Remarkable People

At A Glance

MJP is committed to environmental security, creating peace and stability in all communities by planning and implementing interventions that prevent negative environmental changes. Working with impoverished rural villagers and local governments to alleviate food insecurities and increase access to basic primary healthcare and education, we're implementing projects that build healthy and vibrant communities.

Mission Statement

MJP is dedicated to eradicating extreme rural poverty, protecting natural resources and conserving wildlife. MJP promotes sustainable rural economies that directly contribute to the health and vitality of communities, wildlife and forests.

Background

In 2003, Ms. Angelina Jolie created the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation (MJP) for the conservation of Cambodia’s endangered Cardamom Mountains’ northern territory. Formally known as the Maddox Jolie Project and based in Cambodia's rural and impoverished northwest, the initial focus of its conservation work was on the protection of Samlout National Park (Samlout Protected Area), Samlout contains most of the region’s biodiversity: forests, freshwater ecosystems, and endangered species. As more resources became available, MJP’s operations expanded into other areas such as reforestation, community protected area, park management and integrated rural development (UN Millennium Development Goals). In 2007, the organization changed its name to Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, retaining the MJP initials, to better reflect the scope of its field projects.

About Make It Right

The mission of Make It Right is clear: to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the lower 9th Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on a high quality of design, while preserving the spirit of the community's culture. The goal is to accomplish this quickly, so that the first residents can begin returning to their homes as soon as possible.  

Our History

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 percent of the City of New Orleans and killed 1,577 people. Hardest hit was the Lower 9th Ward where more than 4,000 homes were destroyed by the storm and the surge of water caused by the breach of the Industrial Canal levee.

Two years later, when actor Brad Pitt toured the city, the once-vibrant neighborhood was still silent and razed, failed by government, frustrated by a lack of progress. After meeting with community groups and families, Pitt established the Make It Right Foundation to build 150 green, affordable, high-quality design homes in the neighborhood closest to the levee breach. 

Make It Right kicked off in December, 2007 with the Pink Project – an installation of pink geometric shapes scattered over the 14-square block site where the real houses would be built.  As donations came in, the pieces of the symbolic houses were “righted” on their lots.  The Pink Project raised 12 million dollars and brought global attention to the challenges and possibilities of rebuilding the Lower 9th Ward.

Since then, 21 local, national and international architects have donated designs for single family and duplexes to Make It Right. By December 2009, there will be 50 homes on the site; by December 2010, there will be 150.  Because all of the homes built to date have been certified as LEED platinum for their energy efficiency and sustainability, the Make It Right community is now the “largest, greenest neighborhood of single family homes in America,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council. 

Make It Right Timeline:
First envisioned: December, 2006
Incorporated: August, 2007
Announced: September, 2007 (Clinton Global Initiative)
Launched: December, 2007 (Pink Project)
Groundbreaking: March, 2008
Construction began: June, 2008
First homes completed: August, 2008

MISSION

As a voice for the world’s most vulnerable children, Global Action for Children mobilizes government support and community action so every child has the chance to grow up safe, healthy and ready to thrive.

Why do we speak out for children?

Sometimes it’s not easy being a child in our world. Children living in the midst of poverty, disease and conflict are vulnerable to many traumas that no child should ever encounter.

Because many families can’t access basic healthcare for their children, too many kids do not live to celebrate their fifth birthdays. And for those who do, many do not have access to a good education to help them escape the cycle of poverty that they will in turn pass on to their own children.

But life doesn’t have to be like that for this generation, or the next. The solutions are simple, yet the gap between what the world is doing and what needs to be done for these kids is wide.

At Global Action for Children (GAC), we speak out and fill that void because investing in children is the right thing to do. And we know from experience that it’s the smart thing to do, too.

Children are the cornerstone upon which communities devastated by poverty and disease can rebuild. And in our new global era where our successes are shared, we want them to have all the right tools.

That’s why investing in a poor child’s health, education and protection from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe is the smartest thing our government can do for the future stability and growth of that child’s community and ours.

How do we speak out for children?

There is a lot of value in a voice. It can teach someone something new - for instance, that the chief killer of kids worldwide is pneumonia, not malaria or HIV/AIDS. And then a voice can inspire a person to actually do something about the problem, like invest in vaccines that can prevent deadly disease.

Global Action for Children is that voice for the world’s most vulnerable children.

The many people and organizations who work hand-in-hand with kids in poverty are heroes for doing their part to advance a child’s future. But success in the field depends on having enough financial and political support to get the job done. That’s why GAC’s role in Washington, D.C., is so important.

Using media, grassroots, partnerships and political know-how, we put our voice to work connecting decision makers in government to the real needs of a child on the ground. And then, we inspire these influential people with the ways they can invest to improve that child’s life.

