The Oslo Freedom Forum is Coming to NY on Oct 3rd!
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is excited to announce the Oslo Freedom Forum in New York (OFF in NY), a half-day event at Town Hall in Manhattan, featuring theater talks and performances by the world’s top human rights activists and dissidents, followed by a special Speaker Gala.
Join us to hear first-hand stories from intrepid human rights defenders, and meet a community of philanthropists, technologists, investors, artists, journalists, policymakers, and activists aiming to make the world a more free, open, and peaceful place.
The Speaker Gala will take place at the Current (Chelsea Piers), following the theater program. The Gala will be a unique opportunity to spend time with OFF speakers while enjoying additional talks, performances, and fine dining.
This year's program will include an incredible lineup of human rights defenders who are promoting freedom around the world, including:
Garry Kasparov, Russian Chess Grandmaster, pro-democracy advocate, & Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF)
Yeonmi Park, North Korean defector & expert on the country’s black market economy
Masih Alinejad, Iranian journalist & activist
Leopoldo López, Venezuelan opposition leader & democracy activist
Berta Valle, Nicaraguan journalist & pro-democracy activist
Carine Kanimba, Daughter of imprisoned "Hotel Rwanda" hero Paul Rusesabagina
Fatou Jallow, Gambian anti-rape activist & survivor
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Ukrainian human rights lawyer & head of the Center for Civil Liberties
Chemi Lhamo, Tibetan activist & community organizer
Anna Kwok, Exiled Hong Kong activist
Jason Rezaian, Washington Post Global Opinions Journalist
Event Tickets
General tickets ($25 Theater Pass and $10 Student Pass) are available for purchase on Ticketmaster.
Speaker Gala tickets ($1,500 single and $10,000 8-person table) are available for purchase on Eventbrite. You may also sponsor students and activists to attend OFF in NY on this page. Gala tickets include access to the theater program.
See what it’s like to attend the Oslo Freedom Forum in New York
More details about the event and participating speakers will be released soon. In the meantime, you can find additional information at oslofreedomforum.com and on Twitter and Instagram.
For questions about tickets and registration, please e-mail registration@hrf.org.
If you are interested in becoming an official sponsor for OFF in NY, please e-mail sponsorships@hrf.org.
If you are interested in attending as a member of the media, please e-mail media@hrf.org.
Adriana Guardans-Godo
Adriana is a communications professional with experience supporting businesses, NGO’s, and governments to build, protect, and promote their strategic objectives. She is currently a Senior Consultant at Boldspace, a brand building, communications, and analytics agency for ambitious businesses seeking positive impact.
Previously, Adriana was at London-based public relations agency Blakeney, where she worked on global clients including the COP26 Presidency and UNDP-backed Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI). Before then, Adriana taught English at Jose de Diego Middle School in Miami through Teach for America.
Adriana graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and History and completed her Master’s in Public Diplomacy and Global Communications at University College London. During her time at Tufts University, she was a speaker coach for TedxTufts and a passionate Institute of Global Leadership learner, where she is a alumna of the 2015-16 EPIIC '“Future of Europe” colloquium and Synaptic Scholar.
Adriana believes in the power of clear, creative and compelling effective storytelling to drive change and mutual understanding, whether this be in the classroom, in politics, or in business.
Adriana’s final EPIIC project:
Multiculturalism
Rough Waters
The Voyage
Merkel
Chains
Gary Samore
Dr. Gary Samore is the Director of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies and Professor of the Practice of Politics in the Department of Politics at Brandeis University. He is also a senior fellow in the Korea project and associate with the Project on Managing the Atom at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Samore previously served as President Obama’s White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and President Clinton’s Senior Director for Non-proliferation and Export Controls. Prior to his service in the White House, he held several position in the Department of State, focusing primarily on US nonproliferation policy in Asia and the Middle East. He was a National Science Foundation Fellow at Harvard University, where he received his MA and PhD in government in 1984.
Alexandra Vacroux
Alexandra Vacroux is Executive Director of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. Her scholarly work addresses many Russian and Eurasian policy issues and she teaches popular courses on the comparative politics of Eurasia and post-Soviet conflict. As Director of Graduate Studies for the Davis Center’s MA program in regional studies, she has mentored dozens of Harvard’s best and brightest students and regional experts.
Alexandra lived in Moscow from 1992 to 2004. While there she held a number of positions, including consultant for the Russian Privatization Agency; partner and head of sales at the Brunswick Warburg investment bank; and active member of the board of United Way Moscow. While completing her dissertation on corruption in Russian pharmaceutical markets she was affiliated with the Center for Economic and Financial Research (CEFIR), a Russian think tank associated with the New Economic School. Prior to joining the Davis Center in 2010 lived in Washington, DC, where she was a Scholar at the Kennan Institute, part of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Alexandra received a Dean’s Distinction Award from Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and was given the Alumni Award from the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) Program at Tufts.
As a commentator, she has been praised as "refreshing," "straightforward," and "quick and to the point." She has appeared on NPR, CNN, Fox News Radio, China Central TV, Hromadske TV (Ukraine), and speaks regularly at community forums at home and abroad.
She holds a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University.
Alex was my student in 1985 as a freshman in the very first initiative I created at Tufts University, the colloquium Quidnuc of the Experimental Colleges’ Advisory Committee on Intellectual Life (ACOIL), and its subsequent symposium “International Terrorism”. She was critically instrumental in the creation of my penultimate symposium, decades later in 2015, on The Future of Russia. She was perhaps the only person, besides myself, who could recognize the sad irony of each symposium, opening with the 2 assassinations: the first of Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme, and the second of a friend democracy and human rights activist, Boris Nemstov.
One could easily recognize her intelligence, thoughtfulness, and understated brilliance even as an 18 year old. It has been my delight to have her as a friend for all these decades.
