www.pannetwork.org   

October 2006

We invite you to participate in the 2006 Social Enterprise Networks Champions Summit, a two-day program taking place in Boston starting with dinner 29 November through 1 December 2006. 

Any YPO or WPO member, spouse and/or Alumni who is a member of one of the Social Enterprise Networks or is interested in getting involved is encouraged to attend. The Social Enterprise Networks include: Economic Development Network, Education Network, Environment Network, Health Network and Peace Action Network. Note that within YPO, Peace Action Network (PAN) is now one of the Social Enterprise Networks.  
 
This will be an excellent chance for you to learn more about the Social Enterprise Networks initiative and how you can get involved.  Current and future champions of these Networks (including PAN) will be able to share ideas and best practices—learning from each other what has worked, and what hasn’t.  We’ll hear tangible yet inspiring strategies from leading thinkers like Tom Tierney, the former head of Bain and now the Chairman of BridgeSpan and BridgeStar.  Most of all, we’ll have the chance to put our heads together, form bonds, and plot a path for how to make the Social Enterprise Networks initiative even stronger and more vibrant.  Please be a part of this important and monumental event
 
To register for the Social Enterprise Networks Champions Summit, please contact Ken Tsunoda at ktsunoda@pannetwork.org or +1.408.353.9042.  Please click here for a copy of the registration form.  Please click here for more event details.

We do hope that you will be able to join us, and we look forward to seeing you in Boston.

Sincerely yours,

Elizabeth Funk (YPO Barbary Coast N. Ca)

Chair, YPO Social Enterprise Networks, and Economic Development Network Chair

Email: elizabeth@cmlglobal.com

Business Internships for Promising Leaders from Arab Countries and Israel -- Chris Schroeder Champions Program in Collaboration with Seeds of Peace

 
PAN and Seeds of Peace (www.seedsofpeace.org) collaborated to launch a program placing Seeds of Peace alumni in business internships at YPO and WPO members’ companies in Summer 2006.  The objective of the program is to promote cross-cultural understanding through an exchange of overseas business internships for promising young people from the Arab countries, Israel and US. 

YPOer and PAN American-Arab Action Forum member Chris Schroeder championed the program this summer in the Washington DC area.  Chris made it possible for four Palestinian, Israeli and Egyptian "Seeds" to spend 10 weeks working at three companies in the DC area: The HealthCentral Network, washingtonpost.newsweek interactive, and Friedman Billings Ramsey (one of the nation's leading investment banks). 

Interns are building understanding by sharing their experiences in the local community and in-company meetings.  Karim Elessawy, one of the interns from Egypt, wrote this description of his summer.  “Thank you … this has been one of the best experiences in my life so far.  The company choice was great, my bosses were great, the atmosphere was amazing, and I am learning a lot!”  

In future years, the program plans to expand to offer American “Seeds” 10-week internships working at YPO and WPO members’ companies in Egypt or Jordan.
 

JEMS Forums of Jewish and Muslim Women Build Bridges in New York and London 

With all the conflict in today's world between Jewish and Muslim communities, the work of the JEMS Forums grows ever more important. JEMS, the first spouse-only Action Forums in WPO and YPO, connects individuals who believe that small actions of passionate individuals and committed groups, when added together, make a world of difference.

The name "JEMS" reflects the Jewish and Muslim membership of the group as well as the gemlike qualities of the women as leaders of social change in their own communities.

JEMS of London was formed by Eva Kedar, Rochelle Hai and Roni Witkin of London-based Jewish and Muslim spouses in June 2005 and has met four times. Inspired by the original group, a second JEMS Forum was born in New York. JEMS Forum of New York held its second meeting on 13 September 2006, championed by Dana Adler (London spouse). "I want to publicly thank Amir Kfir for flying in from Israel to train us," Adler said. "He is truly the best of the best and helped us get through some very personal, emotional issues in a very straightforward, easy manner." JEMS Forum of New York will meet again on 27 November.

The mission of the JEMS forums is to create a dialogue for learning, build bridges of tolerance and make significant impact through action-oriented projects. The objectives are threefold:

• Bridging – Learning from each other and bridging perspectives.

• Bonding – Creating a strong bond by sharing a common passion, building mutual trust and respect and transforming these bonds into action.

• Building – Taking specific actions, leveraging the knowledge of the group and network of YPO and WPO to build a better world.

If you believe in this vision and want to take action, please join a JEMS Forum or create a similar JEMS Forum in your own community.

For questions, please contact Eva Kedar at eva@evakedar.com for JEMS of London, or Dana Adler danaadler@optonline.net for JEMS Forum of New York.
 

Children's Health Forum in Developing Countries to Meet in Boston November 1-3, Seeks New Members

Eleven million children under the age of 5 die every year from causes that could be prevented by existing therapeutic and preventive strategies.  The loss of children due to avoidable or treatable conditions is needless and horrific.

Children’s Health Forum in Developing Countries is comprised of YPO/WPOers and/or their spouses who are actively involved in hands-on philanthropic efforts on children’s health issues ranging from: preventing the transmission of the AIDS virus from pregnant woman to her unborn child in Africa to distribution of folic acid to prevent birth defects in South America.   The Forum also includes members/spouses who want to have an impact in improving children’s health, but have not determined how.

On September 14, Children’s Health Forum in Developing Countries and YPO Health Network hosted a one-hour Global Conference Call with Stephen Tomlin and Peter Omondi of International Medical Corps, to discuss the impact of integrated community development on the health of women and their children in Nairobi’s Kibera – Africa’s largest urban slum.  Click here for information about how to listen to a recording of the call. 

The next meeting of Children's Health Forum in Developing Countries will take place in Boston November 1 - 3.  If you are interested in participating in this forum, please contact Linda Benge at ltbenge@yahoo.com. 

Education for the Disadvantaged (ED) Forum Plans Next Meeting for October in Boston

The mission of the Education for the Disadvantaged (ED) Forum is to create better philanthropists for disadvantaged children’s education through learning and idea exchange. It is the belief of its members that investment in this area has some of the highest returns of any endeavor in helping society. ED Forum looks to build a strong Forum-style environment and create action plans for Forum moving forward. 

ED Forum will hold its second meeting in Boston, Massachusetts from 4-6 October 2006, where members will visit SABIS Charter School in Springfield to meet and learn from faculty and students involved in the Student Life Organization. 

For further information about the ED Forum, please contact Mohnish Pabrai at mpabrai@pabraifunds.com.