It all started with a greeting in Chimpanzee. Attendees were awed and excited as the legendary Jane Goodall colorfully detailed the 50-plus years of research with her beloved chimps in the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Goodall has dedicated the majority of her life to conservation and education about the environment.
As a little girl, Jane had always loved animals, and was enamored with the story of Tarzan, King of the Jungle. You can imagine her dismay when he marries, and I quote, “that other silly, weak Jane”. She discussed how she always believed she would be a scientist, because as a child she always asked questions, was never satisfied with half-baked answers, and learned patience through trial and error.
Jane Goodall explained the struggles she had to go through to even have the opportunity to travel to Africa, and the hardships she faced once she got there, attributing many of them to funding issues. However, she showed us how true her message of, “Never give up, you will find a way” when she told us how she waitressed until she finally had enough money to pay for the trip herself.
Henry David Thoreau said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” Goodall is the supreme example of this; she spent hours reading everything she could about chimpanzees and moneys in general, in preparation for an opportunity that would eventually come her way.
Despite my own appreciation for the work being done by the Jane Goodall Institute, some might ask why this research is important at all. “They are animals, and we are humans, and that’s that,” some may crudely say. However, as our closest relative in the animal kingdom, the similarities between chimpanzees and humans are astounding. Our DNA differs by only over one percent, and our brains are almost identical except for size. We both have very similar birthing patterns, and both human and chimp mothers can be good and not so good. And, despite both species’ capacity for love, altruism, and compassion, both humans and chimps can also have dark sides, Goodall explained.
As she pointed out so eloquently, there isn’t a sharp line between us and them, and we certainly have much to learn about them regarding our own human nature. After all, if things are found to be important for our closest relative in the animal kingdom, couldn’t it be argued that it might be worth learning about for our own lives?
Goodall, as it turns out, believes that the most dangerous creature is not some scary thing found in the depths of the forest, but rather, it is the one who has no connection between his heart, and his brain. She has said that she is ashamed of what we have done to this beautiful planet, and poses this question: “If we’re the most intelligent beings to ever walk this Earth, how come we’re destroying our only home?”
It seems that we could all benefit from a healthy dose of humility and stop abusing the resilience of nature. We must learn, as she explained, that we are not inheriting the Earth from our parents — we are borrowing it from our children. We must sow seeds of peace, put to use our explosive human intellect for positive endeavors, and never believe the lie we are often told: “One person cannot make a difference.” After all, Jane Goodall has proven the fact that one person can, in fact, change the world.
Beverly Gantt (LGS & International Studies/Economics '13) and
Reaz Khan (LGS & International Studies/STEP '13)
Every year, the Korea Foundation (KF); in conjunction with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), sponsors seventy-five undergraduates from across the United States to visit the Republic of Korea. Both of us were lucky enough to be selected among this year’s participants through a competitive process out of hundreds of students nationwide. We not only attended a number of lectures on basic Korean language, American-Korean relations, history and politics; but saw Seoul in depth and the sheer beauty of Korea at large.
This experience included a visit to historical sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Demilitarized Zone on the border between North and South Korea, shopping and visiting cultural districts like Insadong and Shinchon, and a tour through Hyundai Motors. We spent a day experiencing temple life and Buddhist traditions. Both CIEE and KF partnered with Yonsei University where we met with students to discuss Korean culture, have dinner and even take Taekwondo classes one night. We could not have imagined a better way to spend our spring break than traveling and studying in "Awesome Korea"!
Adelphi University is proud to announce that students Michelle Consorte ’12 and Anustha Shrestha ’15, have been selected to serve as the University's "UN Youth Representatives,” as part of United Nations Department of Public Information’s (DPI) "NGO Relations Youth Initiative." The United Nations now allows affiliated NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to annually appoint two representatives to serve as youth liaisons. This new opportunity is being coordinated by Adelphi’s newly formed International Leadership Coordinating Committee.