Mariam Tokhadze
Mariam Tokhadze is the Director of the Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (GCSD) – a Tbilisi based non-governmental, non-profit and non—partisan organisation. She first joined the team as the Director of the Terrorism Research Center (TRC) – the first non-governmental entity fully dedicated to researching topics related to terrorism and violent extremism, implementing preventive projects and accumulating thematic knowledge and expertise in the country. In 2017 she was awarded MSc in Security Studies from University College London (UCL). Her professional experience is with various state institutions operating in the field of defence and security. In the past, she has worked at the Ministry of Defence, the State Security Service of Georgia and the technical assistance project of the European Union to the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Refugees and Accommodation. In her previous capacities, she participated in the elaboration of various strategic and national level documents such as Georgia’s first National Counter Terrorism Strategy. In her current capacity Ms. Tokhadze prioritises projects that support Georgia’s democratic reforms, she strives to help strengthen Georgia’s democratic institutions and aims to help build Georgia’s capacity in understanding, preventing, and countering violent extremism. She aspires to create education and development opportunities for the youth of Georgia and hopes to be a positive contributor to bringing their tremendous potential to the forefront. With her team she works towards the goal of making Georgia safer, more secure and a place where potential becomes reality and drives progress. Above all else she believes in accessibility of education as the foundation of strong institutions and a prosperous society.
Jyotsna Badrinarayanan
I am a diplomatic history researcher currently based in Mumbai who has worked and taught in the fields of security studies and foreign policy research. I graduated from SOAS with a Master’s in International Studies and Diplomacy which broadened my horizons to the kind of work undertaken by people in negotiation and conflict resolution. I have since worked in research on intractable wars, including the Indo-Pak conflict and its relationship to Kashmir, as well as the recently escalating tensions between North and South Korea. To support my interests, I also picked up archival research skills and have since researched and taught qualitative research methodologies to support historical research.
I am passionate about engaging with young minds about politics and making education in history and international relations accessible and interesting to the youth. I grew up in a society where I was told that talking about politics was taboo as my opinions would invite criticism and even violence in retaliation. As a young woman who has been fortunate enough to have my pick of warm and encouraging mentors everywhere I go despite these circumstances, I wish to do the same for students and I hope that my commitment to teaching and interacting with students is only the beginning of my journey.
I began my foray into history and politics after Juliano Mer-Khamis’ Freedom Theater from Jenin visited my school to expose us to the realities of the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict. Despite being barely 11, his documentary “Arna’s Children” was a visual experience in understanding the loss of home, family and history to the hands of war. Years down the line, learning that history textbooks do not complicate the history of conflicts enough made me realise that I would like to learn more about it and write a little nuance into those pages. Nearly fifteen years later, I still hold no sure answers and neither do the people around me but I can see clearer than ever the steps taken by civil society to ensure the presence of community at times of crisis.
The work done by Sherm and his Convisero community to address not only this conflict but also several conundrums of the 20th and 21st century is what drew me to him in 2022 and I continue to learn about politics, human rights advocacy and conflict with him. Sherm has been a significant mentor to me, patient with his guidance, direct with any requests or criticism and a North Star of sorts in making me stay the course away from partisan thinking. I hope, through this, to keep the dialogue going among youth around me.
“Man’s capacity to rise above his social and historical situation seems to be conditioned by the sensitivity with which he recognizes the extent of his involvement in it.” - E.H. Carr
In all of my SaiU effort’s Jyotsna, as my TA, and far more, as my intellectual and pedagogical colleague and real instructor professional in residence has exhibited and demonstrated acumen and passion for our students and the intent of SaiU to provide moral clarity and ethical purpose in our efforts.
I have had the pleasure and privilege of having her at my side in instruction and edifying conversation and the benefit of her insight and thoughtfulness on the of both the complexities of India and global issues.
We are finishing and ending several years of formal of intersection, but I am honored she has agreed to enter Convisero as a long term mentor to me and our community.
Michael Peznola
Mr. Michael Peznola is the Chief of Staff/Dean of Administration for the National War College and a Retired US Marine Corps Colonel. His military career spanned 30 years in command and staff positions from Infantry Platoon Commander to Commander, Marine Special Operations Advisor Group. His overseas tours included Somalia, Afghanistan, Cuba, Japan and Europe; this includes operational deployments to Somalia with a Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)(1993) and Afghanistan as the Director, Operations/Intelligence Fusion Cell, NATO SOF (2011) and as the Chief of Staff, Special Operations Task Force, Bagram (2013). He served multiple tours in Washington DC and Quantico in the service headquarters at the Manpower Department and joint duty in Stuttgart Germany as the Assistant Chief of Staff, US European Command.
Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, he served as the Executive Director, Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts University and most recently at Plymouth State University as the Academic Operations Manager.
He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and possess an MS in Military Studies from the USMC Command and Staff College and an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
FUNCTIONAL EXPERTISE: Strategic planning and leadership, Special Operations, Resource Management, Military Operations
"Pez." as we all knew, him, was appointed my Executive Director, in charge of Administration and Finance. I was to be in charge of education, academics and intellectual life. He entered the Institiute by fiat of the Tufts Administration at an interesting turbulent time, when the Institute and I personally were under an external review, prompted by what turned out to be unproven specious charges. I apparently was considered an unorthodox maverick by the Tufts Monaco administration
He was recommended to the President's and Provost's office by the then Fletcher Dean, Admiral James Stavridis, for whom he had recently been his senior adviser
Over a two years he had an office next to mine. He reviewed our books, our practices, observed our conduct, attended our programs, classes, everything, and he really took the time to understand the uniqueness of the Institute. Given his Marine Corps background I asked him to be a special adviser to our civil-military initiative, ALLIES. He was a wonderful, fun and intriguing colleague.
At one point, after months together, he gave me one of the most touching of my Institute mementos. This is this inscription Pez wrote in his gift to me of the biography of John Boyd, Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War. Boyd. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Boyd_(military_strategist)
Sherm:
John Boyd was the designer of the F-16 and more importantly developed a warfighting concept of the OODA(Observe, Orient, Decide and Act) of warfighting.
John was a significant influence on me and the Marine Corps. He was an intellectual radical who had a dramatic, intellectual impact on the Corps from the 80's until today, often seen as an outsider in his own service(USAF) with a larger than life personality, who took risks for the betterment of the intellectual soul of the military.
I see much of John Boyd in you.
Here is my favorite Boyd quote which he told me in person in 1989.
