The Future of Democracy & Development in Africa and the Caribbean

Press Release

Contact: Don Rojas

Phone: 410-844-1031

Email: donjbrojas@gmail.com

African and Caribbean Leaders to Speak at IBW Symposium in Washington, DC

Democracy, Development, Reparations on the Agenda

Washington, DC, October 9, 2013 – Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, current Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Hon. Pedro Pires, former President of the Republic of Cape Verde will deliver keynote addresses to an international symposium on The Future of Democracy & Development in Africa and the Caribbean at the Metropolitan AME Church, one of Washington DC’s most historic African-American institutions (1518 M Street, NW). 

Members of the US Congressional Black Caucus, ambassadors from the African and Caribbean diplomatic corps, along with prominent academics, policy experts, journalists and activists will participate in the October 17-18 symposium organized by the Institute of the Black World 21^st Century (IBW), a research, policy and advocacy group focused on issues that impact Black countries and Black communities around the world.

PM Gonsalves will speak at the Opening Session on October 17 at 7 pm and as a leading proponent of the growing reparations movement in the Caribbean region, he is expected to draw connections between future socio-economic development and the current demands of CARICOM (the 15-nation Caribbean community of states) for reparations from European countries.  This session is free and open to the public.

CARICOM leaders at their summit meeting in Trinidad & Tobago in July agreed to the formation of a region-wide Reparations Commission to seek compensation from Europe “for native genocide and enslavement of Africans” during 300-plus years of colonization.” Gonsalves will assume the chairmanship of CARICOM in January 2014.

On October 18, President Pires will speak on the historical experience, evolution and development of the Republic of Cape Verde emphasizing its successes in democratic governance and its unique model of including the diaspora in the country’s governing processes.  This session is By Invitation Only.

For his efforts in good governance when he was president from 1995-2006, Pires was named as the third man to receive the “Ibrahim Prize,” a $5 million award given by Sudanese-born telecommunications executive Mo Ibrahim to African leaders who “raise the bar for good governance and leadership.”

During the symposium, the Institute of the Black World 21^st Century (IBW) will present its Pan-African Service Award to Prime Minister Gonsalves and its Legacy Award to President Pires.

“We are deeply honored to have Prime Minister Gonsalves and President Pires, two esteemed statesmen from Africa and the Caribbean, speak at our symposium,” said Dr. Ron Daniels, President of the IBW. “Their speeches, along with contributions from our other distinguished panelists, will advance IBW’s international work in promoting a process of shaping a progressive 21^st Century vision and practice of non-exploitative, people-oriented, community building and nation building.”

Daniels hopes that the gathering will produce a consensus on a framework and process for on-going and in-depth deliberations on key issues addressed in the symposium, with IBW functioning as the deliberative vehicle. The Institute plans to publish the proceedings as a resource to inform and engage broader audiences in the conclusions and recommendations coming out of the symposium.

“We are delighted to be hosting this important international gathering,” said Rev. Ronald Braxton, senior pastor of the Metropolitan AME Church, which is celebrating its 175^th anniversary this year.

“It is fitting that these deliberations be held here given that several of our members are former US diplomats who have served in Africa and the Caribbean, that Presidents Obama and Clinton have worshiped in our sanctuary in the past and that the church hall where the symposium will be held is named in honor of the great 19^th Century abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass, who often gave speeches at this church.”

The symposium’s opening session will be streamed live and later archived for on-demand retrieval on IBW’s Web site—http://www.ibw21.org. 

Training Opportunity: Washington, D.C. Metro Area. Public Safety Chaplains Training Day. November 18, 2013

PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAINS TRAINING DAY - 2013

The COG Public Safety Chaplains Subcommittee

in collaboration with the

Joint Force Headquarters Military District of Washington

and the

Fairfax Community Chaplains

PRESENTS

“Death Notification – Suicide Awareness and Prevention”

… which will be held on Monday, November 18, 2013 here at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), 777 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC  20002 in the COG 3^rd Floor Boardroom, beginning at 8:00 AM with the Meet And Greet and 9:00 AM Opening Prayer.  The training will close at approximately 4:00 PM.  Suicide Awareness and Prevention is a very important topic and the regional Public Safety and Military Chaplaincy participation is sought here at all levels. 

