleviated pollution from urban sprawl, but has relieved tension within the population. He says, “An open space provides a relaxing escape from vigorous city demands. Higher income groups always have access to nature at beach houses, lake cabins, mountain chalets, on vacations – or in urban settings at golf courses or larger gardens. Parks allow the rest of society that contact as well.” "An open space provides a relaxing escape from vigorous city demands." - Enrique Peñalosa

The goal is for all socio-economic groups to interact with each other in a simplistic way – by walking down a pathway, bicycle riding, or having a picnic. Peñalosa believes, “Public space is for living, doing business, kissing, and playing. Its value can’t be measured with economics or mathematics; it must be felt with the soul. The importance of pedestrian public spaces cannot be measured, but most other important things in life cannot be measured either; friendship, beauty, love, and loyalty are examples. Parks and other pedestrian places are essential to a city’s happiness.”

Peñalosa speaks internationally about his approach to improving cities and its citizens by promoting public areas, improving public transportation, building sidewalks, bicycle paths, greenways and parks.

Enrique Peñalosa obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Duke University in Economics and History. He received his Masters and Doctorate degrees from the Institut International D’Administration Publique and the University of Paris in Management and Pubic Administration. He was Mayor of Bogotá from 1998 to 2001.

Dr. Paul R. Latortue

By:Geoff Bergman Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Never Losing Hope

Dr. Paul R. Latortue, Dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Puerto Rico, recently returned from Haiti, where he was lending help and support to his fellow Haitians facing an uphill battle in the wake of the devastating earthquake in January, 2010. Although Dr. Latortue has spent many years working in Puerto Rico, he has never forgotten his roots and has always kept close ties with Haiti and its people. He attended the Biennial to discuss the importance of philanthropy and how everyone can take part and find benefit from participating in it. He brought a message that countries like Haiti need aid now more than ever and that help and support when such devastating events occur is critically important.

Dr. Latortue, although born in Haiti, earned all of his degrees outside its borders. Initially he received his Bachelor’s in Economics in 1969 from Inter-American University, Puerto Rico. Staying at the University for another year he received his Masters in Finance and Marketing. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Latortue traveled to the United States to study for his doctorate. In 1980, he earned his PhD in Economics at the State University of New York. Along the way, Dr. Latortue was able to become fluent in English, Spanish, French and Creole.

Also in 1980, Dr. Latortue returned to Puerto Rico, where he became the director of business research at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. He stayed there for five years and during that time he was an executive board member and the treasurer of the Conseil Interregional pour les Refugies Haitiens (CIRH). There he worked with exiles and provided legal help for Haitian refugees in Puerto Rico and Florida. In 1986, he started an NGO dedicated to the extensive training of Haitian science teachers and provided agricultural credit to Haitian families in need. These projects were made possible due to the generosity and dedication of several Puerto Rican universities and government agencies.

From 1995-2001, Latortue served as the executive director of Unite Centrale de Gestion in Port au Prince, whose mission was to supervise investment programs to restore country infrastructures such as repairing hospitals, schools, ports and roadways. While in Haiti he also taught economics. In 2004, he returned to Puerto Rico and took his current position as the dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Puerto Rico.

At the roundtable discussion, Dr. Latortue stressed the need for continued help and support of those in need, not just one-time donations. He had high praises for the initial outpouring of aid that was given to help Haiti after the earthquake. However, he said, “Haiti is still in the most dire of situations and the people are very much still in need of the aid of other nations.” He continued, “We must keep Haiti in the media. That way, people will not soon forget about Haiti and its long road to recovery.” He urged the audience to continue to send support to the island.

When asked about whether or not he thought Haiti would be able to overcome the earthquake disaster and move forward, he was very optimistic. He believes strongly in the will of the Haitian people. He believes that they are ready to build a new and better Haiti. Unfortunately the powers that be, at times, stand in the way of making that a reality. Dr. Latortue believes that his fellow countrymen must keep the faith. “No matter what happens and how bad things get, you always have your faith,” he said.

