Group of Student Ambassadors with Guest Speaker

Group of Student Ambassadors with Guest Speaker

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Brainstorming of Ideas from Orientation Day Jan 24 '09

1. Reach out to Willimantic (?)
  • build relations
  • start discussion
2. Education
  • Point person-Jen
  • Mansfield-Build reputation and aproach
  • human rights
  • child rights->CRC
  • UDHR-> it exists, it applies
  • MDGs
  • Direct action awareness
  • our rights, our responsibilities
  • quantify measures
  • integrate MMS with fundraising
3. Gaza
  • Documentary "Promises"
  • Panel
  • Peacetalks-US Fundraiser
  • moderator (submit on papers?)
  • purpose
  • media
  • CRC-Participation
  • Watch the doc-netflix
4. Action
  • Fundraising
    • H2O-Bright Star Vision
    • library-Amir
      • support periodical subscription
      • integrate book drive with MMS
  • What Works?
    • bake sale
    • flex pass
    • jewelery
    • photography, art
    • company appeal
    • appeal to sports tickets
    • auction for next semester?
    • Make honors event
  • Namaste
  • Haiti
    • Point peopl-Allison and Stephanie
  • Darfur reawareness
    • inform ourselves
5. News/Video to share with group topics - about 25 min.
  • Narco-trafficking-Rafa
  • Trafficking of Women and Children-Pronoma
  • Religious Persecution-Akosua
  • Self determination-Jason

Friday, January 23, 2009

Minutes Jan 22 '09

1. Introductions
2. News
  • Reflections on Gaza
3. Opening up of orientation to new members
4. Consensus to order pizza and meet at Wilbur Cross 110 at Noon
5. Student Involvement Fair Sign up...email will be sent out on who signed for when also
  • 2-3 PM (set up) - Pronoma
  • 3-4 PM - Amanda, Nikki
  • 4-5 PM - Jason
  • 5-6 PM - Sharielle, Abena
  • 6-7 PM - Julie, Rafael
  • 7-8 PM - Simon, Allison
6. MMS
  • Work more with Sherry Andrews
  • Work on workshops
7. Get article/video, share with group
8. Intergenerational App open
  • Abena explains nature of forum
    • China Kitetsi
    • meet people from everywhere
9. Amir's letter
  • Result of library building in Rwanda
  • Asks for donation of books
10. hoodies
  • $28.52
  • Payment due by 1/29/'09
11. Guest SPeaker Marla Ludwig, brights Star Vision (Not Foundations)
  • Mentioned Kerry (Not McCole) going to help with making/designing school
  • 60 yrs old, last 35 years raising 3 sons by self
  • high school, but no college education
  • Became systems mainframe engineer @ travelers
  • everyone introduces selves, where traveled, why human rights
  • picked Ghana because found people friendly, no war, spoke English
    • told should bring books, hesitant, but did donate
    • got money to make library
  • Kerry talks about asymmetric program
    • nationwide program for architecture, construction, and engineering
    • mix of inner city and non-inner city students
    • Made complete plans of construction for Marla's kindergarten
  • Ground has been broken
  • roof costs $20,000, still need funds
  • upcoming fundraiser (flyer passed around)
  • if interested in going to Ghana in May, talk to Marla

Thursday, January 22, 2009

January 22, 2009 - Meeting Agenda

Student Ambassadors for Human Rights
January 22, 2009

1. Welcome back & Intro.s
2. Minutes
3. Orientation, 12 – 4pm, Wilbur Cross, Room 110
a. Use the front door
b. Lunch
4. Student Involvement Fair – sign-up (3 – 8pm Wed, Jan 28, 2009)
5. Mansfield Middle School
a. New class?
b. Schedules
c. Connecticut Children’s Commissioner
6. Articles/Media
7. Intergenerational Leadership Forum - - - - Applications are open
a. Letter from Amir
8. Hoodies - $$$ - $28.52
9. Guest speaker : Marla Ludwig, Bright Star Vision


Spring 2009

January 22 - Welcome back!
January 24 - Orientation, 12 – 4pm, Wilbur Cross, Room 110
January 28 - Student Involvement Fair, 3:00 – 8:00pm
January 29 -
February 5 -
February 12 -
February 19 - INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY (Feb 21)
February 26 -
March 5 - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (March 8)
March 12 - Spring Break
March 19 - Keith Snow Guest Lecture, 12:30 - 1:45pm
MARCH 22 - WORLD WATER DAY (2009 Theme: Transboundary Water)
March 26 -
April 2 - WORLD HEALTH DAY(April 7)
April 9 -
April 16 -
APRIL 22 - EARTH DAY
April 23 -
April 30 -

Possible Trip Dates: March 20, March 27, April 3

2009 UN International Year of Astronomy

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Child Rights event - New York

If anyone is interested in attending, please let Kara know asap.

