“Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development”

Panel  Discussion: “Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development”

Friday, March 4, 2014

3 – 4:30 PM

Conference Room 7 (North Lawn Building)

Monica Martinez, Suffolk County Legislator, District 9

•         How are youth, economic development, seniors, and building better partnerships with    

        NGOs included and executed in your legislative agenda?

•         What have been some of your proven successes? 

•         What are the shortcomings or limitations at the county level?

•         What are ways in which the global community can become more involved or proactive    

         about addressing these shortcomings?

Philip Ramos, NY State Assembly, District 6

    •       Speak about the Dream Act and why creating education opportunities for youth with immigrant backgrounds is important in your communities.

    •       What is your role at the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Legislative Caucus? What are the functions of this caucus and how does it work in addition to your legislative work?

    •       What is the purpose of the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force? Why is it important to have these complementary focus groups?

    •       What are shortcomings and how can the international community help address them?

Luis Montes, Suffolk County Assistant Executive

•      Explain the extent of your work as Assistant Suffolk County Executive. What issues are you most focused on?

·         How has your experience as a Salvadoran immigrant impacted your understanding of the needs within your community?

·         What is the role of Pan American Communication, LLC. in connecting minorities in the U.S.  and bridging the gaps in the diaspora?

·         What are the shortcomings or limitations of the work you do? How can the international community help address this?

Blanca Molina, Centro Comunitario CEUS

• Explain the complexity of Hispanic/ Latin-American groups within the community?
• How is immigration linked to issues of health, education, and youth employment?
• What is being done currently as far as immigration reform and how are deportations being addressed?
• What are some resources or services that exist to help people from these respective communities?
• How can the international community take part in addressing the issues that you deal with?

 Charles Fisher, Founder, Hip Hip Summit Youth Council

• Explain the connection between hip hop and development. How can hip hop culture be used as a tool for social progress?
• What are some of the services or projects you are currently working on to address issues of gang and gun violence? What is your strategy?
• What are some limitations in the work that you do and how do you think the international community can help address these issues?
• What are your plans for the future? Talk about the Global Committee on Human Security and Youth Empowerment through Hip Hop

Dawn Digirius, Stevens Institute of Technology

•         What role does academia play in garnering global partnerships? What is being done at the academic level to address sustainable development?

•         Why is it important to assess the conclusion of the MDGs as we move towards the post 2015 development agenda, which further considers the urgency for SDGs?

•         What do you think are the limitations in academia or research in regards to sustainable development? Are there gaps in information or awareness that need to be addressed?

•         Is a centralized mechanism or framework for global partnerships feasible? If so, how can this be structured or organized?

Objectives:

The purpose of this event is to highlight how global partnerships can be created, even at the local or state level, and why they are important to be considered for the Post 2015 agenda. This panel will discuss resources and solutions to addressing the issues of the immigrant population and those of global development.

The panel discussions are intended to provide a platform for civil society, NGOs, businesses, foundations, local government, member states, and international organizations to address how strengthened global partnerships for sustainable development can contribute to the implementation of the post 2015 development agenda. It is intended to promote the scaling- up of the impact of all forms of cooperation and strategies in the post 2015 development agenda, and promote the urgent implementation of existing commitments under the global partnership for development framework while also addressing the emerging role of innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Implementing a unified and universal post 2015 development agenda that is broader in scope will require additional capacity and mobilization of resources. Key players are pivotal in bringing to the table innovative methods and strengthened tools for leveraging funding, creating decent employment, technology, innovation, and research.