GlobalPDX: Speaking Change

Mike Shanley joins the program to give unique insider expertise for how USAID partners can capitalize on this incredible funding opportunity. More importantly, Mike outlines the considerations that organizations should prioritize before seeking USAID funding to make sure they understand the commitment, requirements, and hacks for success.The AidKonekt platform streamlines key USAID Business Development tasks to save your team 15+ hours a week

Rachel Anderholder joins the program to talk about her journey at Member Organization Carpe Mundi (from volunteer, to intern, to Executive Director)! Rachel shares how her work to provide access to study abroad for low-income students has had an impact on their lives, and how Carpe Mundi continues forward with their unique program model which offers support at every level of the Experiential Education process. 

Derrick Olsen of WorldOregon joins the program to discuss the importance of creating local and global partnerships to face our collective global future. From programmatic strategy, to organizational adaptation, and Academic expertise to unique lived experience, Derrick explores the complex work that goes in to building bridges across cultures, fostering real dialogue, and promoting global understanding.

Dennis Galvan speaks with guest host Avery Waxman about their shared passion: the future of International Student Mobility, the value of experience through education, and the impact COVID has had on study abroad trends. Dennis is Dean and Vice Provost for Global Engagement and also a professor of Political Science and Global Studies at the University of Oregon.Guest host Avery Waxman is a Member of the GlobalPDX Advisory Board, and Vice President of Communications for Navitas, an organization that partners with public universities all around the world to help them advance their Internationalization goals. 

In this very special episode we welcome new voices from our community, and address the topics that are front-of-mind for Oregon's Development Professionals. Enormous gratitude to the impromptu guests who took a moment to share their thoughts with us at Development Drinks:John Stephens - CEO of The BOMA ProjectAnita Ramachandran and Mikaila Belk - of MicroMentorKym Croft Miller - Professor of criminal justice and writingMichael Telford - Advisory Board Member of GlobalPDXKimberlee Roberts - Corporate Security ConsultantJacob Dodds - Graduate Student at PSU

We had the pleasure of speaking with Anita Ramachandran of MicroMentor at Mercy Corps about her path, her team's work to equalize access to social capital resources, and how mentorship can power big global change.

"I think it's a very tired stereotype to think about a U.S. American going to a developing country and that we bring all these ideas that are just going to work magically."

"In general these sort of legal tactics of democratic backsliding means that it's hard to issue a call for action if people can't recognize that yes something is going on."

Mishelle Rudzinski, Co-founder of SPOON, joins the show to talk about her ongoing fight to address global nutrition and feeding challenges. Worldwide, the millions of children without family care, and children with disabilities, have some of the highest rates of malnutrition. Children with disabilities are 3x more likely to be malnourished. Improving systems for children in orphanages addresses one piece of the issue, but Mishelle also explores the critical element of giving caregivers the help they need to keep their children at home, along with other "ah-ha" moments she has experienced throughout the growth of SPOON.

In this time of intense reckoning with our nation's history of racially motivated violence and discrimination against America's immigrants, one Oregon non-profit is working tirelessly to confront such intolerance by telling the stories of Oregon's immigrants. In this episode of the GlobalPDX Podcast we welcome Sankar Raman (Founder and Board President of The Immigrant Story) who expresses his motivation for sharing the voices of immigrant people, connecting a community through storytelling, and how the beautifully crafted narratives can be at once art and activism. April is genocide awareness month, creating a particularly poignant moment for appreciating our neighbors who are brave enough to share their stories that are at once precious, private, and painful. 

Earl Blumenauer visits the show and chats with Andrea in this timely and hopeful episode. Congressmen Blumenauer shares his thoughts on the bipartisan nature of Water and Sanitation work, the intersectionality of climate change and COVID, and the hopeful future of current legislation.Recorded on the Monday following President Biden signing the covid-19 relief bill, Representative Blumenauer takes time to highlight his optimism around strong communities, engaged young people, and politics that actually make a positive change in people's lives. Overall, he recognizes the brightness on our path ahead and encourages us all to focus on this Signal of Hope.

From a concerned citizen, to environmental planner, to elected official, Jackie Dingfelder walks us through her multi-faceted perspective on Oregon's natural resources. As a former Oregon Legislator Jackie shares her “pracidemic” stance on natural resource use and abuse, and how precious commodities like water came to be so under valued. Jackie also touches on her belief that while Oregon’s leadership is not as enshrined as it used to be (with regards to climate change), and how Oregonians could reclaim our status as environmental leaders. Jackie also shares her sources of hope for Oregon: from the energy of young people, to local efforts, to collaboration amongst leaders. With these pieces in place, can we tackle the wicked problems of our time?

Recorded on a momentous Inauguration Day (2021), Andrea speaks with Susan Sygall (of Mobility International USA) on the future of the disability-inclusion movement. Susan shares clear guidelines that even small organizations can utilize to boost their inclusiveness, speaks about the history of disabilities on both a national and global stage, and puts this particular movement in context with other equity/inclusion movements of 2020-2021.MIUSA is changing how people with and without disabilities think about disability in countries around the world. They are building future advocates, including the need of women to be elevated within in the international disability rights movement. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.

Very special guest Cameron Whitten (of Brown Hope and the Black Resilience Fund) speaks about Oregon's inability to shake its racist roots, white culture that is largely detached from Black experiences, and the best future for every NGO.

We are joined by Jennifer Martinez of Repatriate our Patriots to expose the rampant injustice of deporting US Veterans. Jennifer is a Public Affairs & Policy Doctoral Candidate at Portland State University and is a sister of a deported Veteran herself.

Guest Clarence Edwards speaks to Andrea from Washington DC about power dynamics, inconsistencies in Aid organizations, and anti-racism momentum.

Long time GlobalPDX-friend Noor Trienekens calls in from Indonesia to discuss radical listening, lessons from COVID, and planetary health (it's the cure!).

Andrea opens up with Brooke Galloway on trauma and empowerment, and how global organizations can improve their systems inside and out.

Andrea talks global engineering, GlobalPDX's inception, and the trials of astronaut with Evan Thomas in this, GlobalPDX's inaugural podcast.