In my own words: Are we having fun yet? Are we there yet? I am sure the best is yet to come once people from all walks of life, have conversations with one another regularly about things that matter to them.
In 1993, I graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in International Affairs.
I worked in the Communications Department for the National Basketball Association when Michael Jordan was playing - very exciting time to be there. I was also a publicist in women’s tennis and the NHL. I think what I loved the most about those years was being around the stories - the ups and downs - of teams and athletes. It always amazed me how a team has players who "assist" and "rebound," a give and take; they seem to be able to figure out how to be selfless and a leader, ignore the score, and notice the score. And, of course the big lesson that: all losing streaks come to an end - and - all winning streaks come to end.
On a personal note: I enjoy all kinds of music and dance. I laugh and tear up easily and wouldn't want it any other way - reminds me that I am human and not a robot. I was born in Paris, France and my family is French (that explains my French-sounding name). But, I have lived most of my life in America, and have very deep hopes and wishes for America, France, and all peoples of the world.
(Click here for my “Dear Friends” letters which tells you how AND… ACTION! got started.)
Glenna Gerard – People & Dialogue Consultant
"When I first heard about AND... ACTION! I thought this was important work as I do believe it is crucial for us to create opportunities for people to be in conversation in ways that invites and supports them to explore their own viewpoints and those that are quite different. When we create conversations where we truly inquire into our own and another's way of seeing an issue we open the door for actually learning how to think more effectively." (www.glennagerard.net)
As for giving you a bio - I always chuckle when I’m asked for my professional bio because most of what I’ve learned has been through 50+ years of life. But, here it is: I was born in the Western United States, before the age of 13 I had lived in a foreign country, learned another language, and knew first hand the ways in which cultures can separate people as well as enrich our lives. In high school I sketched out a design for the world’s first fusion reactor and envisioned myself doing research on how the brain works. I graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
Professionally, I’ve developed and written science materials, been a salesperson, a business manager, independent consultant, writer, master facilitator, designer, coach and one of the first people to pioneer the development of a communication form called Dialogue within organizational contexts. I continue to develop ways to make the principles and practices of Dialogue more accessible to people in practical forms, in their individual practice, in a business, in personal relationships, in interfaith and intercultural environments.
I wrote a book with Linda Ellinor entitled DIALOGUE: Rediscover the Transforming Power of Conversation, published by John Wiley & Sons, NY in 1998. In my work, I partner with consultants, leaders, individuals, and groups, in the private and public sectors to create quality results.
Alicia Moy – The Green Edge Diva – Planet Earth Actionist - New York City, NY
When I first heard about AND ACTION...... I knew I wanted to get involved, be around like-minded people and start making a difference.
Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, I'm addicted to sunshine, beaches and sunsets. I have always had a passion for taking action and preserving the earth’s precious resources. Over the past decade, I have been enjoying the fast–paced glamorous New York City life, while building a career in infrastructure finance. With a firm foundation in place, I can now focus on sustainable living and how I can integrate it into my everyday on-the-go lifestyle.
April Rose - Women’s Studies Practicum - Women’s Rights College Coordinator
When I first heard about AND… ACTION! I thought it would be a perfect fit for my internship requirement. My initial attraction was to the Planet Earth project as I am greatly interested in both feminism and sustainability. Then, Johanna and I decided to work together on the Women in the Congo project since it seemed more pertinent to our internship and so we could work cooperatively rather than separately.
About Me: Hi, I am April Rose. I am a senior at SUNY New Paltz, double majoring
in Geography and Women’s Studies. I’m a Sagittarius Sun and Moon, Taurus Rising. My interests include local food and wild edibles, radical feminism, and making/sharing large communal meals. I am a co-leader of the New Paltz Feminist Collective and member of Students for Sustainable Agriculture. I am preparing to spend this winter in Peru, first doing a study abroad program on fair trade coffee and bio cultural regeneration, and then travelling before returning to graduate in May. I anticipate working with AND…ACTION! will be a positive opportunity to remember how transformational local small scale action can be.
Johanna Neumann - Women’s Studies Practicum - Women’s Rights College Coordinqtor
When I first heard about AND… ACTION! I was very interested in the Human Rights project. In the past, I have read and watched a few films about the conflict occurring in Northern Uganda. I was shocked by what was going on. So, when I learned about AND… ACTION! I decided that the Congo, specifically women in the Congo, was something that needed to be spoken about and recognized.
About Me: I am a senior Women’s Studies major at SUNY New Paltz. My main passion in life is travel and experiencing different cultures. I spent the last year of my life studying art and literature in Prague, Czech Republic.
My favorite activities include drinking read wine with my friends, listening to French music and watching opera.
Timothy Sennott – College Organizing Coordinator – Planet Earth
When I first heard about AND… ACTION! I was so excited because one of the most frustrating things about activism for me has been the scale – you work so hard locally, but you can only reach so many people. This is why the flattening world and all these new tools we have can be so empowering – suddenly we can bring so many more people into the dialogue.
As for me, I’m a Senior undergraduate studying Mechanical Engineering with a passion for all things sustainable. I helped craft the original content for the Planet Earth Actionshop, and piloted it out in CA. In many ways it was the culmination of years of campus activism, and I’m grateful to have been able to do it. Hopefully I will see it come full circle, and be here when the next one is given by my successor, this time with a big AND…ACTION logo on it. We are so much stronger and freer and more powerful than we might imagine, if we only find our passion - and our compassion - and really put our hearts and backs into what we believe. We have lots of work to do, let’s get to it.
Sarah Cafasso – College Psychology of Conservation – Planet Earth Coordinator
When I first heard about AND...ACTION! I saw it as this amazing opportunity to plant the fundamentals of issues like sustainability into the lives of reachable people: our friends, families, supervisors, colleagues, peers and beyond! Often the topics of greatest importance are the ones that people have the least comprehension of, many times because they are overwhelmed with information or unclear in how they should actively take steps towards positive influence. AND... ACTION! has a format that addresses both of these issues, with clear and informative material that provides substantial but realistic opportunities for personal action.
I'm an Environmental Studies and Psychology undergraduate in California, with a goal of exploration and expansion in the growing field of Conservation Psychology. My primary interests are rooted in understanding the motivation of environmentally-active people, and the external agents that facilitate their lifestyle choices. I helped in facilitating the pilot Planet Earth Actionshop, and co-designed a psychological experiment exploring the benefits of group dynamics within a similar sustainability workshop setting.
I love speaking with others about whatever they're passionate about, and my dream date includes ocean kayaking, sunshine, and plain tart frozen yogurt...