For the entirety of Dr. Latortue’s professional career he has made it a point to reach out to those in need, especially his fellow Haitians. It is his belief that philanthropy is alive and well in today’s world, and he hopes that it will continue to thrive even through our current economic slowdown. Dr. Latortue is truly an exceptional example of someone who does not put himself ahead of the group and who truly believes that helping one's fellow man can be beneficial to all of mankind. We can all take a page out of Dr. Latortue’s book and strive to make philanthropic deeds and ventures a big part of our life’s work. He is well aware that a life of helping others is a long, and at times, a seemingly fruitless battle. Yet in light of that, he left the group with these words of encouragement, “Never lose hope; we must have faith in what we are working toward.”

Dr. Eduardo Padron

By:Phil Lawson Issue:Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Education is a Matter of National Security

Miami Dade College is the largest institution of higher education in the United States and enrolls and graduates more minorities than any other college or university in the country. More than 170,000 students attend the state supported college that has eight campuses and numerous outreach centers. Sixty percent of the students come from low income families; 38 percent at poverty level, but staff at the institution help students shift from a “right to fail” mindset, to a “right to succeed.”

During the Biennial discussion on July 6, Dr. Eduardo Padrón, president of the college, expressed belief that, “Education is an issue of national security,” and he reiterated his concerns during our interview. He said we need to adjust our priorities when comparing the costs of education to incarceration, just in the state of Florida. He said that the traditional K-12 education of a child costs taxpayers about $6,000 per year; average university costs for each student is about $12,000 per year; but the cost to incarcerate a person costs more than $30,000 a year.

“We need to make sure that we set our priorities right,” Dr. Padrón said. “Education in the 21st century is the most important industry… We know that people who do not get educated today are destined to a life of poverty… flipping burgers at ‘you know where;’ making minimum wage and not being able to sustain a family.”

Q: Is the challenge that we are facing—this "achievement gap"—an academic challenge about how to teach better or does it involve other aspects?

A: It is much more complex than that. The main problem is the deficit of understanding that permeates our society today, from the highest levels of policymakers to families.

During much of the 20th Century in America, most people who lived the American dream—to get a job that would allow them to get into the middle class—had work that involved their hands. Today, with the knowledge economy, that has totally changed. Manufacturing and manual labor jobs are no longer the majority. The skills that are needed today are different and because of that, not only has schooling become more difficult and the learning process more demanding, but we need to make sure that we provide access to the masses if we are going to give them a fair chance to be able to participate and to join the middle class.

We have a problem right now—I think this is a transitional problem—where for the first time this generation is going to be less educated and have less of a standard of living than the generation that preceded them. That’s a real challenge. In order to get the high-wage, high-skill jobs that are in our society today, kids need to go to college—they need to get the skills that will prepare them for those jobs.

When you look at unemployment statistics today, what you realize immediately is that people without a high school diploma represent three and four times the number of unemployed than the people with baccalaureate degrees. If you look at jails today, 90 percent of the people incarcerated are people who are high school dropouts. Every measure indicates that a lack of education is the main problem.

For us to be able to compete in the global economy, for us to be able to retain our position of leadership in the world, we have to wake up and make education a priority. And families need to understand that.

Q: How do you engage families beyond the traditional means?

A: We all have to collaboratively work together.

As I finished up the interview with Dr. Padrón, Diana Campoamor, President of Hispanics in Philanthropy, walked up to embrace him. And then she proudly exclaimed, “By the way, I am a product of Miami Dade Community College and I am on the next panel! If it hadn’t been for Miami Dade, I wouldn't be here.”

Danielle Saint-Lot

By:Andrew Thompson Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Educating Women to be Pillars of Society

It is now, in the aftermath of Haiti’s crippling earthquake that a new renaissance can surface and rebuilding can begin. Through the leadership of Danielle Saint-Lot, co-founder and President of Femmes en Democratie, a non-governmental organization and Global Network Affiliate Chapter of Vital Voices, women across Haiti can envision a life filled with better economic opportunities and hope for a more progressive view of women’s rights.

In a country where women represent 52 percent of the population, it is shocking to see a majority of their human rights squandered. Women in Haiti are usually the representative majority of household leaders, yet most do not make enough money to support their family and are the victims of horrific sex crimes. According to the U.N. Development Program’s Western Hemisphere Gender Index, because of the country's laissez-faire political stance on gender rights and equality, Haitian women rank the lowest in contraceptive use, teen-marriage and primary school enrollment.

