A little over two years ago, African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina rose to address a conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The session’s formal name—Development Without Borders—had its theme spelled out in an explainer: Leveraging the African Diaspora for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa. In other words, how Africans living outside…
Runway has evolved into a space where fashion meets activism It was a hot summer day in 2019, I was standing outside the Prada headquarters in New York City, moments before the brand’s Cruise 2020 collection. While all the celebrities were flashing their smiles and making their entry, something else was getting the camera’s attention–…
Music and language likely share the same ancient roots, emerging from early humans’ need to connect, communicate, and thrive as social beings. When NASA launched Voyager 1, currently the farthest human-made object from Earth, they included a tribute to humanity— a Golden Record. This record features music, sounds of nature, greetings in multiple languages, and…
Of all the arts, theater has always been a powerful force in bringing people together. In Ancient Greece, the birthplace of Western theater, audiences of 15,000-20,000 would gather to witness the playwrights compete, forging a shared cultural and social experience. More than 2,500 years later, theater remains a vital tool for community building and bonding….
Advocating for human rights in the halls and corridors of United Nations headquarters is not easy, but it’s what some of us do every day. Most global crises and conflicts involving human rights abuses end up on the agenda of one or more UN body or agency. It could be the Security Council, General Assembly,…
How Diaspora West Indians Use Track and Field to Lift Countrymen (and Women!) from Poverty “As the world watches this summer’s Paris Olympiad, even casual sports fans can’t help being thrilled, enthralled and enraptured by the skill and finesse top athletes bring to the competition. World records fall practically every hour. The Games go on;…
“Globally, road traffic crashes cause nearly
1.3 million preventable deaths and an
estimated 50 million injuries each year.”
“If the United States wants to continue to lead in global research and innovation, it needs to enhance its efforts to attract and retain global talent – starting at the university level.”
The Quest for looted artifacts: Navigating Heritage and History in the Pursuit of Cultural Repatriation.
Internationally acclaimed pianist and 4 time Grammy nominated Conductor
Football: A Powerful Tool for Sustainable Development
