Good Politics Radio - New York

Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder and CEO of Acumen Fund, a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. Acumen Fund invests patient capital to strengthen and scale business models that effectively serve the poor and champions this approach as an effective complement to traditional aid. Acumen Fund currently manages nearly $40 million in investments in South Asia and East Africa, all focused on delivering affordable healthcare, water, housing and energy to the poor. (more…)

Global Water Challenge (GWC) is a diverse coalition of leading organizations providing creative and sustainable solutions for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Our mission is to create a global movement to meet the urgent need for safe water and sanitation by spurring collective awareness and investment in innovation by corporate, public, and nongovernmental actors. Our challenge is provide tools and education to empower people to find their own solutions.

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Born in 1934 in Durban, South Africa, Arun is the fifth grandson of India’s legendary leader, Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi. Growing up under the discriminatory apartheid laws of South Africa, he was beaten by “white” South Africans for being too black and “black” South Africans for being too white; so, Arun sought eye-for-an-eye justice. However, he learned from his parents and grandparents that justice does not mean revenge, it means transforming the opponent through love and suffering.

Grandfather taught Arun to understand nonviolence through understanding violence. “If we know how much passive violence we perpetrate against one another we will understand why there is so much physical violence plaguing societies and the world,” Gandhi said. Through daily lessons, Arun says, he learned about violence and about anger. (more…)

Steven M. Hilton has worked in the field of philanthropy for more than 25 years. He joined the Foundation in 1983 and has held numerous positions over the years, including program assistant, program associate, and vice president, programs. He was named president in 1998 and in 2005 the Board of Directors also appointed him CEO.

Prior to joining the foundation begun by his grandfather, Mr. Hilton worked for five years in hotel management with Hilton Hotels Corporation in Alabama, Georgia and California. He was also involved in aquaculture (fish farming) businesses in California and Hawaii. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, he earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). (more…)

Steven M. Hilton has worked in the field of philanthropy for more than 25 years. He joined the Foundation in 1983 and has held numerous positions over the years, including program assistant, program associate, and vice president, programs. He was named president in 1998 and in 2005 the Board of Directors also appointed him CEO.

Prior to joining the foundation begun by his grandfather, Mr. Hilton worked for five years in hotel management with Hilton Hotels Corporation in Alabama, Georgia and California. He was also involved in aquaculture (fish farming) businesses in California and Hawaii. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, he earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). (more…)

Magdalena Piskunowicz, born in Poland in 1984, is a current Headquarters’ Summer Intern at the United Nations in the Financing for Development Office, DESA.
She has studied law at the University of Gdansk in Poland and is now doing her masters degree in international law in the UK - University of Sussex. During her studies she focused on the issues of corporate social responsibility and human rights protection.

Working in a law firm for two years made her realize that she is more passionate about the international affairs than business life.
However, the experience gained whilst working on the corporate and company law cases proved to be useful as now she is dealing with international financial issues for the purpose of developing countries. (more…)

Ambassador Byron Blake, Jamaican, is currently Senior Adviser to the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
He was twice responsible for the economic and environmental negotations for the Group of 77 and China (a negotiation group for 131 developing countries, members states of the United Nations).
His interests include regional integration, development economics, environmental issues as well as international trade and the role of business in national development.
As a former Assistant Secretary General of CARICOM, he maintains an avid interest in international negotiations especially for small countries. For more informatin on his work in CARICOM is http://caricom.org; and for the G-77 see http://G77.org (more…)

Ambassador Byron Blake, Jamaican, is currently Senior Adviser to the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
He was twice responsible for the economic and environmental negotations for the Group of 77 and China (a negotiation group for 131 developing countries, members states of the United Nations).
His interests include regional integration, development economics, environmental issues as well as international trade and the role of business in national development.
As a former Assistant Secretary General of CARICOM, he maintains an avid interest in international negotiations especially for small countries. For more informatin on his work in CARICOM is http://caricom.org; and for the G-77 see http://G77.org (more…)

Shakoor Manraj was born in Georgetown, Guyana, (formerly British Guyana) and received part of his education in Guyana. After earning the London University Matriculation Diploma, he then went on to Universities in the United States, England, France and Canada to pursue his studies in Law. He also holds the Diploma in International Jurisprudence and the B.A. (Hons), and LLB (Hons) Degrees.

He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple Law School in London, England, on 9th February, 1954. He developed a very successful practice in both the criminal and civil law jurisdictions. In 1969, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel by Her Majesty the Queen, for distinguished service to the legal profession.

During his 50 years, Shakoor has practiced in over 35 different jurisdictions in the various Caribbean Islands, Canada, Europe and Asia. He excelled as a criminal defence attorney and successfully defended 330 murder trials. He also appeared on several occasions before the Privy Council, the Highest Court of Appeal, in England. He has also practiced in Canada and the U.S.A., with great success. (more…)

“I have appreciated the opportunity to share with you some facets of my service to Guyana to the international community through my various vocations/interests. It has been a privilege and a source of pride to watch people like you, Muriel, and many others go out into the world through the portals of Bishops’ High school, have outstanding careers and make sterling contributions to society.

I hope that my presentation on the benefits of membership in the Olive Baden-Powell Society of the WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) will be successful in encouraging Caribbean Girl Guide “alumnae” to seek more information and to consider either joining, or sponsoring someone from their country to join. Go to UnitedNationsYak.groupsite.com and leave a message or question for Carmen Jarvis or for more information go to: WesternWagggsWorld.  Thank you again.” (more…)