"And you're going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go in," he raised his hand and pointed "if you go that way you can be somebody, you will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends, but you will be a member of the club, you will get promoted and you will get the good assignments. Then Boyd raised his other hand and pointed in the other direction. Or you can go that way and you can do something - something for your country and yourself. If you decide you want to do something you may not be promoted, and you may not get the good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you wouldn't compromise yourself. You will be true to yourself and your friends. And your work might make a difference. To be somebody or do something. In life there is often a roll call. That is when you will have to make a decision To Be of To Do. Which way will you go?
Enjoy the book.
Semper Fidelis
Pez
Jean-Louis Romanet Perroux
Jean-Louis Romanet Perroux is a researcher and advisor on international cooperation and development, and the director of the North African Policy Initiative (NAPI), an NGO that focuses on improving participatory governance and building the capacity of youth in North Africa.
He has over 20 years of hands-on experience in program design and implementation, in training and coaching students and activists, and in conducting action-oriented research and strategic evaluations in the fields of civil society, youth and women empowerment local governance, corruption, human trafficking and smuggling, migration, and violent extremism.
He has worked in multiple countries and multicultural organizations, often under pressure and in conflict environments. He has worked in multiple countries and multicultural organizations, often under pressure and in conflict environments
Specifically in Africa Jean-Louis has worked with more than thirty national and international organizations. He has obtained a Bachelor in Aeronautical Engineering from the Italian Air Force Academy, a Master in Political Science from the University of Trieste and a Master and a PhD in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.
He describes himself as a social entrepreneur with a knack for channeling collective human resources to achieve common goals.
This is something I can clearly attest to.
I worked closely with Jean-Louis during his Fletcher years and beyond.
He was one of my EPIIC teaching assistants, a task he performed with great ease, charm and assiduousness. Several of my students were his researchers and organizers for his Libyan civil society initiative and the Institute supported several of his initial conferences and research
https://sites.tufts.edu/reinventingpeace/2013/01/03/libya-the-long-way-forward/
A NATO pilot turned humanitarian, educator, scholar and civil society and democracy activist, he was one of my primary candidates to succeed me, but I understood and honored his desire to finish his PhD. I attended his defense with pride. We are good friends.
Erin Kelly
Professor of Philosophy, Tufts University
Erin Kelly grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree in philosophy from Stanford University; in further pursuit of philosophy, she then went to Columbia University for graduate study before moving to Harvard University, where she earned her PhD. Her research interests are in moral and political philosophy and the philosophy of law, with a focus on questions about justice. She has developed a particular emphasis on criminal law, moral responsibility and theories of punishment. Her current work aims, among other things, to develop philosophical conceptions of reparative and transformative justice as alternatives to retributive accounts of punishment. She has a non-academic interest in music, film, the outdoors, and two young adult daughters.
Erin won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in the biography category for “Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South” (2022), which she co-authored with Winfred Rembert, the biography’s subject. Rembert, who died in 2021, received the prize posthumously.
The Pulitzer Board described Rembert and Kelly’s book as “a searing first-person illustrated account of an artist’s life during the 1950s and 1960s in an unreconstructed corner of the Deep South, an account of abuse, endurance, imagination and aesthetic transformation."
Erin has been a treasured friend for many years. We collaborated on a range of programs, most noteworthy, our common concern for abolishing the death penalty, https://www.tuftsgloballeadership.org/calendar/confronting-death-penalty, work with the Petra Foundation, http://petrafoundation.org/, The IGL Innocence International Project, https://www.tuftsgloballeadership.org/program/innocence-international and establishing the Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and John Artis Archive at Tufts.
Erin is currently working to engage and activate the Archive with the Tufts University Prison Initiative (TUPIT), and the emerging Tufts academic minor in Carceral Studies.
This project is very much a part of the Trebuchet's ongoing criminal justice initiatives. https://www.the-trebuchet.org/criminal-justice
Aaron Markowitz-Shulman
Aaron Markowitz-Shulman is business leader with experience in the tech, logistics, retail and finance sectors. After graduating from Tufts in 2005 he moved to London to work for ING Bank and spent the subsequent 12 years in the global shipping industry. Since 2017 he has worked as a senior exec in scale-up companies with a focus on raising capital and delivering international expansions. He also serves as a company board member and is an advisor to start-up founders, helping them to translate their vision into compelling investment narratives and executable strategies for growth. He’s passionate about working with companies that transform industries by finding novel ways to solve hidden or seemingly intractable problems.
Aaron was a member of the EPIIC colloquium in 2002-2003 where he co-published “The Sovereignty Exchange”, a series of interviews and conversations with global leaders on the future of sovereignty. He was also a founder of NIMEP (now MERG, the “Middle East Research Group”) and remains fervent believer in the power of collaborative learning and dialogue to foster understanding between people that have different backgrounds, opinions and lived experiences.
Aaron is based in Oxford, UK and continues to work with different companies around the world.
7th Newsletter for Our 2022 Program
August 2022 Newsletter
Celebrate with us: the 50:50 Startups 2022 Cohort concludes the Advanced Incubation phase!
We are thrilled to share that our participants have completed the Advanced Incubation phase at Northeastern University, Boston, U.S.A! There, they took their startup experiences to a whole new level by polishing market research skills, finalizing pitch decks and practicing pitches.
We were delighted to have the final pitch decks and presentation scripts due for the 50:50 Startups entrepreneurs and the Northeastern university students already on August 18th. Working closely with the teams reflects the greatest impact on their startups, where they accomplished high-quality presentations that will be used to pitch for grants, seed money, and funding.
We thank our partners - D'Amore-McKim School of Business and their learning initiative "Bridging Conflict, Creating Diversity: An Entrepreneurial and Marketing Experience" - for making this possible. Here, you can read more about the experience of our participants at Northeastern University.
Networking Event at Northeastern University!
Our articipants had a chnace to meet with local entrepreneurs, tech and business stakeholders, and friends of the 50:50 Startups program.
Join the 2022 50:50 Startups Demo Day!
