Friday, March 27th – 10:00AM

Education is inextricably linked to development. Whether it’s improving education policy in Sub-Saharan Africa or evaluating a training program for volunteer micro-loan officers in South-East Asia, the way in which information is transferred from the developed world to the still developing world is often times indicative of a project’s chances of success. There is moral obligation to impart knowledge of all sorts, from the mundane to the critical, to those whose only reason for not gaining it themselves was being born in one geographic location as opposed to another. Unfortunately, this duty does not always come across as “simple” or “straightforward”. In an effort to learn what information-sharing strategies work best, this panel will explore how to deal with policy problems in foreign countries, as well as how to approach those same problems through inter-cultural dimensions.

Panel Chair

Kelly McCann, Director of Enterprise Development at Thrive Networks

Kelly McCann joined Thrive Networks in 2014.  She has over 10 years experience working on Wall Street in emerging market political and economic risk, global financial regulatory analysis and compliance. Kelly has experience living, working, and studying in Russia, Uganda, Switzerland and Senegal.  In West Africa, she led a consulting project for the World Bank and the government of Senegal.  In rural Uganda, she worked at a clinic providing education on prevention, detection, and treatment of malaria and sold bed nets. In addition, she monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of these programs.

She completed her M.A. in International Economic and Political Development at Columbia University with a Certificate in Russian Studies from the Harriman Institute.  She was a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellow. She studied Russian at Moscow State University and received a B.A. in Political Science with minors in Russian and Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont.  She speaks Russian and basic French. Kelly has been very involved in donating her time as a board member with numerous nonprofits. An avid documentary photographer and photojournalist, she has exhibited at the International Center of Photography and San Francisco International Photography Exhibition.

Panelists

Charito Kruvant, CEO and Founder of Creative Associates Intl.

Charito Kruvant is Co-Founder and CEO of Creative Associates International, a global development organization that focuses on improving educational systems, increasing literacy, preventing school dropout and more. Creative’s programs are also promoting civil society, enhancing political processes and moving communities from conflict to peace. Founded in 1977 by Charito and three entrepreneurial women, today Creative has projects in 15 countries ranging from Honduras to Morocco and Afghanistan to Zambia. Charito is an advocate for increased accessibility to education for all children, particularly girls, as well as a proponent of bilingual education and learning disabled programs. Charito is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Broadcasting Service’s Washington, D.C. affiliate, WETA, and Calvert Funds for socially responsible investing. Born in Bolivia and raised in Argentina, she earned a BA from Colegio Ward in Argentina and a MA in early childhood development from the University of Maryland.

 Paula Leroy, Educator at Learning Abilities

Paula LeRoy-Antaki has taught History, World Cultures, Economics, Humanities, Government, Dance, Video, ESL, and Resource in California schools, mostly in urban areas with less enfranchised populations. Presently, she tutors students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia and ADHD. Her mission has been to broaden the experiences of her students, using simulations and interactive curriculum while building community and compassion. Breaking down stereotypes and racism, while raising up appreciation of the “other” has been integral. An equally important focus is nurturing skills to help students succeed, such as effective writing, language development and self-esteem. She has also worked with gang members and youth in addiction. At MIIS, Paula discovered radio to be a terrific tool for information dissemination. Despite most Americans attending at least 12 years of school, there seems to be a dearth of knowledge about economics, security, and policy issues that affect Americans. To this end, Paula started Policy Pace on MIIS radio, interviewing professors and students at MIIS who have real expertise. Interviews with professors such as Jan Black, Ed Laurance, Fernando De Paolo are archived on MIIS radio. Exhibits are another tool for education. Currently, Paula is curating an exhibit of Women, Peace and Power: 100 Years, featuring, art, soul collage, social movement timelines, and “Endurance Activist” who carry on the legacy of Jane Addams, Nobel Prize winner, and founder of Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom. Exhibit opens at the Santa Cruz Library April 14. Unlike, other members on this panel, Paula, regrettably, does not have a career in international development, but engages in small projects. Being unpaid, allows her to choose projects she thoroughly believes in. A favorite was producing and directing a cable access TV show called DanceChance, that brought local youth on to show their African dance, Brazilian Capoeria, Hip Hop, or Martial Arts etc, teach it and lead the latchkey audience. Other projects include starting a nonprofit to use service-tourism as a capital and training jumpstart to help poor Central American communities to develop sustainable businesses that would benefit their own economies without dependence on tourism. Developing a nonprofit to build a school, OT program, and sports academy for physically disabled youth in Ghana ran aground, but prompted a new awareness of challenges facing disabled children, particularly around inclusion. The next project is returning by invitation to Suchitoto, El Salvador to facilitate a Central American version of Creative Conflict Resolution for Children to teachers and work with Youth radio.

Jonathan Berkey, President of Board at International School-to-School Partnerships

Jonathan has worked on international education and renewable energy and water development projects in Europe and Africa (Greece, Morocco, Kenya and Tanzania) for over 20 years. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Marrakesh, Morocco, where he worked on rural solar, wind energy and agricultural/village water supply projects with the Ministry of Energy at the Center for Development of Renewable Energy in Marrakesh.

From 1988-’92, Jonathan worked as Associate Peace Corps Director in Kenya, serving as the Education Sector staff liaison for Math, Science and English teachers in addition to supervising water engineers, small business advisors, small town planners and forestry managers, and a total of more than 200 Peace Corps volunteers in Kenya. From 1994 to 2005, Jonathan served as president on the board of Global Education Partnership, overseeing its growth from East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania), to Central America (Guatemala) and South East Asia (Indonesia). Jonathan has most recently established the nonprofit: International School-to-School Partnerships. Although International School to School Partnerships is a “new” non-profit organization, its roots go back to a problem-solving conversation in the early 1990’s in Kenya which resulted in the creation of Global Education Partnership (GEP).