Because of these reasons Saint-Lot has been a proponent of educational programs that will encourage and empower women within the communities of Haiti to seek training, become empowered and support not only themselves but their families as well. Through education and job creation, Saint-Lot believes that women’s lives can be greatly improved. “I focus more on economics and business in addition to human rights. We can change the face of Haiti by investing in community colleges and education — money needs to go into educational institutions,” said Saint-Lot during the Biennial of the Americas Roundtable on Poverty Reduction.

By increasing educational programs and giving women an opportunity to learn a new skill or trade, it is possible to create economic prosperity for all. Femmes en Democratie invites women to participate in workshops where they can exchange best practices and share experiences and information that can lead to consistent careers within growing industries such as agriculture, textiles, tourism and construction, where the lack of trained laborers are needed. During the Roundtable on Women: Drivers of the New Economy, Saint-Lot commented on the recent issues in Haiti, “I just want to thank America’s response to us. What happened in Haiti was about bad management. We lived without codes and rules. But we have new players in the game. Women in the camps are not waiting for aid; they are trying to go into business. The story of these women is not being shared.”

The political chasm within the small Caribbean nation allows for only five percent of their parliamentary seats to women. Because there are hardly any women holding political seats, there is nobody to be a voice for the injustices and inequalities that they face. It is the emergence of leaders like Saint-Lot who will be able to make a difference for the future of Haitian women.

As the first female minister of commerce, industry and tourism, Saint-Lot proves to be one of Haiti’s best hopes for change. Before the disaster, businesses and civic culture were "set in stone." Now the question is...what will emerge from the rubble?

While it is inevitable that Haiti will rebuild, Saint-Lot is concerned with replacing injustice with opportunity and quelling violence with newfound strength. She hopes that with reaffirmation and collective support through mentorship, women will rise above and become empowered to change their surroundings, their station, and create a Haiti where women have not only a face but a voice within their communities.

Closing the Education Gap

By:Kim DeCoste Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

We do not know where the next great mind of the times will be born. When this person is born, will the talent be nurtured and developed? As a hemisphere, we must recognize our collective obligation to continue to improve the public education we provide to our citizens. We must elevate program quality to ensure we are able to compete with countries outside of the Americas. We have a ways to go, but it seems we have a lot more in common than one might guess. It also seems that we have arrived at some excellent conclusions and we need the resources, talent and the will to implement.

At the Roundtable on Education for the Biennial of the Americas, the distinguished panel focused on several issues where there is an opportunity to improve services we deliver. We must stay focused.

Clearly much progress has been made across the Americas, but more is needed. United States Congressman, Jared Polis, was among the first to speak and he said, “Hemispheric human capital development is the critical competitive advantage of the future.” So what was the achievement gap identified to be? Who is most impacted? "...Human capital development is the critical competitive advantage of the future." - Jared Polis

The achievement gap in the Americas affects every one of the 35 member countries. In general, it is narrower in the U.S. and Canada in some segments, but even there it is real. There are socio-economic gaps, gender gaps, race and culture gaps and language gaps, to name the obvious. There are more of these among the poor and working class. The countries that have made a strategic commitment to closing these gaps have made excellent progress.

One example was Colombia where the Minister of Education, Cecilia Maria Vélez, spoke of her country’s five-step commitment to improving education. These five key steps included: 1) encouraging lifelong education for all citizens, 2) educating for innovation, 3) strengthening the education institutions themselves, 4) modernizing to keep education current, and 5) participative management. With these new guidelines, Colombia has seen 1.8 million people enter its education system for the first time. These people were part of the previous gap but now account for substantial relative success.

As moderator Michael Shifter pointed out, it also helps that Ms. Vélez held her post for eight years. He says that continuity of leadership and priorities is essential and has been lacking in many countries. We must fully commit to addressing the problems over the long term, he asserted, if we are to have an impact.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet agreed. He made it clear that we do have significant issues, “but not for lack of effort.” Bennet cited the increased reading gap in Colorado since 1998 as an example and said, “We have to stop treating public education as if it were somebody else’s problem.” Taking it further and to a point that echoed throughout the discussion, he said, “We must realize that the hand of God did not decree that K-12 education must begin with K.”