We are delighted to announce the Demo Day Event 2022 on September 28th between 18:00-20:00 at Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem. It will be the end of the 2022 cohort as well. Each venture will have the chance to pitch their deck, where two ventures will be nominated to win the #1 or #2 prize. 🏆
You can express your interest in participating in the Demo Day as audience by signing up via this Google Form. We will follow up with you regarding the schedule and ways to join, once that information is finalized. Keep an eye on our social media channels to stay updated and to celebrate the success of our third cohort with us!
We launched our mentor page! Would you like to be our next mentor?
We are proud to have such outstanding professionals on board to mentor our participants throughout the 50:50 Startups journey. Check out our mentors team, and contact us in case you would like to join and mentor the 50:50 Startups participants of the upcoming 2023 cohort!
Applications open for 50:50 Startups cohort of 2023!
We are pleased to invite you to apply to be part of our next 50:50 Startups cohort and to share this opportunity with those who may be interested. The applications should be made via our website's application section. We are looking forward to this amazing new experience!
Alumni Updates
Yalla Reyada
The team launched their beta version Yalla Reyada and is working with six trainers nowadays. All the platforms are online for fitness personal training. They are all in English in Europe, US, and Colombia. So far, platforms in arabic are not available.
Quantum
The team has a new name Q-Fi and has launched their website Q-Fi . 50:50 Startups staff assisted the team with a few grant opportunities.
Check out ways you can support the 50:50 Startups vision. Donate via PayPal to:
- Give more passionate Palestinian and Israeli youth the chance to build strong relationships based on economic cooperation.
- Support 50:50 Startups workshops, events, activities.
- Help 50:50 winner ventures to start their own company.
- Cover a highly-subsidized 5-week startup boot camp in Boston.
Contact us to learn more!
Visit our Website for More
Visit https://www.5050startups.org/ to learn more about 50:50 Startups!
New HRF Podcasts: August Recap
New HRF Podcasts: August Recap
Dissidents and Dictators is the Human Rights Foundation (HRF)'s podcast series that serves as a storytelling platform for some of the world's bravest activists, artists, policymakers, business leaders, and technologists. Throughout the month of August, we have released a number of new episodes, including:
Episode #49 - From Rhetoric to Action: Bukele’s Erosion of Democracy in El Salvador
After nearly two decades of democracy, El Salvador’s democratic institutions find themselves under siege. President Bukele has achieved extreme popularity, fueled by populist rhetoric and the adept use of social media. In this episode, El Farojournalist Nelson Rauda discusses how Bukele has abused emergency powers, eroded the independence of the judiciary, and paved the way for his re-election, in direct violation of El Salvador’s constitution.
Episode #50 - #freesadhan
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from Areej al-Sadhan, a Saudi activist and sister of Red Crescent humanitarian worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, who disappeared during a 2018 crackdown on critics and activists in Saudi Arabia. Areej remains outspoken on the ill-treatment of her brother and other activists, and has publicly denounced Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s brutal human rights abuses.
Episode #51 - Rally for Belarus
Since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron fist, turning the country into an authoritarian state where opposition figures and independent journalists are routinely harassed, jailed, and assassinated. In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from three Belarusian activists who have spent years fighting corruption under Lukashenko’s regime and rallying for a free and democratic Belarus. Guests include:
Tatsiana Khomich, Belarusian Activist & Sister of Political Prisoner Maria Kalesnikava
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of democratic Belarus
Veronica Tsepkalo, Chair of Belarus Women's Foundation
Episode #52 - Youth Mobilizing in Exile: Standing Up Against the CCP
Over the past several decades, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has relentlessly attacked fundamental human rights in order to advance its political goals. This episode explores how youth in the diaspora are grappling with the Chinese government’s abuses in their respective homelands, and mobilizing in exile. Guests include:
Mustafa Aksu, Program Manager at the Uyghur Human Rights Project
Babur Ilchi, Program Director at the Campaign for Uyghurs
Tenzin Yangzom, Grassroots Coordinator at Students for a Free Tibet
Anna Kwok, Strategy and Campaign Director at Hong Kong Democracy Council
Episodes are available on all major streaming platforms
RWCHR Weekly Digest
This summer we had the pleasure to host excellent interns who engaged themselves fully with the Centre’s pursuit of international justice. I am delighted to share with you a message written by McGill law student Ella Johnson about her internship experience.
Best,
Irwin Cotler, International Chair of the RWCHR
Interning at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights has been one of the most incredible, rewarding experiences of my life. I came to the Centre after my first year of law school out of a desire to learn more about international and human rights law. My time here has opened up that world to me more than I ever expected. That is a credit both to the Centre’s staff, who are dedicated, experienced advocates and mentors, and to the substantive, groundbreaking work that they do on many of the most important human rights violations of our time.
For example, the Centre has in the past two years led the first independent legal analyses of Chinese violence against the Uyghurs and Russian violence against Ukraine, respectively, under the international legal framework of genocide. An independent report such as this provides a very important support to any efforts by the Uyghurs and Ukrainians to advocate for themselves. It is also quite important for all other states, who have obligations to prevent genocide, as it informs them of when those obligations have been triggered.
I did not know any of that before my internship, but was able to learn because I was brought into the process of writing, releasing and publicising the Russia report. The Centre’s staff made the time to explain what was happening to me as the process went along, gave me a chance to contribute meaningfully to the report and provided me with constructive feedback throughout the process. I learned much more than I ever could have in a classroom and feel really proud that I was able to contribute to this important work. My experience has been so excellent that I will continue working with the Centre after this summer. I cannot imagine a better place to begin a career in this field.
RWCHR Statement on Sentencing of Jafar Panahi
The RWCHR condemned the arrest and arbitrary detention of award-winning Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi and called for his immediate and unconditional release from Evin Prison. Iran’s judiciary ruling that Mr. Panahi serve a previous six-year prison sentence is an affront to his universal human rights and the international rule of law and must be promptly overturned.
CJN Interview with Professor Irwin Cotler
Professor Cotler was interviewed on The CJN Daily podcast, on the anniversary of Canada’s National Summit on Antisemitism, to assess the progress made since the first-ever national summit of its kind. Convened by the Canadian Government and Professor Cotler in his role as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, Canada’s National Summit on Antisemitism was a timely initiative that brought together the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers, parliamentarians, and a diverse representation of the Jewish community, among others. Professor Cotler shared a National Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism at the Summit and summarised the concrete action that has been taken since the Summit in the past year.
