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“Welcome
to your Global Sustainability Think-Tank In Action”
Fall
,
2006
- Vol. 1.
Issue 1
Dear
friends, artists & all agents of positive change,
It
is with the deepest joy and enthusiasm that I send the first edition
of our new newsletter, "The Inspired Citizen". While the leaves
turn gold, and we enter into fall, it is a virtual springtime for Empowerment
Works!
Over the years, EW has remained true to its founding mission of a global
think-tank-in-action (learning & building best practices while doing),
advocating a multi-sector, interdisciplinary approach to sustainable
human and economic development. Small and nimble, EW has remained steadfast
in carving out a vital new role in the world of international development-
empowering grass-roots social entrepreneurs and engaging likeminded
movements to achieve holistic solutions.
This effort has been made against many difficult odds-physical, financial
and institutional. However, these odds are nothing next to the challenges
faced by the global communities EW is built to honor and empower out
of poverty.
In
2006 - our 5th year in action- EW has made tremendous strides in achieving
its global mission including:
1.
Launching a new micro-grants for Social Entrepreneurs program in Suriname
(South America);
2.
Strengthening our economic development effort in the marginalized Casamance
region of Senegal through our our new ethnomusicology recording program
'EW Music" to launch its compilation soon!
3.
Co-founding & leading development of The Coalition for a Sustainable
Africa (www.csafrica.org) with like-minded groups in LA;
4.
Leading an interactive Sustainable Orphan Care panel at the WORLD AIDS
CONFERENCE IN TORONTO (largest humanitarian/ health event in history
w/ 26,000 attendees);
5.
Co-producing a cutting edge PSA on sustainable development & AIDS
in Africa, and;
6.
Raising global awareness & reaching out to hundreds of new supporters
in LA with over a dozen live music events via our Artists In Action
cultural benefit series!
And
now EW is taking a deep breath in, and preparing to share it all with
the world through a new interactive website! Best of all, this effort
is fueled by a five member strong, international, 100% volunteer web
team- one in Malaysia, one in Iran, one from Bulgaria, and two brilliant
Americans! Our most recent member, from Iran is an HIV/AIDS awareness
activist in his country and sends Rumi poetry to our team as a symbol
of his culture. He states the following in his Bio: “I believe in Love,
Peace and Humanity as the ultimate solution for problems in the world
today.”
Indeed,
it is heartening to experience that from the inside (backend databases
& html) out, we are building a global network of social entrepreneurs-
and a culture of peace in our every action.
In
addition to our global web team, EW’s program leaders’ volunteer experiences
in countries as Suriname, Cameroon, Thailand and South Africa are expanding
our global reach. Working in partnership with our network of collaborating
non-profits, EW is capitalizing on their passion and unique expertise
to advance our programmatic impact.
In
the coming season we look forward to sharing exciting progress from
our global program areas and to your
feed back and vital participation. Our new website will offer the public
new membership opportunities ranging from “Inspired Citizen” to “Green
Business Elite”. As the unique vision of EW comes more fully to fruition
we hope that our achievements will prove worthy enough to inspire your
support in a way that is meaningful to you.
Sincerely,
Melanie
St.James, MPA
Executive Director/Founder
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