March 2007

MNP 2007 Fellow Olga Girstlova, Czech Republic, stands in the entrance to the new EF headquarters. Olga was the first Fellow to arrive at the new house.

Eisenhower Fellowships Moves Headquarters

Eisenhower Fellowships has settled into its new home at 250 South 16th Street in Philadelphia. Formerly a law office, the new building’s interior was completely rehabbed and features more space and amenities to serve the growing EF staff and community. Nearly all of the building’s outstanding renovations were overseen by EF Director of Finance and Administration Stephanie Gropp.

Fellows who still have the EF House key given to them at the time of their fellowship needn’t worry about being locked out. The lock from the old headquarters at 256 South 16th Street was taken in the move and is now installed in the front door of the new building.

While several construction projects are still being completed throughout the house, it’s “business as usual” for the EF staff, who have been busy welcoming the arriving Fellows of the 2007 Multi Nation Program. You can read about the new Fellows here, and be sure to look for more details of the opening seminar in next month’s update!

 

Intel and National College of Ireland Featured in Dublin Conference

Early registration continues through April 30 for the 21^st Century Cities conference organized and hosted by the Eisenhower Fellows of Ireland, June 8–10. Conference participants will tour the Intel Innovation Centre located just outside Dublin and will be addressed there by Intel CEO Jim O’Hara. Various issues related to the impact of technology on the future of cities will be discussed. Irish government authorities and private sector executives will share their experiences on the “Celtic Tiger” phenomenon.

International perspectives from European Fellows, Alfonso Vegara, Fundacion Metropoli, Madrid and others will focus on future trends in cities and best practices/innovative approaches to urban challenges. Tours of Dublin and the surrounding area are also planned.

More information as well as conference and hotel registration is available here.

Left to right: Josiano Gomes, ’05; Anna Barbara Proietti, ’00; EF Vice President of Programs John Sommer; Amilcar Ferrari, ’73; Jose Noronha, ’93; Ana Carolina Letichevsky, ’06; and Ouro Preto Mayor Angelo Oswaldo.

EF to Focus on Latin America in 2008

Latin America will be the focus of Eisenhower Fellowships’ Single Region Program for 2008. It will be preceded by a regional conference June 5-8 organized by the Brazilian Fellows in the historic colonial town of Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais. Participating countries include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay, where Fellow groups are currently active.

As the first preparatory step for these activities, John Sommer, vice president, programs, visited the six South American countries in February-March (with Mexico to follow in April). He reported considerable enthusiasm among the approximately 60 Fellows he met, with a number who had been relatively inactive with EF in recent years committing to renewed interest and participation. Since three to five fellowships will likely be available for each of the participating countries, active engagement will be important to ensure the significantly expanded nominating process necessary to take full advantage of the opportunities.

Sommer also visited the Ouro Preto conference site, along with Anna Barbara Proietti, ‘00, and other members of the Brazilian coordinating group (see photo). They were warmly received and guided around town by the mayor. “I had seen Ouro Preto written up in the recent book ‘1000 Places to See Before You Die,’” said Sommer, “and the scenic beauty and historic charm of the place makes it very clear why.”

A planning meeting for both the conference and the Single Region Program will be held in Buenos Aires April 26–28, 2007, organized by Felipe Noguera, ’88, and other Argentine Fellows. Attended by Nominating Committee coordinators, Alumni Advisory Council members, and others from the seven countries, along with EF President John Wolf, it will provide the opportunity to determine conference topics, SRP plans, fund-raising options, and further prospects for cooperative activities among Latin American Fellows into the future.

Sri Lankan Alumni Fellows Hold Annual General Meeting

Dayananda Gunawardena, secretary and Alumni Advisory Council member, reported that the alumni Fellows of Sri Lanka met on March 1 to develop a plan for EF activities in the coming year. They were joined by Nalin Kohli, ’04, India, and Arif Jabbar Khan, ’06, Pakistan, who expanded the discussion to conference themes for the previously announced EF conference on South Asia scheduled for February 23–24, 2008, in Lahore, Pakistan. This regional conference will be a follow-up to the “South Asia into the Twenty First Century” two-day program held in Colombo last year.

2007 New England Fellows Welcomed

On March 1, the EF New England Steering Committee and alumni Fellows gathered for a dinner to welcome the new Eisenhower Fellows Andrea Cabral and Tim Cahill, who are part of the 2007 Common Interest Program. Those present included Steering Committee members Jim Botkin, Derek Chilvers, Steve Crosby, Ellen Hume, and Jeff Jones; and Fellows Stuart Brotman, ‘00; Alex Dowse, ’97; Bob Halperin, ’02; and John McGah, ‘02. EF Vice President Dan Geisler also attended.

Left to right, front row: John McGah, Jim Botkin, Steve Crosby, Dan Geisler, Jeff Jones, and Stuart Brotman. Back row: Derek Chilvers, Alex Dowse, Andrea Cabral, Bob Halperin, and Tim Cahill.

Woman of the Year, Singapore

Lim Soo Hoon, ’03, Singapore, was recently named Woman of the Year, Singapore’s premier award to recognize women of achievement. At a gala dinner on March 6, Soo Hoon was cited by the judges for her professional achievements as the country’s first female permanent secretary. Special mention was also made of the book she wrote in 2006, “Sam: A Journey of Faith,” which chronicles her son’s battle with cancer, and the Christian faith that helped Soo Hoon and her family through this personal crisis.

In her acceptance speech, Soo Hoon said humbly that she is no superwoman and that women should not expect themselves to be superwomen. She emphasized the importance of family and faith in helping her in this time of crisis, and indeed through the multiple demands of life as a career mother.

Minister for Housing, Spatial Planning, and the Environment

On February 22, 2007, Jacqueline Cramer, ’92, Netherlands, was named Minister for Housing, Spatial Planning, and the Environment as part of the new Balkenende IV Cabinet in the Netherlands. Cramer was previously a professor of corporate social responsibility at the University of Utrecht, and a professor of environmental management at the Erasmus University. She is a member of the board of directors at Royal Dutch Shell and a member of the Social-Economic Council.

Fellow’s Work Featured in Book

The work of David Riemer, ’99, USA, is profiled in a recently published book titled Higher Ground by Greg Duncan, Aletha Huston, and Thomas Weisner. The book includes the story of Riemer’s involvement in helping set up the New Hope Project, Milwaukee’s pioneering successful anti-poverty effort. Riemer is currently director of the Wisconsin Health Project.

Human Relations Housing Award

Peter Skillern, ’01, USA, executive director of the Community Reinvestment Association (CRA) of North Carolina, was recently granted the Human Relations Housing Award from the North Carolina Human Relations Department and Commission. CRA advocates change in the lending practices of financial agencies to promote wealth-building for underserved communities and to end predatory lending practices that strip wealth. Skillern and CRA were honored during Human Relations Week, February 5–9.

Fellow Organizes Seminar on Responsibility in Leadership Today

John McGah, ’02, USA, founder and executive director of Give US Your Poor, based at the University of Massachusetts Boston, reported that his organization recently sponsored a seminar on Responsibility in Leadership Today.

The March 29 event featured renowned business executive coach and author Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, who was named by the American Management Association as one of the 50 great thinkers and leaders who have influenced the field of management. The audience was comprised of business and civic leaders from Massachusetts, including 2007 USA Common Interest Program Fellows Andrea Cabral and Tim Cahill, who were scheduled to attend.

Give US Your Poor involves researchers, bi-partisan support from politicians, national homeless organizations, and celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen, Danny Glover, and Natalie Merchant, among many others.