RWCHR Statement Condemning Recent Wave of Baha’i Arrests
The RWCHR strongly condemned the recent wave of arrests, raids, and imprisonments targeting Baháʼís by Iranian authorities. The arrest – and systematic targeting – of members of the Baháʼí faith is a looking glass into the Iranian regime’s longstanding pattern of hate and persecution against the Baháʼís in Iran.
Op-Ed by Professor Irwin Cotler on China’s Transnational Repression
Professor Cotler published an article in The Globe and Mail on China’s transnational repression, including the criminal harassment and intimidation of Canadians such as Canadian Uyghur Husseyin Celil, and Canadian businessman Xiao (James) Jianhua. Titled “The Chinese government's continued assault on Canadian freedoms requires action”, Professor Cotler called for meaningful action to address this repression, including by prioritizing the combatting of arbitrary detentions as a matter of principle and policy and imposing targeted Magnitsky sanctions on CCP officials responsible for human rights abuses.
Commemorating Raoul Wallenberg’s Birthday
On the 110th anniversary of his birth, the RWCHR remembered and paid tribute to the life and legacy of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg – Canada’s first Honorary Citizen and hero of the Holocaust. An inspirational role model for humanity, Raoul Wallenberg demonstrated how one person with the compassion to care and the courage to act can confront evil, prevail and transform history.
RWCHR Announces Role as Co-Chair of Global Civil Society Coalition Advocating for Targeted Sanctions
We are delighted to announce our role as Co-Chair of a global civil society coalition comprising over 300 of the world's leading NGOs advocating for targeted sanctions against perpetrators of human rights abuses and corruption. Coordinated by US-based NGO Human Rights First, this coalition has been instrumental in much of the major sanctions designations in recent years, as well as meaningful legislative and policy initiatives. The RWCHR's new role as Co-Chair of this important group signals a newfound focus on Canada – a recognition of the leading role of Canadian civil society and government – and the need for further concrete action and coordination.
Mourning the Passing of the Honourable Bill Graham
The RWCHR is very saddened to learn of the passing of the Honourable Bill Graham. A long-time friend and colleague of Professor Cotler, they worked together as Law Professors, Parliamentarians, and Cabinet Ministers. A leader respected internationally and a great Canadian, he will be truly missed. Condolences to his family and friends.
Summary of GPAAAC’s Inaugural Meeting
The official summary of The Global Parliamentary Alliance Against Atrocity Crimes (GPAAAC) inaugural meeting has been released. Professor Cotler participated in the meeting, hosted by MIGS and KAS Canada, where he led a discussion on our ground-breaking report concluding that Russia bears State responsibility for breaches of the 1948 Genocide Convention.
Update on Vladimir Kara-Murza
Hero of humanity and RWCHR Senior Fellow Vladimir Kara-Murza yet again faces new sham charges as part of Vladimir Putin’s campaign of repression targeting democracy advocates, opposition politicians, anti-war commentators, and the like. We stand with Vladimir and his wife Evgenia during his unjust detention which is yet another example of the Kremlin’s criminalization of speech, association and assembly.
Article by Nasrin Sotoudeh
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a leading imprisoned Iranian human rights lawyer, whose case was first taken up by Professor Cotler as a parliamentarian in 2011, published an article in Ms. Magazine standing in solidarity with women across the United States after the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In her public letter, Nasrin warned of the dangers of the “loss of freedom and democracy”.
Murray Rankin Appointed as BC’s Acting Attorney General
Congratulations to RWCHR Board Member Murray Rankin – who also serves as BC Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation – on being appointed BC’s Acting Attorney General. We are very proud to be working with him in common cause.
Baroness Helena Kennedy Continuing Work in Support of Women Judges in Afghanistan
RWCHR International Legal Advisory Board Member Baroness Helena Kennedy continues to be engaged in the rescue and resettlement of Afghan women judges. See here for more on their plight and pain, and Baroness Kennedy’s ongoing efforts to secure their safety.
Article by Jared Genser on Brittney Griner’s Imprisonment
RWCHR U.S. Chair Jared Genser co-authored an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Brittney Griner’s imprisonment in Russia as the most recent example of hostage-taking by authoritarian states – like Russia and Iran – targeting U.S. citizens.
Cindy Blackstock’s Post-Apology To-Do List
RWCHR Senior Fellow and Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Cindy Blackstock published a “Post-Apology ‘To Do’ List” – a list of actionable items – in the wake of the Pope’s apology on the part of the Catholic Church for Canada’s Residential Schools.
Murray Sinclair Issues Statement After Pope’s Apology
RWCHR Senior Fellow Murrary Sinclair published a statement after the Pope’s apology to survivors of Canada’s Residential Schools, recognizing the importance of the apology for First Nations, Inuit and Metis survivors, but also calling for more to be done – by the Catholic Church and all Canadians – towards the goal of reconciliation.
Ahmed Shaheed Completes Mandate as UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Congratulations to RWCHR Senior Fellow Ahmed Shaheed on completing his mandate as UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, during which he focused on combatting hate and intolerance, including antisemitism. We are very proud to continue to be working with him in common cause. See here to read his latest report – and recommendations – on combatting antisemitism on a global scale.
Russia locked up Vladimir Kara-Murza for telling the truth about Ukraine - Washington Post
What comes after Pope Francis’ apology? Here’s what advocates say - Global News
We Must Act To Protect Ukrainian Children - From Abductions And Other Abuses Suffered In Putin’s War - Forbes
Myanmar: PEN Centres around the world condemn the execution of writer Kyaw Min Yu - PEN International
Ambassador Bob Rae slams UN human-rights expert over 'biased, antisemitic' comments - National Post
"We Consider Ourselves Baha'is": Politicians, NGOs and Stars Stand With Embattled Baha'is of Iran - IranWire
This is a brief snapshot of the domestic and global reach of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. For ongoing updates and special alerts, follow us on social media!