Consorte and Shrestha will have the opportunity to attend weekly briefings on international affairs at the UN Headquarters in New York City, and will write a blog for Adelphi about relevant developments, which will allow them to communicate and distribute information about UN NGO activities to the Adelphi community. The representatives will act as a link connecting Adelphi's student body to the UN. Additionally, they will engage and work with other UN Youth Representatives from fellow NGOs from around the world in collaborative projects and initiatives at the UN, bringing the voice of the youth to the forefront of conversations (and debates) on international affairs and the Millennium Development Goals. Consorte and Shrestha will participate in youth representative training, as well as specialized training in NGO strategic communications.
Michelle Consorte, from Greenlawn, NY, is an English major with a communications minor. She is a proud member of the Levermore Global Scholars (LGS) Program and has “thoroughly enjoyed every opportunity it's presented [her] with.” Consorte has a number of outstanding accomplishments and has participated in Adelphi’s Community Fellows Program and Bard College’s Program on Globalization and International Affairs. She has made the Dean’s Lists every semester (2008-2011) and has been inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. Over the past five years, she also has raised significant funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Anustha Shrestha is an economics major and international student from Kathmandu, Nepal. Shrestha is involved on campus as a member of Circle K International, International Student Society and Student Government Association. Her other honors include a first place win in the Ambassador of Pakistan Essay Writing Contest (2009), and a Best Speaker award in the United Nations Development Program and Pragya Foundation National Debate (2008).
The UN Department of Public Information acknowledges the importance of youth in its work with Non-Governmental Organizations. Over the past two years, it has increased its youth activities and has allowed for more visible participation of youth representatives in its work. The initial step was to ensure that NGO delegations to the Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference had a youth representative participating. After the successful participation of youth during the 62nd UN DPI/NGO Conference that took place in Mexico in 2009, it was decided that the youth participation should be increased. Now, designated youth representatives can also participate in regular UN DPI activities throughout the year.
For more information on Adelphi University, please visit adelphi.edu.
To learn more about Adelphi’s involvement with the UN, please visit adelphi.edu/ilcc.
To find out more information on the UN Youth Representatives, please visit un.org.
About Adelphi University: Adelphi is a world-class, modern university with excellent and highly relevant programs where students prepare for lives of active citizenship and professional careers. Through its schools and programs—The College of Arts and Sciences, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Honors College, Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, and the Schools of Nursing and Social Work—the coeducational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,000 students from 43 states and 45 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and its centers in Manhattan, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie, the University, chartered in 1896, maintains a commitment to liberal studies, in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.
About Adelphi’sInternational Leadership Coordinating Committee (ILCC): The ILCC coordinates activities with all of the elements at Adelphi working to actualize the University goal of increased relevance in a changing world. More specifically, the committee proposes guidelines and priorities for the University's international activities regarding the following areas: education abroad, international partnerships, international population services, international faculty development, internationalization of the curriculum and co-curricular activities.
On Friday, March 2nd, my LGS Writing from a Global Perspective class was privileged enough to tune in to participate in The Nobel Peace Prize Forum held at the American College of Norway (Moss, Norway). We were able to watch a workshop, Pedagogy and Peace: A Model for Decision-Making, given by students from the American College of Norway.This was all made possible by video conferencing technology. My class and I gathered around the conference table in the Levermore Global Scholars Lounge in front of the new plasma screen television.
The workshop addressed the question: How do we identify relevant social problems and determine an appropriate source of data to make an informed plan of action? We were given a packet students had made in Norway allowing us to follow page by page as students discussed their results. The students’ presentation involved developing problem selection criteria, website site evaluation criteria, and problem solution graphics.They presented their ideas as new ways of conducting research hoping their techniques could later be implemented for further research.One of the students developed researching methods on “problem selection criteria” that allowed them to rank peace related topics from most pertain to least.We were allowed to post questions regarding their presentations in real time through Facebook, so I asked if their method was flexible enough for various countries to implement since each region has different concerns regarding health, poverty, and education?Instantly I got a response.Talk about being globally connected!
