Good Politics Radio

Karen Sherman is the Executive Director for Global Programs at Women for Women International, an international nonprofit organization working to help women who have survived conflict rebuild their lives, families and communities through a program that includes financial and emotional aid, job-skills training, rights education and small business assistance. Since 1993 WfWI has served nearly 300,000 women survivors of war, and has distributed $95 million in direct assistance, microfinance loans and program services to women and communities in need. Women for Women International is a laureate of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize, which at $1.5 million is the world’s largest humanitarian award, given annually to an organization that “significantly alleviates human suffering.” Described by Time Magazine as being “a lifeline for women in war torn countries,” in 2010 Bill Clinton nominated the work of Zainab Salbi and Women for Women International as 21st Century Heroine.

For further details and events please visit www.womenforwomen.org

www.facebook.com/womenforwomen
www.twitter.com/womenforwomen

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Ann M. Veneman has a distinguished career in public service, most recently serving as the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) from 2005 to 2010. Veneman’s leadership and vision has been recognized both nationally and internationally. In 2009 she was named to the Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women list,
ranking 46th and has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors.

At UNICEF Veneman directed a staff of over 11,000 in more than 150 countries around the world. She worked to support child health and nutrition, quality basic education for all, access to clean water and sanitation and the protection of children and women from violence, exploitation and HIV/AIDS. She traveled to more than seventy countries to review the plight of
children, to witness the devastation caused by natural disaster, conflict, disease and exploitation, and to advance programs aimed at improving and saving lives.

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Founded in 1976 by Dr. G. Venkataswamy with the mission to eliminate needless blindness, Aravind is the largest and most productive eye care facility in the world. Taking its compassionate services to the doorstep of rural India, Aravind’s stunningly effective strategies vaulted barriers of distance, poverty and ignorance to create a self-sustaining system. In the year ending March 2010, over 2.5million out patients were treated and over 300,000 surgeries were performed.

Today the Aravind Eye Care System encompasses eye hospitals, a manufacturing center for ophthalmic products, an international research foundation and a resource and training center that is revolutionizing hundreds of eye care programs across the developing world.

‘Intelligence and capability are not enough. There must also be the joy of doing something beautiful. Being of service to God and humanity means going well beyond the sophistication of the best technology, to the humble demonstration of courtesy and compassion to each patient’.- Dr.G.Venkataswamy

At Aravind one finds, combined with modern technology and management practices, a measure of compassionate spirituality, an awareness beyond the matter-of-fact, and the impetus of a mission.

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Expand, enhance, empower women as entrepreneurs – this is the mission of Women’s World Banking, a mission which undergirds its vision to improve the economic status of poor families in developing countries by unleashing the power inherent in women.

Women’s World Banking believes that when a woman is given the tools to develop a small business, build assets, and protect against catastrophic loss, she is empowered to change her life and that of her family. Drawing on their global diversity, resources and experience, WWB helps to strengthen its network of microfinance organizations and banks, all of whom share a commitment to helping poor women access financial services and information.

Women’s World Banking was established in 1979 to be a voice and change agent for poor women entrepreneurs. Its goal is to continue to build a network of strong financial institutions around the world and ensure that the rapidly changing field of microfinance focuses on women as clients, innovators and leaders.

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Muriel met Cheryl Wills at an event hosted by the United African Congress, Give them a Hand Foundation and the Islamic Cultural Centre, New York, and speaks with her about her work at New York 1 News and her book, DIE FREE!.

Cheryl Wills has been with NY1 News since its launch in 1992 and is one of the station’s most recognizable journalists for breaking news and special coverage. Wills is also a popular and engaging public speaker and has appeared before audiences across the country. She is also a blogger for the Huffington Post.