David Abromowitz
David Abromowitz is an advocate, policy shaper, believer in opportunity youth, attorney and writer. A longtime partner in the law firm Goulston & Storrs, David is nationally known for his expertise on affordable housing, economic development, and workforce development issues.
Most recently, David launched the New Power Project, a national effort recruiting and supporting people who have grown up experiencing poverty to run for local and district elective office. Before that he served six years as Chief Public Policy Officer at YouthBuild USA, leading successful bi-partisan appropriation efforts and policy reform efforts in the education, criminal justice and workforce areas. Prior to YouthBuild USA, David served as a Senior Fellow at the Center for America Progress focusing on economic mobility issues, where he authored the policy proposal that was ultimately enacted as the $8 billion Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
David is a past chair and founding member of both the Lawyers’ Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing and Homelessness and of the American Bar Association’s Forum Committee on Affordable Housing and Community Development, a past chair and board member of the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association, and a member of America Forward’s Advisory Council. He has served on numerous transition teams and policy working groups for various elected officials and candidates, including for then Governor-elect Deval Patrick (D-MA) and Boston Mayor Tom Menino’s advisory task force, and served six years on the board of MassDevelopment, the Commonwealth’s economic development agency.
An active civic leader, David also serves on the Board of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, B’nai B’rith Housing New England, and previously served on the boards of The Equity Trust, YouthBuild USA, the New Economy Coalition, among others. His contributions have been recognized by numerous awards, including the Affordable Housing Vision Award of the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, the Distinguished Achievement Awardof B'Nai B'rith Housing New England, recognition as a "social capitalist" by SCI Social Capital, Inc., honored by Fair Housing Center of Boston, and honored by National Economic Development and Law Center.
A proud New Jersey native, David recently completed The Foxtail Legacy, his first novel.
A news item about the 2022 visit of the 50:50 Startups entrepreneurs at Northeastern
NORTHEASTERN STUDENTS HELP ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN ENTREPRENEURS SUCCEED TOGETHER
by Jessica Taylor Price August 5, 2022
Northeastern psychology student Reem Quais and Theo Govaers, remotely, presents their start-up venture ParaPark to the Bridging Conflicts class. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University
When you think of founding partners of a tech startup, you probably don’t think of Israelis and Palestinians working together. And when you think of their marketing consultants, you probably don’t picture college students.
But in the summer course “Bridging Conflicts, Creating Diversity: An Entrepreneurial and Marketing Experience,” that’s exactly what’s happening.
Co-led by professors Amir Grinstein and Daniele Mathras of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business as part of a partnership with tech accelerator 50:50 Startups, Bridging Conflicts pairs Northeastern students with startups that are co-founded by Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs.
50:50 Startups brings together startups that are co-led by Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs and helps them develop through courses and mentorship. For the ventures, the Northeastern course is the “icing on the cake” of the months-long program, Grinstein says. Over the course of seven weeks, Northeastern students are marketing consultants for their assigned startups, giving the entrepreneurs valuable feedback to help them succeed in their ventures.
The course also serves the larger purpose of helping to build relationships across the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as entrepreneurs work together to achieve a common goal. “It’s not taking away from the conflict,” Grinstein says, “but it just gives another perspective for people who are open-minded and interested in getting to know the other side, and are passionate about entrepreneurship.”
This year, nine different startups and 14 Northeastern students took part in the course, which emphasized collaborative, experiential learning. The students, who joined from as far as Oman, Columbia and Japan, had the unique opportunity to apply what they learned to real-life ventures.
“As we’re teaching things in class, they’re doing that right away on these projects,” Mathras says.
Northeastern business and design student Ty Baxter presents his startup to his classmates and professors in the Bridging Conflicts class in Dodge Hall. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University
It’s also a mentorship opportunity for the entrepreneurs, who will leave the course with a market research report and a refined pitch deck. In the students, the founders had project managers and market researchers, as well as important sounding boards for testing assumptions, asking questions, and making sure they were communicating clearly.
“Sometimes when you’re so intently focused on working on your own venture, you don’t have anyone there challenging you,” Daniele says. Here, though, students act as a “third party” to ask tough questions.
Most importantly, it was all real.
“I’ve never had a real chance to join a venture. We always have school projects, but they’re not for real, so I don’t have pressure,” says Wenbo (Tacit) Li, who is graduating this fall with a business administration degree, and is concentrating on entrepreneurship and innovation. “But for this, it’s a real venture. I have to put all my effort into it.”
Li partnered with Cloe, a health and wellness startup that helps people access nutrition plans. Cloe’s mission is to allow nutritionists to better manage their clients and have a closer relationship with them via a downloadable app.
When the class visited Microsoft headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Li pitched the venture on behalf of the founders and got real-time feedback from professionals. On top of getting to apply what she was learning to real-life scenarios, she says, the course taught her to “trust yourself and express what you really think.”
Where did this unique course come from?
Grinstein, who was born in Israel, developed the idea four years ago when he realized that he could use his talents to make a difference. “I could find a way through this program to bring my skills in the marketing and entrepreneurship areas and really take advantage of them and do something good,” he said.
He teamed up with Mathras and they ran the course as a virtual pilot in the summer of 2021. This year, it was run as a hybrid model, and Mathras hopes that the next time the course runs, it can be done entirely in person, in line with its uniquely collaborative format.
Surprisingly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has not had much impact on the course. When people come together to solve a problem, Grinstein found, they discover that they love the same soccer team, the same foods, and have the same goals. When ventures fail, “95% of the time, it’s not because of the political conflict,” he says. “I actually love to see when they fail like that … it’s normal failure.”
The project isn’t without its challenges, though. Grinstein struggled to get visas for the entrepreneurs to come to Boston, and last year, two people had to drop out of the course due to bombings in Gaza. All of the participants in the course need to navigate different cultures, languages and time zones, but, as Mathras said, this is valuable experience in itself. “It’s the real world. You’re going to be working on mult-national teams when you’re out in the real world,” she says. “You’re going to be dealing with those time issues. You’re going to be dealing with cultural differences.”
