"HOOP OF LIFE: LAKOTA STORIES OF THE NOBILITY OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT" KEVIN LOCKE CD WORLD PREMIERE

Kevin Locke, famed throughout the world for his lyrical storytelling prose will release the world premiere of his latest storytelling CD entitled, "Hoop of Life: Lakota Stories of the Nobility of the Human Spirit" in Rochester, New York at the Baobab Cultural Center on April 20, 2008. Kevin Locke's nomenclature in Lakota language is Tokaheya Inajin, "The First to Arise" a renowned, award-winning Native American Lakota performance artist and musician. Locke is also noted globally as a visionary Hoop Dancer, for his mastery of the indigenous Northern Plains flute, as a globe trekking cultural ambassador, recording artist and global educator for sustainability. China Millennium Council is proud to host Kevin Locke for the world premiere release of his storytelling CD in partnership with Moka Lantum, MD PhD, founder of the Baobab Cultural Center, a native from Cameroon. As Greater Rochester's premiere African cultural center, the Baobab Cultural Center offers visitors a myriad of intellectually stimulating multicultural programs.  "Hoop of Life: Lakota Stories of the Nobility of the Human Spirit" CD is an innovative rendition by Kevin Locke depicting ancient Native American folklore and tales including a personal narrative passed down traditionally by Lakota family elders. Kevin Locke emulates the nexus of all the earth's peoples, each a vital component of the one 'human tribe'. Global unity, acceptance of cultural diversity, and peace are among the noblest virtues. The inspirational music of his flute playing, Lakota songs, and spoken narratives in the Lakota language vividly resonate the vibrancy of the human landscape. Kevin Locke's vast repertoire of recordings and performances are produced by The Ixtlan Artists Group.

The Ixtlan Artists Group comprises an eclectic ensemble of traditional and contemporary artists from Europe and the Americas, including The Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble. IXTLAN is derived from the Americas linguistically and is an ancient Toltec word, versed by the Nahuatl-speaking tribe who inhabited central Mexico from the 10th to the 12th century AD. Similarly, Ixtlan is a mythical artistic enclave one journeys to experience the arts via music and dance. The Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble recently performed at the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian, engaging children and young adults in school education programs entitled, The Drum is the Thunder, the Flute is the Wind, sponsored by the World Music Institute (WMI), a unique presentation of Lakota flute and drum music. Locke symbolizes the pivotal force in the now powerful revival of the indigenous flute tradition made almost extinct twenty years ago. Locke is a National Heritage Fellow award recipient endowed by the National Endowment for the Arts for recognition as a "Master Traditional Artist who has contributed to the shaping of our artistic traditions and to preserving the cultural diversity of the United States." "Through my music and dance, I want to create a positive awareness of the Oneness of Humanity".

MANON PARRY, GLOBAL HEALTH TO BRIDGE FOR PEACE AND SUSTAINABILITY

"Health is a reflection of a society's commitment to equity and justice", People's Health Movement, 2000. Against the Odds: Making a Difference in Global Health, a new exhibition at the National Library of Medicine, looks at the revolution in global health that is taking place in towns and cities around the world. Communities, in collaboration with scientists, advocates, governments, and international organizations, are taking up the challenge to prevent disease and improve quality of life. Recognizing the many factors that cause illness, people are working on a wide range of issues—from community health to conflict, disease to discrimination. This exhibition will introduce you to some of individuals who have made a difference—working together, against the odds, for the benefit of all.

Manon Parry is the curator in the History of Medicine division in the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health and the principal architect of the Library's newest exhibit, "Against the Odds: Making a Difference in Global Health," opening April 17, 2008. Parry discoursed on the topic of redefining global health in its assessment, identification and appraisal of the emerging health concerns as modern technology advances and the implications manifested in terms of bridging peace efforts for sustainable development. Parry elaborated upon the role of global health in transforming the face of medicine as portrayed by global health narratives in the exhibition. She remarks, "Improvements cannot be made without inclusion and participation of communities at risk". Moreover, " To broaden perspectives of the causes of illness due to poverty, hunger and environmental factors".

Similarly, the Clinton Global Initiative health imperative focuses on seeking effective partnerships and innovative ideas, with emphasis on reducing the scale of a catastrophe that is preventable. Global Health focus examines high impact opportunities for governments, international organizations, the private sector and civil society to collaborate on critical global health issues including nutrition, developing new vaccines and expanding the use of existing vaccines, and strengthening health systems, including low-cost IT solutions." In the last fifty years, many low and middle-income countries have made significant progress in increasing life expectancy. However, the gap between health outcomes in rich and poor countries has actually widened during the last decade. In 2004, a girl born in Japan had a life expectancy of 86, compared to 34 for a girl born in Zimbabwe".

