The Importance of Convening Leaders Across the Americas Annually: Fostering Unity, Celebrating Shared History, and Empowering Underestimated Communities

Authors

  • Maria Velasquez Radiante Strategy Group
  • Cordell Carter, Esq. Festival of the Diaspora

Keywords:

leaders, americas, shared history , communities, empowerment, festival of the diaspora, ancestral intelligence, the other AI

Abstract

Annually, the Festival of the Diaspora (FOTD), originally an initiative of the Aspen Institute’s Project on Belonging and now merged with Casa Innovation, convenes leaders from across the Americas to foster unity, celebrate shared history, and empower underestimated communities. This article not only highlights FOTD’s unique approach to community organizing but also distills universal principles that can guide similar efforts worldwide, emphasizing the importance of “the other AI” (Ancestral Intelligence) and creating inclusive spaces.

Author Biographies

Maria Velasquez, Radiante Strategy Group

Maria the founder and principal consultant of Radiante Strategy Group [RSG], specializing in diverse industries including child welfare and social services, healthcare, education, social impact enterprises, nonprofit, and local government. With over 14 years of experience, Maria is passionate about implementing sustainable processes and addressing systemic disparities. Her expertise encompasses capacity building, child welfare and social services, complex health and social needs, racial ethnic equity and inclusion, landscape and gap analysis, policy, change management, organizational dynamics, communications, project management, strategic planning, and technical assistance with a focus on social determinants of health.

 

Throughout her career, Maria has worked with esteemed clients, including national foundations such as the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs, and LatinoJustice Puerto Rican Legal and Education Fund. She has also collaborated with renowned academic institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California. In addition, RSG works with impactful nonprofits and government entities, including the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, Wilmington Metropolitan Urban League, and Delaware State Housing Authority. Maria has also proudly continued her LATAM presence by working with clients like the Inter-American Development Bank, KidSave International, and Serigrafia de La Gringa, contributing to the advancement of social impact initiatives.

 

Amidst the pandemic, Maria partially relocated to her hometown of Medellin, Colombia, where she serves as a bridge between talent in Latin America and global opportunities. She founded Casa Innovation, an inclusive ecosystem that empowers social entrepreneurs with the support and resources they need to thrive. Through Casa Innovation, Maria has partnered with The Festival of the Diaspora, fostering connections between the United States and Latin America and advocating for talent, innovation, investment, and sustainability.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with Administration and Public Policy from the University of Delaware, a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Administration.

Cordell Carter, Esq., Festival of the Diaspora

Cordell brings more than 20 years to his pursuit of a society and organizational cultures where everyone belongs and has equitable opportunities to thrive. After 7.5 years as Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Socrates Program, a global education forum, he is the founding director of the Aspen Institute’s Project on Belonging. Additionally, Cordell founded theFestival of the Diaspora, a Medellin, Colombia based convener of diasporic communities across the Americas. Before his current roles, Cordell held leadership roles with the TechTown Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle Public Schools, Business Roundtable, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and the IBM Corporation.

For the Aspen Institute, he curates more than three dozen off the-record leadership seminars annually in capital cities around the world reaching more than 1,000 leaders each year. He is also leading the Aspen Institute’s efforts to shift the national conversation on racial equity and inclusion from compliance to belonging via an annual LATAM-based summit called the “Festival of the Diaspora.” As the creator and lead facilitator of “Becoming an Inclusive Republic and producer of the documentary “The Road Trip to Belonging”, he is a sought-after facilitator and speaker on belonging and inclusion, post-secondary success, and democratic ideals. Over the last few years, he has delivered dozens of keynote speeches, facilitated roundtables and moderated panels all over the globe.

 

Cordell is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from belonging and its connection to our civic faith. A few of his most popular topics include: “Becoming an Inclusive Republic”, “The Five Forces Impacting Liberal Democracy” and the “Four Foundings.” Over the last decade, he has spoken in 15 different countries and 20 US states. His leadership has been recognized all over the USA. In June 2021, President Joseph R. Biden appointed him as Commissioner, to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. His other honors include: a designation as a 2023 Minority Executives Making Moves by the Minority Business Review,  2021 Distinguished Alumni Leadership Awardee by Cultural Vistas, an Eisenhower Fellowship to China; designation as a “40 under 40” by  business and civic organizations in Washington State and Tennessee; University of Notre  Dame Law School alumni of the year awardee; selections as a Robert Bosch Foundation  Fellow for Young American Leaders and a Broad Foundation Resident in Urban Education and being feted by the Obama Administration as a 2016 Champion of Change for Computer Science Education. 

 

Finally, he advises a leading upskiller, SkillStorm , on creating technology training academies in underserved communities across America via the Upskill Together Initiative. Cordell also serves as a Board Director for Concordia, Orbit Capital, Oasis Fresh Markets, Redemption Holdings and the International Advisory Committee of Danubius University (Galatz, Romania). Finally, he is a limited partner with the Fvlcrum Fund and Mendoza Ventures.

 

Cordell earned a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, a M.Sc. in Public Policy and Management Studies from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington.

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Published

2024-06-26

How to Cite

Velasquez, M., & Carter, C. (2024). The Importance of Convening Leaders Across the Americas Annually: Fostering Unity, Celebrating Shared History, and Empowering Underestimated Communities. Social Innovations Journal, 25. Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/8202

Issue

Vol. 25 (2024): Digital Empowerment: Transforming Community Growth, Health, Economic Development, and Conservation through Innovative Technologies

Section

Digital Empowerment and Civic Engagement

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Maria Velasquez, Cordell Carter, Esq. (Author)

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