In the long term, Grinstein and Mathras have high hopes for the program’s social impact. They would like to see similar programs that pair people based on their differences: skin color, country, social status, gender, political party, etc. They speculate that having diverse founders will help create more diverse companies overall. “They won’t shy away from hiring people very different from them,” Grinstein says.
When thinking about the impact of the program, Daniele is reminded of the echo chamber of social media. “You’re in your little bubble. You see what you see, and you don’t see things outside of that,” she says. “This model really opens a dialogue between groups that might not otherwise have that dialogue.”
For media inquiries, please contact media@northeastern.edu.
RWCHR Announced as Co-Chair of international sanctions coalition
The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR) is excited to announce its new major role as Co-Chair of a global civil society coalition comprising over 300 of the world's leading Non-Governmental Organizations advocating for targeted sanctions against perpetrators of human rights abuses and corruption.
Coordinated by US-based NGO Human Rights First, this Coalition has been instrumental in much of the major sanctions designations in recent years, as well as meaningful legislative and policy initiatives. The RWCHR's new role as Co-Chair of this important group signals a newfound focus on Canada – a recognition of the leading role of Canadian civil society and government – and the need for further concrete action and coordination.
The RWCHR will continue its role at the forefront of advocating policy reforms and strengthening multilateral coordination, but now with the intensified support of the world's major human rights institutions and as a leading voice of a diverse Canadian civil society.
Sincerely,
The RWCHR Team
Mike Savicki
There are some dates in people's lives that stand out above others. For Mike Savicki, one of those was 1990. Shortly after graduating from Tufts University (B.A. International Relations and Political Science), and receiving his officer commission as the Outstanding Naval Aviation Candidate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mike sustained a paralyzing cervical spinal cord injury in a service-connected training accident. By year's end, instead of continuing on his path to fly F-14s, he was learning to use a wheelchair.
His life path altered, he persisted. Mike earned an MBA from Duke University (delivering the commencement address), accepted a job as a government, healthcare, and information technology consultant, and became active in wheelchair sports locally, regionally, and nationally.
But feeling a pull to serve others, and a belief that sports, unlike almost anything else, can build communities, bridge gaps, erase prejudice, and promote peace, he began work as Deputy Director of an innovative, integrative, sports nonprofit, World TEAM (The Exceptional Athlete Matters) Sports. He played a major role in the success of projects not only across the United States but also in countries like Nepal, New Zealand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. 1998’s Vietnam Challenge, a 1200 mile cycling adventure between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with an integrated team of Vietnamese and American veterans, many from the war, became the subject of an Emmy award winning documentary film, “Vietnam, Long Time Coming.” The groundwork that he laid for 2000’s Face of America Adventure, a unique, cross-country, multi-sport journey with two separate teams beginning on opposite coasts and coming together under the arch in St. Louis in celebration of America’s diversity in the new millennium, has allowed that event to continue even today.
Mike is the current Founder and Chief Thinker of Afterburner Communications, a boutique communications consulting firm that assists clients through writing, speaking, advocacy, lobbying, consulting, and special projects. He has been instrumental in the passing of state and federal legislation advancing the interest of both veterans and those with disabilities. His writings appear regularly across multiple media sources.
As a high school teacher at the Community School of Davidson (NC), Mike continues to use sports as a way to educate. His elective course, “Sport in Society,'' is oversubscribed. As sport becomes a language more and more people speak, Mike believes it should be required study for anyone with an involvement in, or a love of, sports as it can shape and shift the world.
Mike continues as an athlete. He is arguably one of the most accomplished wheelchair marathoners in history with two dozen Boston Marathon finishes across five decades, including five overall Quad Division wins. Mike is the only athlete to have ever completed the legendary Boston course both on foot and in a racing wheelchair. And he played wheelchair rugby, more commonly known as MURDERBALL, for more than three decades. Mike has won more than 100 gold medals at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and was a member of Team Navy at the inaugural Warrior Games (now the Invictus Games). He is a multi-time handcycling national champion who slows down by kayaking, fishing, boating, and traveling.
Mike, his efforts and his work, has appeared in the New York Times, USA today, NBC Nightly News, and NPR. He has also appeared on a limited edition Cheerios cereal box honoring disabled veterans in sport.
Mike is also the recipient of the Tufts University Athletic Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
Mike lives in North Carolina and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Honored to assist The Trebuchet, Mike supports the effort to create non-partisan policy forums for ethical global engagement and citizenship while creating distinctive educational opportunities for those who see hope and promise in our world.
Mike and I collaborated during the EPIIC Global Games year. He taught myself and my students, along with other indominable athletes and people, the myopia of thinking about people in terms of being able bodied or being disabled at T.E.A.M. I had to laugh when he told me that he had been too intimidated to take EPIIC, because of its workload! It has been joyous for myself and my family to have cheered Mike on at various Boston Marathons, and I am honored that Mike has taken elements of the global sports curriculum into his high school seminars on sports and society that are always oversubscribed.
Terry Abrahamson
Terry Abrahamson is the only artist in history to have work presented at the Smithsonian Institution, Chicago’s DuSable Museum of African American History, the Blues Hall of Fame, Boston Celtics home games, Johnny Cochran’s funeral, the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival on NPR and The Oprah Winfrey Show and before the US Supreme Court. Terry won a Grammy for co-writing “Bus Driver” with legendary Bluesician Muddy Waters, one of five Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and six Blues Hall of Fame inductees to perform Terry’s work. He is a 2014 Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee.
Terry’s photomemoire, “In the Belly of the Blues,” and “The Blues Parade” - his kids’ illustrated history of the Blues - are both part of the permanent collection of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In February 2020, the Chicago Public Library chose “The Booksibition” of “The Blues Parade” as an anchor for its African American History Month celebration.
Terry’s Blues photographs have been exhibited at museums and libraries and at the Chicago Blues Festival, and will soon be part of a Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame
exhibit at the Boch Center/Wang Theater in Boston. His produced stage plays include “The Brat Race,” “Hannukatz the Musical,” “The New Orleans Jazz Funeral of Stella Brooks” - an anchor presentation of the 2010 Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival - and his prescient 1990 production, “Doo Lister’s Blues” about the conspiracy to suppress political content in Black pop music of the 1960’s, which the Chicago Reader praised as “reminiscent of August Wilson.”