Former Minister of Women’s Affairs for Chile, Laura Albornoz noted, though great progress has been made in her country to close the gender achievement gap, there is still a significant problem with teenage pregnancy. She and Ambassador Francisco Villagrán of Guatemala spoke about the socio-economic problems that keep the working class and poor children from finishing primary school because they are needed as family workers. They discussed the much improved literacy rates in both countries with Ambassador Villagrán citing that 95% of the children in Guatemala now attend primary school, but only 60% complete it and of the ones who do not attend, seven of ten are girls. This problem is particularly present in indigenous families. In Guatemala, they have gone so far through the “Mi Familia” program to subsidize the families to allow their children to stay in school. At the rate of approximately $37USD/week the kids have been allowed to stay in school and at least achieve basic skills through primary school.

These issues are not limited to the developing countries of South America or the Caribbean. Indeed, Rose Marie McGuire, the program manager for Indian Education Programs at Denver Public Schools, said it is true in Colorado as well. While we may see an overall dropout rate around 7% in Denver for Native American students, the number is really 12%. "The programs we have are not quite offering the appropriate language and cultural support required, so that these students can succeed. Where adjustments have been made and more native language and culture have been inserted into programming (even the obvious areas such as U.S. history), there is marked improvement for indigenous youth," she said.

Then, Michael Shifter commented, "A lot can be done with the resources we have available." And we have to work to find how we can replicate successes. "We must realize that the hand of God did not decree that K-12 education must begin with K." - Michael Bennet

One such success is that of Miami Dade College in the United States. President, Dr. Eduardo Padrón, was proud to cite success statistics. While it appears on paper to be a case study for potential failure, this school has had tremendous success with a “minority” majority. At Miami Dade, the largest portion of the students are Hispanic and African-American. Two-thirds of the students are low income, and nearly 70% of the students are below the poverty level. Yet, with high standards and high levels of support, students begin to develop the confidence required to believe success is possible. Once they do that, they are able to succeed, even if doing so around a part-time job takes twice as long as it might for someone else.

Marie Levens, director at the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture for the Organization of American States, Andrea Taylor, director of Community Affairs for Microsoft, Asha Williams, program manager for POETA Youth, and Father John Foley, executive director of the Cristo Rey Network, all offered excellent ideas around the importance of partnerships. The public school system must look to opportunities between countries, with private sector businesses and non-governmental organizations to bring forth real world, relevant programs that further educational success. As Ms. Levens pointed out, we do this partly to show support for one another and partly to learn.

Certainly technology is part of the answer, Ms. Taylor asserted. Microsoft currently contributes to efforts in 110 countries to help deliver new skills to students and to create more work-ready societies. She suggested that rather than worrying about a "race to the top" that we concern ourselves with a “race to the finish line” where educated youth and adults step forward to contribute great ideas. Ms. Williams agreed and further said that it is critical to look at the gap with at-risk youth and others to find out what is needed to create programs that will have a high level of applicability in the workforce. Her work in 18 countries indicates that this information must come from private industry so public education can deliver what is needed. The private sector can also continue to drive for change at the policy level which non-governmental agencies cannot do.

Father John Foley of the Cristo Rey Network based in the U.S., talked about programs now running in 24 schools where students are given jobs and work on a rotating schedule five days per month to fund their education. Not only does it pay for their schooling, but it gives them the confidence of having worked. What was once thought to be a fine education solution became an operating model in real world experience. In the cases where young people become engaged in the job market early, they have much more self-confidence and are more dedicated to learning. Rather than worrying about a "race to the top" we should concern ourselves with a “race to the finish line” where educated youth and adults step forward to contribute great ideas." - Andrea Taylor

Speaking on behalf of the military, Lieutenant General Michael Gould, head of the U.S. Air Force Academy underscored the value of diversity. “Better solutions come from diverse populations,” he said. In the newest class at the Academy, 28% of the 1,293 cadets are from different minority backgrounds.

All participants agreed that it is this spirit of collaboration, diversity, inquisitiveness and sharing best practices that will help to narrow the education gap across the Americas. If we continue to try to understand the challenges people face and work to solve the underlying problems collectively, we can bring forward future generations with stronger educations. We can distill from the Americas the next great minds to lead us forward if we dedicate ourselves to educating as many of our citizens as possible. As Dr. Peter Senge wrote in The Learning School, “All human beings are born with unique gifts. The healthy functioning of our community depends on its capacity to develop each gift.” In this case, the community is the entire hemisphere.