It was a great opportunity to get out of the daily routine of going to regular class every day.At times you can become engulfed by day to day happenings that you forget you live in larger community one that extends far beyond the borders of Adelphi or New York or even America.Having the opportunity to see other students so engaged in their studies reinforced the idea that you can act locally and still make a global impact.Although it may seem that the students were just completing an assignment, they truly did much more. They were able to make an impact in my life reminding me that student all over the world are preparing themselves just as much as I am to face the global challenges of tomorrow.
Overall, the discussion was an interesting and fun way to interact with students without having to pay for airfare. Yet for those willing and able to visit to our Norwegian friends, the Director of International Education Dr. Barry L. Stinson did also mention that there were many opportunities to do study abroad in Norway through Adelphi University’s new partnership with the American College of Norway.
Dr. Valerie Karr, Assistant Professor at Adelphi University and expert in the area of disability rights, recently discussed the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilitiesduring an interview with South-South News. This convention, which entered into force in 2008, is
now legally binding in over a hundred countries and is
continuing to gain traction with the international community.
Today there are approximately one billion people
around the world living with disabilities, making the ratification and
implementation of this convention an increasingly salient and hot topic. Against this backdrop, Professor Karr explains that the Convention has
become "one of the most quickly ratified conventions in UN history." This document redefines the concept of disability, according to Karr, and challenges governments and policy makers
to refocus the conversation on what they can do to promote more
accessible and inclusive societies.
Professor Karr, who continues to work closely with the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs
in Qatar, also leads projects in cultural and public diplomacy in Syria. Referring to one of her recent initiatives bringing together American and Syrian youth with disabilities to learn about their rights,
she explains that these young people "spoke a common language
immediately because of their disabilities," despite the differences in
their backgrounds and cultures. But instead of merely talking about these topics, the students engaged the issues and "were instrumental in creating their own awareness-raising campaign about the rights of people with disabilities."
For more information about the United Nations MDGs and disability, please explore United Nations Enable, the official website of the Secretariat for the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) in the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) at the United Nations
Secretariat.
Erica White (International Studies '15), Anh Nguyen (Business '15), Valeria Mendoza (International Studies '15), Catherine Xie (Marketing '15), Natalia Espinosa (International Studies '15) and Prof. Peter DeBartolo
While rummaging through my Adelphi email account a certain email stuck out which read: “The UN in American Foreign Policy" - UNA-USA Conference at United Nations - This Friday, Feb. 10th.” Without a moment’s hesitation I registered for the event.I never expected to get the opportunity to attend a Members Day at the United Nations, hosted by the United Nations Association of the United States of America, especially as a freshman.
There was no looking back as the 7:09 AM train pulled out of the station.As a Long Island local, I was not concerned with taking the train, I was more anxious to navigate my way through the city.My LGS peers and I were to meet up later at the UN so until then I was traveling independently.The train began to fill with chatty commuters on their way to work; their muffled voices and the train’s cradling trek eased my nerves.I felt so mature.
A few subway rides later, and a bit of brisk walking led me to the General Assembly building.The sun flushed color into the iconic world flags, I stood there and took it all in; the moment was glorious.It was my first time visiting the United Nations Headquarters.In high school I was very involved with the Model United Nations Debate Team.I had spent countless hours researching and reading official UN publications on topics like: water and sanitation crisis, illicit trafficking of exotic animals, hunger, poverty, terrorism, and even piracy.Now, I was going to be in the very building where the world’s greatest minds came together to craft such resolutions.I felt so fortunate to be a part of a globally minded community as the Levermore Global Scholars program that would propel me to pursue my interests.
Once inside, a friendly UNA-USA staff member escorted me to the room where the conference was to take place, every General Assembly seat was accessible to me.As an International Studies Major interested in diplomacy as a future career, there could not have been a more incredible feeling than sitting in such a historic place.The UN emblem gleamed overhead above the speaker’s podium. The Keynote speakers included Dr. Jeffrey Sachs and Congresswoman Nita Lowey.Dr. Jeffrey Sachs was an exceptional and motivating speaker.He brought to mind the degree to which our world is interconnected.Using the “Butterfly Effect” as an example Dr. Jeffrey Sachs was able to describe the consequences a “linked world” has on one hemisphere verses the other.“A butterfly may flutter its wings in the West but in the East a tornado will come to pass.”His words moved me and my fellow LGS peers as he placed the responsibility to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals in our hands.He assured us “the ability to solve basic problems is a unique modern phenomena” that can be entrusted to the younger generations—my generation being one of them.