A Chicago native and first-hand witness to American music history, Terry is a frequent speaker on the history and legacy of the Blues, its role as the first voice to rise from the cotton fields in defiance of White Supremacy, its role as the historic spirit of Black Lives Matter, and on his own days and nights onstage and backstage with the legends of America’s oldest and most resonant artform.
Most recently, Terry created a workshop for Provincetown Family Week 2022 celebrating the tools of whimsy, imagination and swagger, as used by the Blues, to find our voices, celebrate our identities and share them with the world. As part of the event, each child in attendance got their own Blues name, and helped write a Blues song.
Terry’s radio show, “In the Belly of the Blues” can be heard on Northwestern University’s WNUR at wnur.org.
Terry and I have shared a lot of fun, mostly in Truro, Cape Cod, where we were frequently the guests of Convisero mentor Ted Kurland. I have rarely met a more exuberant and enthusiastic person. We found common ground in our music tastes, and recently, Terry composed this song,“My Body Is Mine”to support our efforts to elect Patrick Schmidt in his race for the House from Kansas. This video is performed by Blues Legend, Ms. Teeny Tucker. This song helped galvanize the successful vote against Kansas republicans’ efforts to curtail abortion rights, and was allied with our efforts with Planned Parenthood.
New HRF Podcasts: July Recap
New HRF Podcasts: July Recap
Dissidents and Dictators is the Human Rights Foundation (HRF)'s podcast series that serves as a storytelling platform for some of the world's bravest activists, artists, policy-makers, business leaders, and technologists. Throughout the month of July, we have released a number of new episodes, including:
Episode #44 - Fatma Karume, Stopping Tanzania’s “Bulldozer” President
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Tanzanian lawyer Fatma Karume recounts her fight against Tanzania's late president, John Magufuli. Karume co-founded the Center for Strategic Litigation, and in response to her activism, her office was bombed and she faced disbarment. Karume has turned to Twitter to educate the public about human rights violations and raise funds for political prisoners.
Episode #45 - Evgenia Kara-Murza, A Letter from Vladimir Kara-Murza
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Evgenia Kara-Murza speaks on behalf of her husband, former OFF speaker and Russian opposition leader, Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was arbitrarily arrested in Moscow. Evgenia Kara-Murza is the project manager of the Free Russia Foundation, an international nonprofit that supports civil society and democratic development in Russia.
Episode #46 - How Democracies Enable Corrupt Regimes (And How To Fix It)
Recent events have thrust corruption into the spotlight. In 2021, United States President Biden recognized corruption as a threat to national security, months before the release of the Pandora Papers. In 2022, sanctions on Russian oligarchs have shown how much of these authoritarian regimes’ ill-gotten gains are hidden in democracies. This episode discusses how corrupt regimes launder their money, and the ongoing legislative efforts in the U.S. to address this issue. Guests include:
Casey Michel, Investigative Journalist & Author of American Kleptocracy
Paul Massaro, Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. Helsinki Commission
Episode #47 - Hong Kong Today
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has continuously tried to suppress Hong Kong’s civil society, and the national security law — alarming legislation aimed at eradicating the pro-democracy movement — has been the final “nail in the coffin.” This episode discusses the deterioration of freedoms in Hong Kong and highlights the Chinese government's aggression. Guests include:
Josh Rogin, Washington Post Journalist and Columnist
Sunny Cheung, Hong Kong activist-in-exile
Anna Kwok, Strategy and Campaign Director at Hong Kong Democracy Council
Episode #48 - Lucy Kassa, Ethiopia’s Murky War
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Ethiopian investigative journalist Lucy Kassa discusses her extensive reporting on the war in Ethiopia, and the power journalism holds to expose human rights abuses. Despite suffering physical intimidation, death threats, and ongoing online trolling and smear campaigns, Kassa continues to report stories that bring attention to the victims of war.
Episodes are available on all major streaming platforms
50:50 Startups: 6th Newsletter for Our 2022 Program
July 2022 Newsletter
Celebrate with us: the 50:50 Startups 2022 Cohort concludes the Idea Incubation phase and starts the Advanced Incubationphase!
We are immensely proud of our participants for successfuly completing the Idea Incubation phase of the program! The participants took part in the AtoBe startup accelerator at the Azrieli College of Engineering in Jerusalem. There, they gained hands-on skills on further on startup development and polished their innovative ideas.
The last sessions of the Idea Incubation phase have been all about pitching. Dafna Gold Melchior - Scientific & Entrepreneurial Communication Clarifier at Let’s Clarify It - conducted the unforgettable workshop “Pitch It to Me - Powerful & Persuasive Presentations”. Our cohort had the chance to dive deeper into pitch structure, practice pitching their ideas, improve their decks, and overall take their ventures to a completely new level.
The very last meeting of the Ide Incubation phase was the 2022 Event Pitch with our great partners - the AtoBe Accelerator at Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem, where our teams/ ventures got the chance to pitch their deck, moreover received valuable feedback. We are very grateful to our partners at AtoBe for making our participants’ journey so rich in learning and growth. We would like to especially thank Michael Mizrahi and Michal Tsor for their hard work in supporting the learning of 50:50 Startups participants.
Advanced Incubation Phase at Northeastern University!
We are proud to share that the 50:50 Startups program participants have made it to Northeastern University, U.S.A., for the Advanced Incubation Phase. The participants are taking part in the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University program “Bridging Conflict, Creating Diversity”. As part of this experience, our participants met up with partners at Microsoft and had a series of wonderful lectures by Prof. Amir Grinstein and Prof. Daniele Mathras. Those participants who were not bale to make it to Boston in person can still attend all the lectures virtually! We are proud of creating inclusive experiences for all those who are willing to learn.
Stay tuned for the 2022 50:50 Startups Demo Day!
You can express your interest in participating in the Demo Day as audience by signing up via this Google Form. We will follow up with you regarding the schedule and ways to join, once that information is finalized. Keep an eye on our social media channels to stay updated and to celebrate the success of our third cohort with us!
Visit our Website for More
Visit https://www.5050startups.org/ to learn more about 50:50 Startups!