As a television journalist, Cheryl Wills has been a reliable guide through everything from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to moderating televised discussions about the presidency of Barack Obama. She has received numerous awards for her work including New York Press Club and AP Awards, the YMCA National Black Achievers in Industry Award, and the Carl T. Rowan Leadership in Media Award as part of the 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Awards. In 2010, McDonald’s honored Wills as a broadcasting legend during a regional ad campaign. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from New York College of Health Professions in May of 2005.. Read More

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Agop Kayayan a Lebanese of Armenian descent studied agriculture at the American University of Beirut ( 1962-1965) and then finished a M.Sc. in Rural Sociology(1965-1968). After working for two years at the UN Office in Beirut, he obtained a Ph.D. at the Ohio State University. He worked at the Ministry of Agriculture in the area of agricultural policies to reduce the price of staple foods. After that he spent twenty two wonderful years with UNICEF in Brazil ( 1978-1980), Guatemala Area Office for Central America ( 1980-1990), and back to Brazil from 1991 to 1998.

After early retirement from UNICEF, Agop founded an NGO called Institute of Child and Adolescent Rights. He served as board member of various Brazilian NGOs. At present Agop does consulting work in the areas of policy elaboration, negotiating for children’s and women’s rights, and fundraising.

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Agop Kayayan a Lebanese of Armenian descent studied agriculture at the American University of Beirut ( 1962-1965) and then finished a M.Sc. in Rural Sociology(1965-1968). After working for two years at the UN Office in Beirut, he obtained a Ph.D. at the Ohio State University. He worked at the Ministry of Agriculture in the area of agricultural policies to reduce the price of staple foods. After that he spent twenty two wonderful years with UNICEF in Brazil ( 1978-1980), Guatemala Area Office for Central America ( 1980-1990), and back to Brazil from 1991 to 1998. (more…)

Agop Kayayan a Lebanese of Armenian descent studied agriculture at the American University of Beirut ( 1962-1965) and then finished a M.Sc. in Rural Sociology(1965-1968). After working for two years at the UN Office in Beirut, he obtained a Ph.D. at the Ohio State University. He worked at the Ministry of Agriculture in the area of agricultural policies to reduce the price of staple foods. After that he spent twenty two wonderful years with UNICEF in Brazil ( 1978-1980), Guatemala Area Office for Central America ( 1980-1990), and back to Brazil from 1991 to 1998. (more…)

John Hope Bryant is the founder, chairman and CEO of global financial literacy and economic empowerment nonprofit Operation HOPE, member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, and co-founder of Global Dignity. A successful businessman, and renowned international speaker, he has served on multiple corporate boards and is author of business best-seller, LOVE LEADERSHIP: THE NEW WAY TO LEAD IN A FEAR-BASED WORLD. He is one of the most authoritative and compelling advocates for poverty eradication today. His efforts have earned him a membership to the Forum of Young Global Leaders for the World Economic Forum, and a place on the Forum’s Global Agenda Council. (more…)

At the height of the second wave of feminism the world saw Magda Pollard emerge as the face of Guyana and the Caribbean in the struggle to end all forms of discrimination against women, for which, it can be agreed, she has left a lasting legacy.

Despite the prevailing mindsets believing that the world operates on the psyche of men, Magda Pollard believes, some progress has been achieved in influencing this mindset, though women are yet to hit the glass ceiling as they should.

In 1993, it was the recognition of her work to create a liberating and sustaining environment for women that earned her the Caribbean Community’s Triennial Award for Women, which she shares with other Guyanese greats such as Justice Desiree Bernard and the late President Janet Jagan.

At home, she received two of the country’s highest national awards – the Cacique Crown of Honour and the Arrow of Achievement.
It was in 1980, one year after the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the UN General Assembly, that Ms Pollard was appointed the first Women’s Affairs Officer at the CARICOM Secretariat and worked to get Caribbean government to agree to sign on to and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It was Ms Pollard’s task to get governments in the region to put in place such national action plans.

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At the height of the second wave of feminism the world saw Magda Pollard emerge as the face of Guyana and the Caribbean in the struggle to end all forms of discrimination against women, for which, it can be agreed, she has left a lasting legacy.

Despite the prevailing mindsets believing that the world operates on the psyche of men, Magda Pollard believes, some progress has been achieved in influencing this mindset, though women are yet to hit the glass ceiling as they should.

In 1993, it was the recognition of her work to create a liberating and sustaining environment for women that earned her the Caribbean Community’s Triennial Award for Women, which she shares with other Guyanese greats such as Justice Desiree Bernard and the late President Janet Jagan.