Over the course of the day we heard a number of panelists discuss topics ranging from Security Council operations and UN Peacekeeping, to Sustainable Development.We were also treated to a preview of the upcoming Rio+20; a UN Conference on Sustainable Development expected to take place this June.
By 2:00 PM the conference ended and we were all exhausted; but that was no reason to let a perfectly good night in the city to go to waste. After a long day of feeling like I was on cloud nine, I was happy to sit down and talk over the day's happenings with my two close LGS friends at a west side dessert shop, Vive le Crepe. Our international pallet was finally satisfied for the day.
On Wednesday, February 1st, in the Campbell Lounge, the Levermore Global Scholars Program and the Center for Career Development sponsored a special panel on Career in Non-Profit Organizations.Panelists included Brian Leander from the Adelphi University Center for Non-Profit Leadership, Chris Leonardis from Support for People for Oral, Head and Neck Cancer (SPOHNC), Aimee Terzulli and Maureen Mangan from the Long Island Children’s Museum, Maureen Dolan Murphy from Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, and Joan Flynn from Island Harvest.
The afternoon started off with an introduction by Brian Leander, and then each panelist spoke about how they got started in the non-profit sector.Each story was unique in that no two people shared the same path, but similar in that none of the representatives thought they would be working in the non-profit sector, and yet they all were extremely satisfied with the work they were doing on a daily basis.
Many critics of the idea of working within the non-profit sector believe that work is extremely difficult with little payoff, and that one non-profit organization can only make so much of a difference.However, the panelists each pointed out that their work has been quite rewarding because they all harbor a passion for their respective fields.The representatives from the Long Island Children’s Museum both described how there are so many facets of running the Museum that they are able to use and develop many new skills.
Maureen Dolan Murphy of the Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment said that in her organization, she doesn’t spend hours working on a project just to have it disregarded by one of her superiors; instead, in the non-profit sector and in grassroots movements, there is a far less diverse hierarchical system in terms of management.Everyone is looking to make an impact on the issue, and administrators and employees work with volunteers on the same level toward that single goal. It is humbling work for all involved.
Another critique of working within the non-profit sector is that individuals don’t make a lot of money—which, for the most part, is a misconception.Many of the panelists commented on this aspect. Dolan Murphy commented that she may not make a lot of money, but she has a house and a baby to support, and she did certainly make a “livable wage”. Joan Flynn explained that while she enjoyed her time working with J.P. Morgan Chase in the past and made a good amount of money doing so, she feels fulfilled helping people through Island Harvest in a way that she hadn’t before.
All of the panelists extended an invitation to students to volunteer and even to work with their organizations, which was a great display of what each had been speaking about: opportunities to be involved within the non-profit sector begin at the volunteer level and can grow toward more permanent positions, leading to a life of helping people.This is a noble cause, and one that students dedicated to becoming informed globalists might consider working toward as volunteers, and perhaps one day, as working professionals.
In the early morning of January 11th, a group of nine students with different interests, majors and backgrounds went on the newly created LGS and Peace Studies course to Costa Rica. I was one of these lucky students.
The course focused on issues very closely related to the mission of LGS. Moreover, the course was partly taught and designed together with the University for Peace, which was established by the United Nations. Located in a remote area outside of the city Colón, the campus was naturally beautiful. I found myself day-dreaming at the natural views in one of the many hammocks scattered around the university grounds.
At the University for Peace in Costa Rica, we not only took classes but also participated in unique problem solving exercises. Our group debriefed everyday about themes like international politics, human rights, environmental justice, and personal values of happiness. After we began to get comfortable with the San José area, we all left for the jungle city; Monteverde. There, we visited a place called Rancho Mastatal, an environmentally sustainable learning and living center. At the Rancho Mastatal, we decided what we wanted to learn about. Our group learned about organic farming, hydroponics, animal husbandry, cooking, fermentation, alternative energy sources, soil compositions, sun bathing and hiking.