GAC is successful because of our independent and nonpartisan approach to advocacy.  We don’t accept government funding so our policy work is always in the best interests of children and not in our self-interest. This forges a deep trust between us and leaders from all ideologies with whom we work. Instead of choosing sides, we opt for political unity because if we are all to succeed we know that changing a child’s future is not and cannot be a partisan issue.

Our spirit of teamwork extends to other organizations as well. Global Action for Children was born as a coalition. Although we are now our own 501(c)(3)organization, we are still in touch with our roots. For every issue we speak out on, we bring diverse groups together because we have not forgotten the power of varied groups speaking out with one voice.

About MSF: The MSF role in emergency medical aid

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organisation that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries.

In countries where health structures are insufficient or even non-existant, MSF collaborates with authorities such as the Ministry of Health to provide assistance. MSF works in rehabilitation of hospitals and dispensaries, vaccination programmes and water and sanitation projects. MSF also works in remote health care centres, slum areas and provides training of local personnel. All this is done with the objective of rebuilding health structures to acceptable levels. 

Raising Awareness 

In carrying out humanitarian assistance, MSF seeks also to raise awareness of crisis situations; MSF acts as a witness and will speak out, either in private or in public about the plight of populations in danger for whom MSF works. In doing so, MSF sets out to alleviate human suffering, to protect life and health and to restore and ensure respect for the human beings and their fundamental human rights. 

Only a small percentage of the populations that find themselves in a situation of danger gain the attention of the media. MSF teams travel to places that many people have never heard of, to assist those who have fallen victim to natural or man-made disasters. MSF volunteers have a story to tell when they return from their missions, and they use their experiences to speak of what they have seen. For MSF, raising awareness for these populations and the situations they are in is an important task. Whenever possible, MSF volunteers give interviews and make presentations. MSF offices worldwide facilitate the organisation of gatherings, for individuals and groups who want to speak in their home communities. MSF also mounts exhibitions and, from time to time, releases publications, with the aim of raising awareness. 

It is part of MSF's work to address any violations of basic human rights encountered by field teams, violations perpetrated or sustained by political actors. It does so by confronting the responsible actors themselves, by putting pressure on them through mobilisation of the international community and by issuing information publicly. In order to prevent compromise or manipulation of MSF's relief activities, MSF maintains neutrality and independance from individual governments. The organisation also tries to ensure that the majority of funds raised for its work comes directly from contributions from the general public. In this way, MSF guarantees equal access to its humanitarian assistance. 

MSF has been setting up emergency medical aid missions around the world since 1971.

A Washington Institution

The National Press Club, a private club for journalists and communications professionals, has been a Washington institution for more than a century. It is also a world-class conference and meeting facility that hosts thousands of events each year for sophisticated clients from around the globe. And while these are the Club’s functions, its mission is to be The World’s Leading Professional Organization for Journalists. It is a social and business organization dedicated to supporting the ongoing improvement of the profession of journalism.

The Place Where News Happens

The National Press Club is known as “The Place Where News Happens." Global leaders in government, politics, business, music, film and sport visit the club every day. They speak here at public and private events because the press is here.

Our Club has more than 3,500 members, including journalists from every major news organization. Journalists work at the Club every day. Some also have their offices in the Press Building or close by at Treasury, the White House or on the Hill. That's why there is no better place on earth to have a news event than the National Press Club.

Each year, the Club hosts more than 250,000 visitors at more than 2,000 events that are beamed to global audiences in print, on the air and online. Our journalist members have worked side–by-side with the NPC staff to create an ideal facility for news coverage – from a full service broadcast operation, to fiber and wireless connectivity, to professional audio-visual services.

When our members want to take a break from work, they can be found relaxing in a beautiful, comfortable and historic setting which offers great food, drink and entertainment. That's in addition to the engaging and rewarding programs and classes.

The Club is more than just the social and professional hub of journalistic life in D.C. - it is where news breaks and flows out to the world. It is where history can be seen in the making. And it is where today’s journalists train to become the next generation of storytellers, with writers and editors using cutting-edge platforms and techniques still being fully imagined. These women and men are determined to fulfill their role – providing vital news and information while improving their professional abilities and craft. A free press is key to the foundation of democracy - the stakes couldn't be higher.

The National Press Club is a place bursting with excitement, history, technology and good humor. It is truly a national treasure.