Additional Participation

                COG appreciates the gravity of this important work and the roles of all of our regional partners.  Due to the significance and magnitude of this subject matter, additional regional public safety partners will this year be invited to attend.  That being said, the seating capacity of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Board Room is 120.  Historically, we’ve had almost 100 chaplains at each of the events that we have held over the past seven (7) years.  As such, the public safety and military chaplains have been given priority for registration and you (chaplains) have until October 19^th (approximately one week) to register before the registration is made available to all other regional public safety responder partners.  After this window, all other regional public safety first responder partners will be invited to register, which may very well create the desired intent of having the COG Boardroom reach its full capacity.  Again, the topic is important! 

Public safety and military chaplains, get your registrations in soonest!  Suicide has gone up by huge proportions in the last two to three years and has been deemed one the nation’s growing epidemics.  Your knowledge base in this area is urgent indeed. 

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS

            Special Guest Speakers for this event are:

1.      Dr. Robert E. Douglas, National P.O.L.I.C.E. Suicide Foundation, Inc.

Robert Douglas is a leading expert in the area of police suicide according to Dateline, CNN, Time Magazine, and USA Today.  He is also the author of four books:  Death with No Valor, Hope Beyond the Badge, Healing for a Hero’s Heart and soon to be published, The Art of Being You.  Bob served as US Marine, 25 years veteran of two police departments, 24 years as a pastor, and served several law enforcement agencies as a Chaplain.

2.      Commander Paul Anderson, Deputy Chaplain for Joint Plans and Operations, JFHQ, Fort McNair

Chaplain Anderson is an experienced Navy Chaplain and has served in myriad and diverse roles in the Navy and Marine Corps.  All military Chaplains are trained and many have participated in Casualty and Assistance Officer (CACO) calls.  In the course of his career, he has made 17 CACO calls.  Among them were victims of the attack on the USS Cole; victims of the attack on the Pentagon on 9-11 and the first Marine Corps casualty of the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan.  He helped to rewrite the curriculum for training CACO officers and wrote the script for several video vignettes.  Most recently Chaplain Anderson assisted in the Death Notification Process for a casualty of the massacre at the Navy Yard.

Chaplain Anderson began his training in Suicide Awareness and Prevention at the Meninger Clinic in Topeka Kansas.  He was certified by Meninger as a Master Trainer in 1998.  He has stayed current by attending annual training sponsored by the Army and the Navy.  He has augmented his training by adding Critical Incident Stress Management, Combat Operational Stress Control, and Hope Theory to his interventional quiver.”

These experts will provide you with the understanding of the subject, what you need to know, and how you as a chaplain or first responder clergy may offset or mitigate this ever growing suicide epidemic.

GUEST PANELISTS

            We will have a cadre of guest panelists who will be able to speak to this subject matter from different and varied perspectives.  You won’t want to miss this!

Thanks for all that you do to support the Public Safety Chaplaincy and Military Chaplaincy roles as well as the wonderful support you provide to the first responders, police, fire, emergency managers, health agencies and families, locally, regionally and nationally. 

UNDERWRITING

There is still an opportunity for you to participate in the underwriting of this event.  We could use your support.  If you would like to support the underwriting of this important event, you may contact me - Dennis Bailey directly at dbailey@mwcog.org.  

LUNCH

            Lunch will be on your own.  Union Station is close by and there are also several restaurants including Au Bon Pain and Subway immediately across the street.  Coffee and Donuts will be provided in the AM.

CERTIFICATES

            Certificates will be provided to all registrants who have registered at least one week in advance and who complete the training in its entirety.

REGISTRATION

            You may register by clicking HERE or going to the COG Website at www.mwcog.org and going to the Events Calendar.  Remember, Chaplains have approximately one week to register prior to an open registration to all first-responder partners.

This topic is very current and has large and significant implications.  Many of our local and regional public safety and military chaplains, first responders, (including public safety police and firemen, military soldiers, emergency medical technicians, and families and friends of those who commit suicide), find themselves having to deal with this kind of situation for which most often they are not prepared.  The national and regional suicide numbers are staggering. 

Please make every effort to be on hand for this important training.