My experience at the ranch was unforgettable. I milked goats, used compost toilets, and pushed my personal limits. This trip showed me that global problem solving, peace building and sustainable living are very much interrelated. I personally feel that in order to live a happy life I need to always be aware of the world but more importantly to live with the world. I hope this trip continues to run in the following years, I think all Adelphi students would enjoy a star speckled sky and the loud chirps in the night.
Throughout the course of our stay in Costa Rica this January, we had the opportunity to meet with a number of interesting guest speakers and presenters. Three of these were American expats who now live and work in this beautiful country, and each one had a very different approach to the meaning and importance of sustainability, human happiness, and peace. Although they were working in three distinct fields, their backgrounds all included previous work in the Peace Corps and an ongoing dedication to environmental issues in Costa Rica and beyond, and (ironically or not), they all had blue eyes and were initially from New England.
Lesson #1: Joris Brinckerhoff, M.B.A. – Founder of The Butterfly Farm. Inspired by the book Small is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered by E.F. Schumacher, Brinckerhoff founded the Costa Rica Entomological Supply (CRES) (aka The Butterfly Farm) in 1984 with the goal of “turning capitalism on its head.” Over the last twenty-eight years, his innovative business model has helped CRES become one of the world’s leading butterfly suppliers, winning numerous national and international awards. Although a tad sporadic and hard to follow at times, Brinckerhoff told us, “Sometimes you have to throw the numbers out…and just believe in yourself. The founders who are passionate and have a vision will be successful, not the ones who put money first.” While today many praise his business as a successful experiment in sustainability (now included as a model case study in Harvard Business School courses), even Brinckerhoff still questions whether it is truly possible to create a completely sustainable business. Perhaps his strongest emphasis was on the fact that new technologies have taken away our relationship with nature, and have caused us to lose the innate connections we once felt with our surroundings.
Lesson #2: Steven Hawkins, Ph.D. (Conflict Resolution) – Founder of Dramatic Problem Solving and Visiting Professor (UN University for Peace). Hawkins works with communities and groups throughout Costa Rica to help them transform personal and social conflicts through the use of facilitated dramatic (acting) methodologies. Influenced by Augusto Boal’s Theater of the Oppressed and Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Hawkins works closely with domestic abuse victims, marginalized youth, single mothers, non-profits, and school groups (at all levels), using theater as a means of liberation and transformation. His workshop brought us together to identify, analyze, and create a piece of interactive theatre about social issues relating, in some way, to all of us. Our group developed and performed two short plays – one about contemporary immigration and one about the meaning of happiness, using a family setting as the backdrop. Through acting out these issues, the conflicts and tensions became something real and internal. The word “powerful” is not enough to describe the weight his workshops carried. Instead of discussing a problem as part of a third party, we became the people trapped in the situation, challenged to think on our feet and brainstorm about how we would react and deal with what was being thrown at us. Using “Forum Theater,” we jumped into scenes, rewrote unjust scripts, and engaged in social change improv.
Lesson #3: Tim O’Hara, M.S. (Agricultural Economics) and Robin Nunes, B.A. (Social Ecology) – Founders and Directors of Rancho Mastatal. Many of us were squarely pushed to our limits in Rancho Mastatal, an eco-friendly community in the Costa Rican rainforest, in the Puriscal Province near the western coast. But for me, at least, it was the most thought-provoking and enriching experience I’ve ever had while abroad. After serving together in the Peace Corps in Uruguay, Tim and Robin founded this organic ranch in Costa Rica with the hopes of one day being entirely sustainable, and they’ve already come within inches of this goal, striving constantly to lower their ecological footprint to nothing. From composting toilets to permaculture to fermenting fruit into sodas, the folks at Rancho Mastatal taught us infinite strategies we can use to preserve our earth in our own ways. It is our responsibility, not our burden, to care for the environment we all share. A good way to start: buy locally, reducing the need for overseas shipping, thus reducing your carbon footprint. You may also feel better knowing where exactly your money goes and can even help your local economy. As consumers, we should keep in mind that we ultimately vote for policies – sustainable or unsustainable – with our dollars.