Our Business

The National Press Club is one of the nation’s leading conference centers and event facilities. It provides state-of-the-art service for clients who require the best in meeting environments. Our professional staff is expert at coordinating banquets and receptions, as well as news conferences, meetings, symposiums, webcasts and satellite media tours. From our AV team to our broadcast team to our online staff to our still photographers, we are ready to help you present your message to the audience in the room, across the country and around the world. We practice and refine our technology and techniques every day for events large and small, and provide high-tech messaging solutions in an effective and professional manner. Our conference rooms combine beauty and function. Our banquet food and services enjoy a wonderful reputation. And our location – in the heart of Washington, DC - is both convenient and attractive.

Our Mission

The revenues generated from our event business and from member’s dues and fees are used to support the Club’s ongoing efforts to enhance the profession of journalism. This is done primarily through the efforts of our 501 C-3, The Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library at the National Press Club. The Library provides classes, training, panel discussions and other professional development activities to active journalists in transition, as well as to young journalists and journalism students. You can support our activities by becoming a member of the Club; by hosting your next event, reception or news conference at our facilities; or by supporting the Library through a grant or donation. Your participation in these activities will help us continue to be The World’s Leading Professional Organization For Journalists. We encourage you to join us today – either online or by visiting the Club for a tour. Call us to make arrangements. You will be doing your part to support professional journalism – the cornerstone of a free society.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.

In more than five decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives. Today, a staff of some 6,600 people in more than 110 countries continues to help about 34 million persons.

How UNHCR is Run and Structured

The UN refugee agency is governed by the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The UNHCR Executive Committee, composed of 79 members, approves the agency's biennial programmes and the corresponding budget. These are presented by the High Commissioner (currently António Guterres), who is appointed by the UN General Assembly.

The UN refugee agency's mandate is defined by the 1950 UNHCR Statute. In 2003, the General Assembly extended the organization's mandate "until the refugee problem is solved." The High Commissioner reports annually to ECOSOC and the General Assembly on the work of UNHCR.

As head of the organization, the High Commissioner is responsible for the direction and control of UNHCR. He/she directs the work of UNHCR with the assistance of a Deputy High Commissioner and Assistant High Commissioners for Protection and Operations.

The agency has a national and international staff of more than 6,600 staff working in more than 110 countries.

Most UNHCR operations are in the field. The worldwide operation has become highly complex, ranging from recruitment of new staff and ensuring their security in dangerous situations to the procurement of everything from medical supplies and bulk food shipments to aircraft charters. Specific departments, mostly based in the Geneva headquarters, oversee key areas, such as operations, protection, external relations, human resources and finances. A number of regional bureaux liaise between overseas offices and headquarters.

In the field, UNHCR's core work is managed from a series of regional offices, branch offices, sub-offices and field offices. The High Commissioner's representatives head operations in the countries where the agency works, while there are also a number of regional representatives.

About the World Economic Forum: Entrepreneurship in the global public interest

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. The World Economic Forum is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Government.

Global Leadership Fellows

Developing tomorrow’s leaders
The Global Leadership Programme is dedicated to developing the next generation of world leaders; well-rounded professionals who feel equally at home in the public and private sectors. As the world becomes increasingly more interconnected, the once well-defined line between these two sectors continues to blur, making it difficult for any one organization to act effectively in isolation. To succeed in such an environment, organizations – both private and public – must often align numerous stakeholders so as to most efficiently approach problems, develop strategies and capitalize on opportunities.
 

Combining knowledge and practice
The three-year Master’s programme in global leadership uniquely couples leadership training with in-depth knowledge of industry, civil society, and global and regional governments. In this unique curriculum, the Fellows are provided not only with knowledge and training but, more importantly, with the practical experience obtained through joining forces with diverse world leaders and topical experts to facilitate common solutions to many of the world’s most pressing issues. Fresh thinking, exposure to current global, regional and industry issues, and practical leadership skills learned directly from those running today’s most influential organizations combine to set the Global Leadership Fellows Programme apart.

Leaders learning from leaders
Beyond the takeaways from frequent interactions with world leaders, the Fellows – leaders in their own right – have seemingly endless opportunities to learn from one another. All Fellows enter the programme having already completed a master’s and/or doctorate level education from many of the world’s top academic institutions. Professionally, they come to the Forum from a variety of backgrounds in government, civil society and business. These high-calibre individuals bring their experiences together within a highly interactive and experiential learning environment, which is further enriched by the learnings taken from the curriculum and work assignments while at the Forum. This hands-on cooperation takes place within a one-of-a-kind international organization, leading to unique synergies that are not readily available in any other academic or corporate leadership programme.

Ongoing coaching and mentoring
Throughout the three-year programme, Fellows are embedded in an environment of active coaching and mentorship. Every Fellow joins a small coaching team of approximately five people who work collaboratively to help each other reach personal and professional development goals. In the third and final year of the programme, Fellows are assigned an executive coach and a mentor from the Forum’s Community of Young Global Leaders to provide them with guidance on their career development and project work.