At home, she received two of the country’s highest national awards – the Cacique Crown of Honour and the Arrow of Achievement.

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At the height of the second wave of feminism the world saw Magda Pollard emerge as the face of Guyana and the Caribbean in the struggle to end all forms of discrimination against women, for which, it can be agreed, she has left a lasting legacy.

Despite the prevailing mindsets believing that the world operates on the psyche of men, Magda Pollard believes, some progress has been achieved in influencing this mindset, though women are yet to hit the glass ceiling as they should.

In 1993, it was the recognition of her work to create a liberating and sustaining environment for women that earned her the Caribbean Community’s Triennial Award for Women, which she shares with other Guyanese greats such as Justice Desiree Bernard and the late President Janet Jagan. (more…)

“When I see that list (of goals), at all times I am thinking of ways that the methods, tools and sheer power of the scientific enterprise can resolve those problems”, Tyson, July 2010.

Listen to Dr. Tyson as he speaks on HIV/Aids and Cultural Attitudes; the Possibility of Asteroids colliding with earth in the Indian Ocean – where does the responsibility for action lay; children as natural creators, investigators, scientists; the importance of science literacy……

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is the first occupant of the Frederick P. Rose Directorship of the Hayden Planetarium.

Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia. (more…)

Professor Diran Makinde is the Director, NEPAD Agency (A Program of African Union) African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He is the immediate past Director of the NEPAD West African Biosciences Network in Dakar, Senegal. He earned the degrees of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1976, and a PhD in Veterinary Physiology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1986. Prior to his current appointment, he was in academia from 1978-2007 with teaching experience from the universities of Ibadan (Nigeria) and Zimbabwe. (more…)

After a sterling 20 years of service to UNICEF, working in India, Ethiopia, and New York, Dr. Padmini retired from UNICEF in 1994.

The positions she filled ranged from Program/Planning Officer and Representative, to Chief, Middle East and North African section and Senior Adviser and Chief , Urban and Children in Difficult Circumstances section. This varied experience reverberates in the interview and gives the listener an idea of the flexibility of Dr. Padmini as she undertook different tasks, always keeping a focus on the rights of the child. She was one of the technical contributors to the discussions involved in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Listen to Part One

Listen to Part Two

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Fouad Kronfol took early retirement from UNICEF in 1995, having served in the Organization from March 1959. His career started in Beirut, Lebanon where, as one of the earliest National Officers he learned programming skills dealing with activities supported by UNICEF in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia.

His international experience began in 1970 with an assignment to Cairo, Egypt, where he was responsible for the Sudan and Libya.As the activites he developed in Sudan grew in size and complexity, UNICEF decided to open an independent office for that country and Fouad was appointed the first UNICEF Representative in Khartoum. In 1976 he was transferred to New York where he was in charge of the MIddle East, North Africa and Europe section, thus giving him a wider perspective on UNICEF activities in these three regions.

From 1980 to the middle of 1983 Fouad was UNICEF Representative directing the post-war programme of reconstruction and rehabilitation in Hanoi, Viet Nam, and revamping it towards long term development.. When UNICEF was looking to strengthen its work in Africa at the time of serious drought and other emergencies affecting more than 20 countries, Fouad was again transferred to New York and given charge of developing an expanded and more vigorous approach to enabling UNICEF programmes to meet the special challenges of the 45 sub-Saharan countries in Africa. Five years later he was asked to direct a special new programme launched in cooperation with WHO to strengthen primary health care in Africa, the” Bamako Initiative”. (more…)

Part 2 with Ms. Sham Poo retired from UNICEF in December 2004 as Deputy Executive Director having been appointed to this position in 1987 after joining the organization in 1985 as Comptroller. Ms. Sham Poo served as UNICEF Special Envoy to the Caribbean on a part-time basis residing in Trinidad and Tobago from 2004-2009. In the fall of 2005 she served as Interim Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict at the Under Secretary General level. After retiring she has also been keynote speaker at a number of international conferences on child rights issues and on children affected by armed conflicts. (more…)

Ms. Sham Poo retired from UNICEF in December 2004 as Deputy Executive Director having been appointed to this position in 1987 after joining the organization in 1985 as Comptroller. Ms. Sham Poo served as UNICEF Special Envoy to the Caribbean on a part-time basis residing in Trinidad and Tobago from 2004-2009. In the fall of 2005 she served as Interim Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict at the Under Secretary General level. After retiring she has also been keynote speaker at a number of international conferences on child rights issues and on children affected by armed conflicts.