Today we spent our time at the UN University for Peace
(UPeace), and under the guidance of our host Mohit Mukherjee,
we learned about and discussed the concepts of sustainable human development,
peace building, the true definition of happiness, and the Earth Charter. We began with a few
innovative ice-breakers that definitely increased the group’s energy and
enthusiasm to be here, and we got to know each other a little more. Midway
through the day, we watched several video clips that opened our eyes to the ways
in which the international community is trying to deal with current social and environmental challenges. We also debated whether the “doomsday” approach used by certain
groups is really an effective method to mobilize changes in human behavior. However,
personally, the video that was the most powerful to me, was Nic Marks’ TED Talk
about the Happy Planet Index. Referencing the words of Robert Kennedy, Marks explained
that “the gross national product of a nation…measures everything,
in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.” This provides an interesting take on the value of wealth and power in the international system, two important
indicators that we traditionally use to measure a country’s standing or even
happiness and security. Costa Rica, however, abolished its military in 1948 and
opted to redirect its military spending into social and educational programs, specifically
public healthcare and primary/secondary education. As a result, this move provided the catalyst for Costa
Rica to become one of the most sustainable, ecologically-friendly, and happy
places on earth. Maybe we need to reexamine the guidelines we use to measure a
nation in relation to the rest of the world, and we need to shift our focus
from GNP to the level of happy life years, or ecological footprint.
I’m beginning to discover why Costa Rica is number one on
the Happy Planet Index. Although I had no idea what to expect while in Costa
Rica, and I had absolutely no perception of real life outside of North America,
my initial impression of Costa Rica has been very positive. The roads are clean, the
hotel is absolutely gorgeous (picture a Bali-style bungalow in the middle of an
Amazonian arboretum) and the locals I’ve spoken to have been genuinely friendly
and seem very content. I guess it’s easy to do when you wake up everyday to a
pristine azure sky with palm trees casually wafting in the breeze. That, and
the fact that the buildings are painted a lively shade of yellow or blue. The
group spent the day in Ciudad Colón, a small town near our hotel, and
enjoyed shopping and mingling with locals. One thing a member of the group
pointed out was the fact that the culture here is much more family-oriented and
they value leisure time much more than people in the United States. There were
entire families, including grandparents, spending time together in the local
park and doing the daily errands. It is not uncommon to pass by a family
sitting on the front porch of their houses, big or small, laughing and spending
quality time together.
A group of twenty-six LGS students and chaperons from Adelphi attended the annual International Way street festival and cultural tour in New York City, co-sponsored by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations diplomatic community. The festival stretched for sixteen blocks down Lexington Avenue in Manhattan and featured cultural exhibits from over twenty different countries from around the world.
This fall, as part of the UN Academic Impact Initiative, students from the Levermore Global Scholars and Peace Studies Programs attended a special symposium at the United Nations with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The theme of the session was "Give Peace Another Chance." Students heard from UN ambassadors and international scholars, and had the opportunity to meet other students and emerging global leaders from around the world.
As Adelphi continues to increase its involvement with the United Nations, the university also has moved forward with its efforts to provide students with additional opportunities in the fields of global and civic engagement. Jeffrey Levya is a prime example of what AU students can achieve in this area when they put their minds to it. After preparing himself with graduate coursework and working closely with Adelphi’s Career Development Center, Jeffrey successfully obtained a competitive internship at the United Nations, and also positioned himself well to enter the field of international affairs, if he so desires. I recently met with Jeffrey to talk with him about his recent experiences at the United Nations, and subsequent job offers by UN offices in New York and Geneva.
Moving to the United States from the Philippines in early 2009, Jeffrey began to pursue an MBA in Marketing at Adelphi. Jeffrey became aware of the internship program at the UN through a friend who shares his interest in international studies. Though he was not initially selected for the intern position, he continued to pursue opportunities and utilized the resources of Adelphi’s Career Development Center to improve his overall appeal to potential employers. Jeffrey worked with career counselors to make changes to his resume and cover letter; ultimately playing a role in his acceptance into the program.