"Improvements in health can help to reduce poverty and increase economic growth. Today, nutrition is the largest single preventable risk factor driving the current and future burden of disease in developed and developing nations. Immunization programs can save millions of lives at relatively little cost". The Google and Microsoft initiatives would give much more control to individuals, a trend many health experts see as inevitable. "Patients will ultimately be the stewards of their own information," said John D. Halamka, a doctor and the chief information officer of the Harvard Medical School. Microsoft and Google are hoping this will lead people to seek more control over their own health records, using tools the companies will provide. According to the NYTimes & AP, "Kenya cut child deaths from malaria by more than 40 percent over five years by handing out insecticide-treated mosquito nets, U.N. and Kenyan officials reported. Experts hope to replicate the success throughout Africa". Against the Odds: Making a Difference in Global Health exhibit opens April 17, 2008. Admission is free and open to the public. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/againsttheodds/introduction.html

KEVIN LOCKE, WORLD-RENOWNED LAKOTA STORYTELLER CELEBRATES WORLD EARTH DAY  

Internationally renowned Lakota Native performance artist Kevin Locke will display his mastery as a storyteller in Rochester during the week of April 20. Locke will perform his cultural artistry and global sustainability focus at the Baobab Cultural Center. China Millennium Council is proud  to sponsor Kevin Locke in partnership with Moka Lantum, MD PhD, founder of the Baobab Cultural Center and a native from Cameroon. As Greater Rochester’s premiere African cultural center, the Baobab offers visitors a myriad of intellectually stimulating multicultural programs. http://www.thebaobab.org/event.php?id=79

Kevin Locke’s nomenclature in Lakota language is Tokaheya Inajin, "The First to Arise" a renowned, award-winning Native American Lakota performance artist. He is highly acclaimed throughout the world as a visionary Hoop Dancer, for his mastery of the indigenous Northern Plains flute, a charismatic storyteller, cultural ambassador, recording artist and global educator. Education for sustainable development is a critical mandate in Kevin Locke’s teaching. www.kevinlocke.com

Locke symbolizes the pivotal force in the now powerful revival of the indigenous flute tradition made almost extinct twenty years ago. Locke is a National Heritage Fellow winner endowed by the National Endowment for the Arts for recognition as a "Master Traditional Artist who has contributed to the shaping of our artistic traditions and to preserving the cultural diversity of the United States."

Locke’s ancestry stems from Hunkpapa Band of Lakota Sioux and Anishinabe heritage. Locke learned many of the traditions passed to him from his uncle Abraham End-of-Horn, mentor Joe Rock Boy and from his mother, Patricia Locke. Mrs. Locke played a leading role in the founding of 17 tribally run colleges in the United States and was a MacArthur Fellow and National Women’s Hall of Fame inductee.            http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=217.

Touring for two decades, Kevin Locke has performed and lectured in over 80 countries, sharing his high spirit of harmony, joy and cultural diversity. He serves as a cultural ambassador for the United States Information Service and is deeply committed to the conservation of the Earth's resources for future generations. Moreover, Locke was a delegate to the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil and a featured performer and speaker at the United Nations Habitat II Conference in Turkey. "All of the people have the same impulses, spirit and goals," reflects Kevin. "Through my music and dance, I want to create a positive awareness of the Oneness of humanity”. Locke’s vast repertoire includes CDs of music and stories, “The First Flute, Open Circle, Keepers of the Dream, and Dream Catcher “. His newest release storytelling CD is entitled, “ Hoop of Life: Lakota Stories on the Nobility of the Human Spirit ”.

As a folk artist he is often characterized as being driven from a tribal-specific background only. However, Locke draws from deep wellsprings of knowledge, distilled and refined over many generations, yielding a profound sense of the universality of the human spirit. His special joy is working with children to ensure the awareness, survival and growth of indigenous cultures. Kevin Locke’s desire is "to raise awareness of the Oneness we share as human beings." His belief in the Unity of civilization is expressed dramatically in the traditional Hoop Dance which illustrates "the roles and responsibilities that all human beings have within the hoops/circles of life." Kevin Locke echoes the mission of the Earth Charter Initiative, "To establish a sound ethical foundation for the emerging global society and to help build a sustainable world based on respect for nature, diversity, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace” as he celebrates World Earth Day in Rochester, New York.

GOOGLE EXECUTIVES VISIT KENYA CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

“The Google executives hope to select for show-casing samples of solutions that Kenyan students developed,” said Dr. Kevit Desai, Director of Engineering at Centurion Systems, an engineering training college, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Google’s Vice President for Engineering in Eastern Africa, Nelson Mattos, and Google International Operations Director Kannan Pashupathy, evaluated proto-type projects designed by Kenyan engineering students for a wide variety of applications. One unique project included a Wireless Map Service (WMS) developed by engineering student Jessica Francisca Colaco, from Strathmore Research and Consultancy Centre located in Kenya. The wireless application provides mobile phone owners seamless access to a continuously updated GPS satellite mapping system. It enables users to navigate Nairobi city as well as locating other points of geographical interest.  

Google established its regional office in Kenya and the development of its Maps application is considered one of the key strategic pillars. The application provides up-to-date geographical information to users globally. Mr Joseph Mucheru, Google’s Office Leader, remarked the company was keen to make its Maps product relevant to local users.  A survey conducted by the Institute of Electrical  and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)  has identified lack of opportunities to attract the interest of local firms as one of the major challenges to software development in the region. The survey indicated that more than 90 per cent of the students with applications do not know how to access industry for product testing or how to source funding for their projects. Dr. Kevit Desai is Chairman of IEEE Kenya and ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Governer.

“Google is anxious to find ways to extend their systems and develop more relevant content for the continent,” said Dr. Desai. Recently IBM and the Global Innovation Outlook initiative focused on  African countries and announced the development of funding a mentorship program that would link over 250 of the company’s top scientists and researchers with university students throughout the country, in a  project dubbed Makocha Minds.

The program will provide hundreds of computer science, engineering and mathematics students at the University of Nairobi, Strathmore and USIS the opportunity to advance their skills through first-hand access to the company’s IBM Fellows, Distinguished Engineers and Academy of Technology members.   

                                                        China Millennium Council 2006

                                                        China Millennium Council 2005

                                                         China Millennium Council 2004