Anything is Possible from The Canary Collective on Vimeo.

There are no words to describe how thrilled we are: Brian Bordainick will be the opening keynote to GES. He will speak at the opening banquet, in front of GES staff, delegates and everyone who has collaborated with the realization of the Summit, including Northwestern’s President Morton Schapiro.

Why Brian?

The opening keynote should give delegates a taste of what GES is about, what they should expect from the Summit and above all, it should give them a clear sense of WHY they are here. They are here to form a learning community of individuals that care to see beyond the end of their nose, and dare to act upon what they see.

Brian is one of us. When he graduated, he went with Teach for America to New Orleans. He found a community devastated by hurricane Katrina. Right now, kids at George Washington Carver High School receive classes in prefabricated trailers and of course there is no proper sports infrastructure.

New Orleans’ 9^th Ward suffers from many illnesses related to lack of infrastructure and places for the community to gather and enjoy. The aspect of a place can affect a community in very bad ways.  Brian saw that obvious connection between low graduation rates, high crime and drug use with the fact that students were not motivated by their surroundings.

Due to these harsh realities and after being promoted to Athletic Director after only 3 months in Teach for America, Brian founded the 9^th Ward Field of Dreams, a non profit organization that has already raised more than a million dollars for a project that will bring a football field, track, lighting system, and stadium seating to New Orleans. This will not only benefit Carver High School, but also the rest of New Orleans.

This project builds community by creating a space for young people to practice sports and for the whole community to enjoy themselves, get to know each other and this way realize all the potential they have to further improve their surroundings. When they accomplish their goal, the 9^th Ward will be completely conscious of the inherent ability all communities have to come together and fight for the same cause.

The lesson:

After hearing Brian’s story, delegates will realize that it is never too early to take upon projects that seem “too big” for young people like us. At GES, delegates will make life long connections and learn skills that will enable them to take over projects that improve communities in the same way – and through a million different methods-that Brian is doing with New Orlean’s 9^th Ward. He inspired us, we hope he inspires you too!!

There’s still time to apply!

International Delegates Application Deadline: DECEMBER 15, 2009

American Delegates Application Deadline: DECEMBER 30, 2009

The GES Outcomes Team recently brainstormed over 80 different organizations that we’re interested in working with this year and did extensive research on all of them to determine which ones would be a perfect fit for GES. It was exciting and inspiring to see the awesome work that other organizations are doing in the field of international development. I can’t wait to start working with some of them!

At the end of the meeting we decided it would be great for the GES Outcomes team to have a slogan this year. Some of the ideas we came up with included, “the next ascent,” “more than a summit,” “taking you to the next level,” “the descent,” and “to the summit and beyond!”

We also want to create a name for all the cool organizations we partner up with for the Global Engagement Summit. In the past these have included orgs like Global Giving, Fast Forward Fund, Mission Measurement, All Day Buffet, and Pivot Non-Profit Consulting. In the future we will add stellar organizations including the Unreasonable Institute, Sparkseed, and Starting Bloc. But we don’t have a good way to describe our partnerships with these organizations. We were inspired by the fact that the Unreasonable Institute names their partners “pipeline partners,” so we want to work off of that. Unfortunately… all we could come up with was “aqueduct partners” and “opportunity catipultors.” Not so great.

We’re not quite sure what works best for us, so we’re opening it up to you for suggestions! Leave your suggestions for us in the comments area, and one lucky reader will get to choose the 2009-2010 Outcomes team slogan and partnership name. As a reward for your creativity and for helping us out we will arrange for you to have an all-expenses paid dinner at the globally engaged restaurant of your choice. So start suggesting away!

The first observance of this holiday was in 1988. It is dedicates to raising awareness of HIV and AIDS and it is recognized by holding memorials to honor people who have died from this infection. It is also common for government and health officials to give speeches or forums. To recognize today, Former-president and creator of William J. Clinton Foundation, Bill Clinton spoke in a panel discussion hosted by the foundation and the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment, at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. A webcast of the discussion can be at: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/worldaidsday

In other news, The International AIDS Society announced Sunday, that Washington, DC is the site of the International AIDS conference in 2012. It will have been 22 years since the conference was last held in the United States. permittance of this conference is the result of President Obama’s announcement in October. He announced the United States will end its entry restrictions on people with HIV. This change in legislation will begin in January 2010. The International AIDS Society (IAS) is the premier independent association of HIV professionals and works diligently to find a cure, treatments, as well as, changes in policy regarding the epidemic. This convention is held each year in a different location with next years in Vienna, Austria, with the purpose of gathering all of the leading minds in the HIV field, including policy makers, people living with HIV and other concerned individuals.

Please join us on Friday, November 20, 8pm at the Portage Theatre for the Chicago Premiere of ’Rebuilding Hope‘ a documentary about the Sudanese ‘Lost Boys’ and their quest to find surviving family-members and rediscover and contribute to their homeland; it also sheds light on what the future holds for South Sudan in its precarious struggle for peace, development and stability.

GES’s Sarah Freeman, a sophomore at Northwestern University and Co-Chair of the Media and Marketing team for the Summit, worked as a student producer on the film.  Freeman spoke to GES about the film.  Excepts:

How did you get involved with the film?

My involvement with the film initially stemmed from my genocide activist work, as a way to experiment with new media as a tool for education and advocacy for students. I attended a screening of Jen Marlowe’s prior film, Darfur Diaries, and after hearing her speak about her work abroad and her goals as a filmmaker I wanted to see how I could get more involved in the process of raising awareness through film.

What was your role on the film?

I served as a student producer for the documentary.  I transcribed some of her raw footage from Sudan, raised money for the film, helped organize its content, and am now trying to spread the word about the premiere as widely as possible.

How does the film relate to your studies and other interests?

The film aligns nicely with my study of the genocide in Darfur, a topic that I have researched independently for many years. What I love about the film, though, is that it focuses on the North-South Peace Conflict in Sudan; most people don’t realize that this conflict is completely separate from Darfur, so I’m glad it’s being brought to people’s attention.

How is film more effective over other mediums?

Film is one of the most effective ways to convey a message, especially to an audience that is not necessarily well versed in the lofty lingo associated with activism and social change. As an activist of sorts, I personally feel as though awareness and advocacy are the necessary first steps in any social change initiative; if you want people to care, they need to know there is a problem.

Why is awareness so important to you?

Working on this project solidified the importance of awareness, and is a constant reminder of why I am involved in so many social change organizations on this campus, especially GES. We all want to raise awareness, become aware ourselves, and do so in the most effective way possible. This film is just one (very good) example of that process at work. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.

APPLY TODAY

If you are an international citizen and are currently enrolled in, recently (within 1 year) graduated from, or will soon (within 1 year) be enrolled in an international university, please apply to be an International Delegate.

Contact international@theges.org or american@theges.org with any questions.

The OpenShutter Project creates immersive media environments that move beyond simplistic narratives of people, problems and places. By increasing awareness of the world around us, transcending barriers of language and endeavoring to create the idea of a global community, we hope to inspire tangible action and positive social change.