Invitation to Attend the Third Child Policy Forum of New York

IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE U.N. CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN, CHILD PROSTITUTION AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY


DAY: FRIDAY
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2009
TIME: 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.
PLACE: CHURCH CENTER FOR THE UNITED NATIONS MEETING ROOM 212 777 UN PLAZA, NEW YORK

The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a human rights treaty created specifically to promote and protect the best interests and human rights of children worldwide. Since 1990, 193 countries have ratified the CRC. The U.S. and Somalia are the only two countries which have not ratified this historic treaty.

Although the U.S. has not ratified the CRC, it has ratified the Optional Protocols to the CRC on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC) on 23 December 2002.

The U.S. has submitted an official report, which was discussed in Geneva in May/June 2008 with official recommendations by the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child. The recommendations and treaty obligations for implementation and monitoring will be the topic of our Forum with an emphasis on New York State.

Opening Remarks
Gertrud Lenzer -- Professor, Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center/CUNY
Director, Brooklyn College Children's Studies Program and Center/CUNY
Christoph M. Kimmich -- President, Brooklyn College/CUNY
William A. Tramontano -- Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Brooklyn College/CUNY
Kathryn Grant Madigan, Esq. -- Immediate Past President, New York State Bar Association


Speakers
Angela O. Burton, Esq. -- Associate Professor, CUNY School of Law
Howard Davidson, J.D. -- Executive Director of the ABA Center on Children and the Law
The Honorable Jeffrey Dinowitz -- New York State Assembly
Gertrud Lenzer -- Professor, Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center/CUNY
Director, Brooklyn College Children's Studies Program and Center/CUNY
Rachel Lloyd – Executive Director, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS)
Marta Santos Pais – Director, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (Pending Final Confirmation)
The Honorable William A. Scarborough -- Chair of the Standing Committee on Children and Families,
New York State Assembly
Carol Smolenski -- Executive Director, ECPAT - USA

Hosted by the Children's Studies Center & the Brooklyn College of The City University of New York in collaboration with the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, The Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Covenant House Nineline, CUNY School of Law, ECPAT-USA, and the New York State Bar Association Committee on Children and the LawSupported by the CUNY University Affirmative Action Committee of the Diversity Projects Development Fund and the New York Community Trust/Mark Family Fund.

For information visit our website: http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/childrensstudies

In case you're looking for a new class this semester. . .

FOUR NEW CREATIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING COURSES OFFERED THIS SPRING
Are you interested in learning a community-building approach that emphasizes applied creativity, collaboration and everyday democracy? The University of Connecticut’s Creative Community Building program helps individuals and communities look within at their strengths, assets and resources; and provides tools for deliberately collaborating to shape and create the kind of community in which people want to live, work and play. If you are working to promote human rights and social justice, these Spring 2009 courses can help you learn and apply complementary skills and ideas. Please consider signing up now -- and invite your friends, too!

Choose from among four Creative Community Building courses (3 credits each), which will run from January 20 to May 1, 2009. Note: If you know anyone who is 62 or older, s/he can register on a space-available, non-credit basis through the Senior Citizen Audit program for $15/semester. For more information about the audit program, contact the Center for Continuing Studies at 860.486.4631.

GS3088-*91 (12969) BUILDING A COOPERATIVE ECONOMY: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES
Taught by Erbin Crowell, University of Connecticut-Storrs, Wednesdays,
6:00-9:00 p.m.

GS3088-*90 (12956) CREATIVE DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
Taught by Len Krimerman, Ph.D., University of Connecticut-Storrs,
Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

GS3088-H90 (13065) CREATIVITY + SOCIAL CHANGE
Taught by Steven Dahlberg, University of Connecticut-Hartford, Tuesdays,
6:30-9:00 p.m.

GS3088-N68 (12923) NONVIOLENCE AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Taught by Joanne Sheehan, University of Connecticut-Avery Point,
Thursdays, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

More details and full course descriptions are available online at
http://www.CreativeCommunityBuilding.org or by calling 860.486.0358.

WHAT PREVIOUS CREATIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING STUDENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THESE COURSES:

* “I learned a lot about linking creativity to every aspect of my life, not just my artistic work.” - Amanda Stauble
* “I wonder if education in general can be transformed to resemble this course.” - Chris Grohs
* “I learned that there really are other people who struggle and love to create in the face of skeptics in today’s world.” - Kaitlyn Newman
* “I rediscovered my community and am beginning to think that this society is ready to change for the better.” - Robbie Steller
* “I gained so much inspiration that will drive me to use more creative approaches … to affect positive social change.” - Allyssa Milan