WASHINGTON, D.C - Bridges of Understanding Foundation is sponsoring its Inaugural 2007 Conference on October 16 in Washington DC in partnership with the Meridian International Center.
During this conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear experts speak about "Islam and the Modern Arab World" and "Challenges and Opportunities for Arab Youth". Some of the panel speakers include Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim Chaplain of Georgetown University; author Asma Hasan who speaks out about women and their rights in the Muslim world; Dina Powell, director of Global Engagement at Goldman Sachs; and Craig Barrett, chairman of Intel Corporation.
Our keynote speaker will be Henrietta Fore, acting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. She will speak about the AID projects in the Middle East, and plans to cooperate with Arab countries on their future economic andeducational development.
Bridges of Understanding is a non-profit non-partisan organization founded in October 2006, dedicated to promoting understanding between the U.S. and the Arab world. In April, 2007 it conducted its first mission trip to Jordan by 22 women throughout the United States. At the conference many of the participants will share their perspectives on the Arab world and explain some of the initiatives in the areas of education, health care and culture where collaboration is already occurring. Specific projects include educational exchanges and scholarships, fostering connections between hospitals in Jordan and the U.S. and piloting the animated film "Ben and Izzy" to after-school programs in the US.
"This event gives us an opportunity to assemble a group of people who share the passion of learning, exchanging ideas and striving to make a difference," said former Jordanian Ambassor Karim Kawar, president of Bridges of Understanding. "We hope that the conversations we hold, will help us better understand the complexities we face and celebrate the diversity we represent. Most importantly, we hope that the interaction will result in life-long friendships based on our commonalities." |
