News and Events
Florida International Magazine names GFF President Kimberly Green One of Its "Power Players"
April 14, 2011
The Green Family Foundation's President, Kimberly Green, is featured in this month's Florida International Magazine story "People 2011 - 25 Individuals Taking Florida Forward."
When the magazine originally approached Ms. Green, they sent along a detailed questionnaire, which she answered during a trip to Haiti earlier this year. When asked to describe herself in one-word, she answered: "unyielding."
As is usually the case, her answers were edited down significantly, so we would like to share some of her answers as they were submitted for the "Power Player" profile:
Florida International Magazine (FIM): What does the word "power" mean to you?
Kimberly Green (KG): "Power matters most to those who do not have it. Power takes many forms. When harnessed, power heats homes, cooks food, boils water, allows books to be read after sunset and hospitals to save lives, yet still, 1.5 billion humans have no access to power.
"Power is also the ability to affect change – to influence hearts and minds, both for good or evil. With power comes responsibility and I believe in speaking truth to power."
FIM: If you had endless resources (can be money or other pertinent resources), how would you ultimately use them?
KG: "Endless resources at my fingertips would enable me to enforce policy change throughout the world, enabling every country to meet the 8 United Nations Millennium Development Goals, designed to end extreme poverty in our lifetime.
"Endless money at my disposal would also allow me to go to those who are standing in the way of positive change and negotiate exactly how much it will take financially to just get out of the way."
FIM: Influences/icons/sources of inspiration?
KG: "Haiti is the world’s first black Republic and the only nation to name a road after the American revolutionary abolitionist John Brown. Called “the most controversial of all 19th century Americans”, John Brown is an inspiration to me for the simple reason that he sacrificed his life for the abolition of slavery.
"To quote Frederick Douglass: 'If John Brown did not end the war that ended slavery, he did, at least, begin the war that ended slavery… Until this blow was struck, the prospect for freedom was dim, shadowy, and uncertain. The irrepressible conflict was one of words, votes and compromises. ... The clash of arms was at hand...'
"... Finally, one of my modern day heroes is Dr. Jacky Lumarque, Rector of Université Quisqueya, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, who encouraged his students to stay in Haiti after the total destruction of their prized university, running make shift classrooms out of tents and under mango trees. His words underpin all of our efforts in Haiti: 'Reconstruction is surely necessary, but it's not in buildings. It's not in facilities. The most important component of reconstruction is in humans. And to do that we discover that culture must be the most fundamental aspect of the reconstruction program.'"
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Millennium Development Goals - End Poverty by 2015
PBS "Haiti's Lost Music" - interview with Dr. Jacky Lumarque, Rector of Université Quisqueya
Annual Commemoration of the Rwanda Genocide
April 7, 2011
In 1994, between April and June -- a mere100 days -- more than 800,000 Rwandans were killed in a civil war whose intensity shocked Rwandan citizens and the rest of the world.
In 2005 the United Nations Department of Public Information established "Lessons from Rwanda: The United Nations and the Prevention of Genocide" information and educational outreach program, and has been commemorating Rwanda's genocide on April 7 ever since. This year's commemoration will be held at the United Nations' COSOC Chamber, NL Building, UN Headquarters, New York from 5:00 - 6:00 PM.
"Today, we honour the memory of more than 800,000 people murdered in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. "Our thoughts are also with the survivors, left to rebuild shattered communities and an entire nation. On this day of remembrance, let us pay special tribute to the people and Government of Rwanda for the resilience and dignity they have shown in working towards national recovery and managing the trauma of this atrocious episode of history. I encourage them to continue promoting the inclusive spirit and dialogue necessary for healing, reconciliation and reconstruction."
Healing is a word with dual meaning in Rwanda. The emotional scars of genocide coupled with the spread of commu
nicable diseases such as HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria, still haunt the nation. Partners in Health (PIH) and its sister organization in Rwanda, Inshuti Mu Buzim (IMB), have worked diligently since 2005 to build and rebuild clinics and community centers to treat patients in areas of rural Rwanda. According to PIH there is only one doctor for every 30,000 people in Rwanda. This lack of qualified physicians makes the healthcare situation in remote areas even more dire.
Some good news: According to their website, by the end of fiscal year 2011, PIH/IMB is on schedule to support 40 health facilities in our three target districts, with over 1,280 clinical and support staff, and work with a network of 6,175 community health workers.
On this day, we are proud to honor the tireless work of Rose Mapendo. Following the genocide in Rwanda, a new conflict erupted across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, entangling seven nations in what has been described as "Africa's first World War." Beginning in 1998, this deadly civil war claimed the lives of 5.4 million people, including Ms. Mapendo's husband. After spending time in a death camp with 9 of her 10 children, she and her family were located to Phoenix, Arizona. Since then, Ms. Mapendo has been a tireless advocate for refugees living in the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees named Mapendo "The Humanitarian of the Year in 2009."
The Green Family Foundation sponsored the Women's International Film & Arts Festival's screening of the award winning documentary, "Pushing the Elephant," by Beth Davenport and Elizabeth Mandel. This heartbreaking film chronicles the story of Ms. Mapendo and her family's efforts to spread a message of forgiveness and educate the world about the atrocities of genocide and gender violence.
For more information about the UN 's "Lessons from Rwanda: The United Nations and the Prevention of Genocide" program, click here.
To read about Partners in Health's activities in Rwanda, check out their site.
Today is International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
April 4, 2011
From the United Nations News Centre:
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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for universal adherence to all international treaties prohibiting the use and stockpiling of landmines, and appealed for support for mine awareness and clearance efforts, which he said are necessary to create a safer world for all...
UN development agencies are working to connect mine action with broader development plans to promote agricultural production, strengthen infrastructure, improve water supply and provide better education and health services, he added, saying the efforts would help affected States achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)... |
security,” said Mr. Ban...TAKE ACTION:
We Can End Poverty 2015 - Millennium Development Goals
Take Action: Donate Kids' Converse Sneakers to The Art of Giving Project at FIU
April 3, 2011
The Art + Art History Department at Florida International University (FIU) is taking part in The Art of Giving Project, a fund-raising campaign that assists children throughout the world's resource-poor and emerging nations. Students are sending Converse kids' sneakers, customized with hand-painted artwork, to children in Haiti.
The event, a contribution to the university’s Global Learning Initiative, is part of FIU’s Diversity Week (April 4-8, 2011). The week celebrates the importance of diversity and identity in higher education, in the community and in the global arena.
FIU is asking for donations of kids-sized Converse All Stars canvas sneakers for the Art + Art History department students to paint before sending to Haiti. On April 8, the public can watch as the students create one-of-a-kind Converse designs at the university's Graham Center Gallery between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
Please bring your Converse All Stars donations before April 8, 2011, to these locations at the FIU Modesto A. Maidique Campus (11200 S.W. 8th Street): VH 216, PCA 272, GC 1215, or the Faculty Club.
To check out other Diversity Week events at FIU, click here.
To learn more about FIU's Global Learning Initiative, click here.
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