Beginning a three month internship program in August
2010, Jeffrey held a position in the Human Resource Management department of
the UN. Interns worked in teams of two
to improve the recently launched UN Careers Website.Specifically, Jeffrey’s tasks included creating an outreach inventory of the UN and its departments, as well as researching tools to attract desirable candidates to the UN. Each week, interns met in groups with their
supervisors to make adjustments on past projects and discuss future tasks.Contributing to team projects up to nine or
ten hours a day, Jeffrey put in the necessary effort to perfect his work and
distinguish himself from the other interns.
Though he began his internship feeling nervous,
Jeffrey eventually became more comfortable in his new environment and put the knowledge
he gained in his graduate studies to use.
Utilizing Adelphi’s resources, Jeffrey again contacted the Career
Development Center in order to gain non-profit organization contacts for
specific projects.In addition, Jeffrey
was in regular contact with his Marketing Research professor, whom he considered a mentor throughout his internship.Though his marketing courses helped to prepare him, Jeffrey felt that the best way to succeed in the real world was to continue to learn throughout the internship experience and constantly seek guidance from experts and practitioners alike along the way.
Following his internship at the UN, Jeffrey was offered a consulting position by his internship supervisor.He additionally received an offer from a UN director for a temporary assistant position in Geneva.Jeffrey accepted the temporary contract in Geneva
from December 2010 to February 2011.Recently, he was
also offered a two year contract following this temporary position, but declined the job in
order to complete his MBA.Though
Jeffrey’s experience living in Geneva was peaceful, quiet, and spiritual, he
explains that he prefers living in New York City. He plans to continue to look for jobs in the metropolitan area and reapply to the
UN following his graduation from Adelphi in May.
Following his success interning at the United
Nations, Jeffrey believes “anything is possible; all you need to succeed is
determination.” By utilizing the available resources at Adelphi and consistently working hard to achieve his goals, Jeffrey accomplished what many students and young professionals dream of - working alongside the officials, experts, and dignitaries who devote their lives to promoting international peace and development. Jeffrey was grateful to have the
chance to work with different people from around the world and expressed sincere appreciation for the opportunity that he had to ultimately be
a part of the UN’s contribution to humanity.
Though the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina occurred over five years ago, the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans is still experiencing negative effects of the storm.Earlier this month I met with Janae Cummings, an Adelphi sophomore majoring in international studies.Working with Adelphi’s Levermore Global Scholars (LGS) Program, Janae was the primary student organizer of the “New York to New Orleans” (NY2NO) Initiative.As part of this initiative, six Adelphi University students and LGS Assistant Director Yana Kusayeva traveled to New Orleans from December 31 through January 7 to participate in a series of beneficial community service projects, which also provided unique and rewarding educational experiences for those involved.As a transformative service-learning program, students learned the importance of sustainability in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans – an area that is still devastated five years after Hurricane Katrina.
In New Orleans, students worked with a local community-based organization, Our School at Blair Grocery (OSBG), to help create a safe space for youth empowerment and sustainable community development. OSBG was founded by former New York City teacher, Nat Turner.The organization’s programs encourage youth in the New Orleans community to engage in practice for the effective and replicable environmental local solutions to global challenges.As an alternative sentencing program for youths age fourteen to nineteen, students learn hands-on trade skills in addition to gaining academic ability through real world experiences.In the five years since Hurricane Katrina, the recovery and development efforts in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans have been slow and largely inadequate. Adelphi Students returned to New York reporting that some areas appear as though the storm happened only yesterday, and that severe problems are evident within the public school system.Louisiana holds a 63% high school graduation rate and a 60% adult literacy rate.The average sixteen year old sent to a juvenile justice facility only reads on a fifth grade level.
A recent New York Times article published in January highlights the Blair Grocery project as an educational venture and commercial urban farm which uses agriculture to foster as a sense of self-empowerment for youth from marginalized communities and minority groups.By utilizing intensive growing techniques, it is reported that Turner and his students grow $2,500 worth of vegetables weekly through composting and harvesting techniques. Produce is sold at a Sunday farmer’s market and at two dozen local high end restaurants. Our School at Blair Grocery operates on a former grocery store and two empty lots, educating six local students who had previously dropped out of their local high schools.