Beth Brooke

By:Allison Salisbury Issue: La Bienal de las Américas 2010 Section:The Americas Roundtables

Biennial of the Americas 2010 870,000,000

By any standard, an enormous number. But this number represents the amount of women who will be entering into the world of economic empowerment within the next ten years, either as employees, entrepreneurs, consumers or leaders. According to Beth Brooke, Global Vice Chair, Public Policy and Sustainability for Ernst & Young, these women are not adequately prepared for this takeover of global economics. Whether by lack of education and/or lack of support by their country, via law-of-land rights, equal pay, labor laws, or access to finance, they are unprepared. At this point, an international collaboration must begin to ready women for this global transformation.

This particular roundtable was a most impressive gathering of brilliant, successful, focused and driven women. Brooke and the other participants are the embodiment of what women can achieve. I asked Ms. Brooke if she thought women were more suited to the challenges of modern society than men. “Absolutely!” was the instant reply. “We are moving into an era where the need for what is more naturally suited to women - collaboration and open communication - the innate competencies of women are more designed for the types of jobs that are coming available,” she continued. In his introduction to Enlightened Power: How Women Are Transforming the Practice of Leadership, David Gergen writes, “Women are knocking on the door of leadership at the very moment when their talents are especially well matched with the requirements of the day.” This was evident on the panel of women at this roundtable discussion.

Women are everywhere: founding and running companies, both for profit, and non-profit; in politics; in the media; and in the case of one roundtable participant: a secretary. Well, actually, the United States Secretary of Labor. Women are everywhere!

Preparing the Third Billion The term

“Third Billion” refers to the number of women as an emerging market. Third in size only behind China and India. How can these women be prepared? Education, of course. Girls previously prevented from schooling are being educated in ever increasing numbers, empowering them to further break down stereotypical barriers. Brooke states, “There are so many studies which show a direct correlation between the education of girls and women and the enhancement of a country’s GDP.”

However, the hurdles to educating the female gender can be imposing. Cultural bias is one of the most significant stumbling blocks to gender equality. The patriarchal mentality, pervasive in so many countries, is a difficult hurdle to overcome. Brooke expanded on this thought, “Whether it’s the culture of a country, the culture of a company, or the culture within a family unit, I think we all have a lot of unconscious bias that is a product of our social programming, in any society, about the expected roles of women in the work force, in the family and in society. That frankly is the biggest barrier.”

So, how do we go about altering this mentality to enable women to forge ahead in society? Brooke doesn’t want it altered, but instead wants to change the way in which it manifests itself; traditional roles, referred to as the burden of unpaid care, fall disproportionately on women, which must be dealt with through increased flexibility, and a shift in societal programming. Society must incorporate cultural traditions, embrace diversity and make it a win-win situation. When women are educated it creates a multiplier effect; they become more invested in their children’s education, in their communities, and therefore in their economic growth.

Creating Successful Entrepreneurs

How does a company such as Ernst & Young connect and promote collaboration between potential entrepreneurs? According to Brooke, through programs like E&Y’s “Entrepreneurial Winning Women.” Begun in the United States, now expanding globally, the program provides a network of successful entrepreneurs who want to give back, to mentor, and to support one another. Women brought together in this forum are a powerful force. They start businesses at twice the rate of men and actually grow them faster, but women tend to "get stuck" at a certain level. The program helps them, through collaborative efforts of networking, mentoring, providing role models, investors and advisors.

Women are the “biggest, untapped economic engine of our time,” says Brooke. And she wants the world to know this. Women are moving forward at breakneck speed, whereas men are, according to an article by Jessica Grose in Slate magazine, “fixed in cultural aspic.” As the traditional “blue collar” working man fades into the history of the Industrial Revolution, women are stepping forward into leadership roles to bolster a sagging global economy. Women are creating businesses to provide the flexibility they need, while providing economic stability for their families, and contributing to the economic growth of their villages, cities and countries.

Asked for a final thought, Brooke replied, “We should be doing everything in our power to scale them [women] up. Not only for the sake of their businesses and the economic potential it brings, but the research is clear - they create that multiplier effect. They are investing in their families, their children’s education, and in their communities. The multiplier effect in investing in women is greater than investing in men. I would like to support all entrepreneurs, but will lean toward women because of that multiplier effect.” And women around the globe are proving themselves worthy of that support.