Before joining UNICEF, she served as General Manager, Marketing Division and Senior Vice President of the Christiania Bank in Oslo from 1982 to 1985 after holding several other managerial positions with the bank, which she joined in 1962. She has also held managerial posts with Bergens Kreditbank and A/S Kjobmandsbanken in Oslo. (more…)

Mr. Moncef Bouhafa is a former UNICEF strategic communication expert with more than three decades of experience in the field of communication; he is currently director and founder of the Center for Development Communication, www.cendevcom.org. Combining strategic planning and training skills, Mr. Bouhafa has worked with international agencies, civil society and governments to advocate on a range of public issues related to governance and civil society, economic reform, violence against women and children’s rights among others.  He has special skills in training senior officials to develop communication outreach especially through the media. He has designed and implemented training courses in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Bouhafa has special expertise working with the Private Sector through social marketing and communication interventions.

Mr. Bouhafa is the lead facilitator for many of CDC’s learning events and is also a senior coach to executives including heads of UN agencies, heads of state & government, and resident coordinators of the UN System. He designs and implements learning programs in the field of communication and development and has worked to design learning events with the United Nations System Staff College including pioneering the “Communication as a reform tool for the UN” series of workshops for senior UN staff. Mr. Bouhafa also developed ground-breaking programmes for the UN in the field of rapid public information response in peace keeping, humanitarian programmes, and reputation management for the UN in the Middle East and in Africa. He also has extensive experience in designing and developing learning packages. While a Middle East and Africa specialist, Mr. Bouhafa has worked in more than 30 countries worldwide in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Prior to the founding of CDC, he was a long-serving UN official in UNICEF and a senior specialist with The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Communication Programmes (CCP) – one of the leading institutions in social marketing and communication for behavior change. While at UNICEF he helped the organization define the concept of Social Mobilization, which has been extensively used as a means of generating support and interest through stakeholders for UNICEF’s programmes, and serving as spokesperson for the organization in many situations including emergencies in West Africa. Mr. Bouhafa is fluent in French, English and Arabic. (more…)

PATRICIA A. CUMMINGS was born and grew up in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana).

Before becoming an attorney, Patricia was the Administrative Director of the Nuclear Medicine/Ultrasound Department at Parklane Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She was board certified in Nuclear Medicine, Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology. Patricia graduated from Ottawa University in 1983 (B.A.) and Syracuse University Law School in 1987 (J.D.) at where she was the recipient of the Best Advocate Award, Edmund H. Lewis Appellate Advocacy competition, The Order of the Barristers Honor, and the winner of the Grossman Trial Competition award. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1988.

Patricia is admitted to practice in all of the trial and appellate courts of New York State; the Federal Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern District Courts. Website is www.lclawoffice.com She served pro bono as Of Counsel to The Bleeding Disorder Association of the Southern Tier and the Girl Scouts Indian Hills Council, Inc. She is admitted to practice in all of the trial and appellate courts of New York State; the Federal Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern District Courts.

She is a member of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Binghamton, NY, the Advisory Council to the School of Education and Human Development, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, the Broome Community College Foundation, Inc., the Binghamton University Athletic Club, the Tri-Cities Opera, and the Binghamton Local Development Corporation; she also volunteered for the New York Metropolitan UNICEF Committee; and is a member of the Binghamton Rotary Club #64, the Broome County Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Bar House of Delegates and is a Fellow of the New York State Bar Foundation.

Patricia’s practice area is civil litigation, primarily medical malpractice. Her most significant reported case is Fahey v. Canino, 2 N.Y.3d 148, 809 N.E.2d 645, 777 NYS2d 416 (2005).
Her recent accomplishment was as recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts as can be seen by clicking on this video . (more…)