Janae recounted her daily experiences throughout her time in New Orleans.Each day, students worked on the farm and were educated about the harvesting and composting processes.Their goal was to increase the accessibility of food for the community in the Lower Ninth Ward.Throughout the day there were multiple opportunities for reflection.Social issues dealing with education, race, class, and inequality were also discussed in evening workshops.Students also played an advocacy role working with OSBG to raise awareness of these issues in local communities.
Of the six students who were involved in this initiative, two were from the School of Nursing, and four were LGS students in the College of Arts and Sciences. As a brainchild of this initiative, Adelphi now intends to offer a course on organizing student leadership skills next year.Ms. Cummings views her experience working toward increasing accessibility of food in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans as highly rewarding, and has hopes that this program will continue to grow.
The students’ week of service over winter break today continues to benefit the local communities of the Lower Ninth Ward, as their agricultural and advocacy work are now the foundation for some of OSBG’s spring projects. By sacrificing just a week of their vacation to help promote sustainability and education in Louisiana, these students have had a lasting impact on the lives of many local residents. They have also made a powerful statement that the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is still real and that New Orleans is not forgotten.
Gabriella Ali-Marino(Contributor) is a Sophomore in the Levermore Global Scholars Program, majoring in Political Science. She is the Chief Justice of the Student Court in the Student Government Association, and a member of Adelphi's Hearing Board. She has received President Obama’s Service Award, and is a recipient of the Outstanding First Year Student Award. Gabriella is passionate about the promotion of animal and civil rights.
Janae Cummings(Contributor) is a junior in the Levermore Global Scholars Program and is pursuing a major in International Studies (with concentrations in Political Science and Spanish) and a minor in Sociology. She leads an LGS initiative called New York to New Orleans (NY2NO) and organizes service-learning trips to New Orleans through which Adelphi students can partner with youth-led organizations and participate in various social justice projects involving organic farming, as well as community space and school renewal. Janae hopes to work in the field of education to promote the teaching of food justice, environmental health, and sustainability. She was recently named a 2011-2012 ELLA Fellow with the Sadie Nash Leadership Project.
Michelle Consorte(Contributor) is an LGS senior majoring in English, and minoring in both French and Communications. As part of Adelphi's Community Fellows Program, Michelle interned with the Citizens Campaign for the Environment and worked to raise awareness about environmental concerns on Long Island. She also interned with the PEN American Center and worked to protect journalists and safeguard the freedom of speech around the world, as a participant in the Bard Globalization and International Affairs (BGIA) Program in New York City. She currently leads the annual LGS Student Initiative to combat juvenile diabetes and also writes for The Delphian.
Gregory Quinlan(Contributor) is an LGS junior majoring in English and Communication Arts. Gregory firmly believes in the program's mission to promote global awareness, civic engagement, community service, and study and service abroad. He has planned and led an LGS Student Initiative on campus to educate the Adelphi community about learning disabilities, and also currently serves as the new President of the LGS Student Leadership Council.
Paige Hall(Contributor) is a senior accounting major. She is involved in a number of on-campus organizations, most notably in her role as vice president of the University’s Entrepreneurial Society. She is interested in contributing to sustainable social enterprises, combining her work in the School of Business with that of the Levermore Global Scholars.
Nahtahniel Reel(Editor-in-Chief) is an LGS sophomore majoring in Physics/Civil Engineering. As soon as he arrived at Adelphi, he immediately became involved in the LGS community by joining the Leadership Council and working as editor of The LGS Express, insuring that his fellow scholars were up-to-date about LGS news and activities. Through the LGS Alternative Spring Break service-learning trip to the Dominican Republic, Nahtahniel volunteered with Orphanage Outreach (now Outreach 360) to help teach public health and English in middle schools in Monte Cristi, DR. As an LGS student, he hopes to start his own initiative that focuses on helping underprivileged high school students perform better in high school and ultimately apply to and attend college.
