LIZ MURRAY "HOMELESS TO HARVARD" HONORED AT YWCA EMPOWERING WOMEN 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

The YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County celebrated 125 years of service to the community by honoring 27 year old keynote speaker Liz Murray for their second annual 2008 Empowering Women Luncheon. Determined to overcome obstacles preset in a cycle of impoverishment, mental illness and hopelessness, Liz Murray triumphs her stunning personal victory in a vivid recollection of narratives, detailing her childhood to adult journey of homelessness, adversity and desperation.

Born to cocaine-addicted parents and often with lack of food, dictated the circumstances and characteristics of Liz Murray’s early childhood and daily upbringing. By age 15, Murray’s mother died of AIDS and she became homeless. She adapted by living on the streets, riding the NYC subway, and scavenged from dumpsters. Yet among her despair, she persevered, “I started to grasp the value of the lessons learned while living on the streets. I knew, after overcoming those daily obstacles, that next to nothing could hold me down.” Murray desperately sought education as the key to a new beginning and a hopeful future. She compacted and earned her high school diploma within two short years, and garnered a prestigious scholarship from the New York Times and admitted to Harvard University. Her inspirational story was captured on Lifetime Television’s Emmy-nominated original film, From Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story. Murray was also the first recipient of Oprah Winfrey’s Chutzpah Award. Her memoir and inspirational story, Breaking Night, challenges the readers to embrace each opportunity encountered and make a lasting contribution to another person’s life.

With grace, eloquence and maturity transcending her 27 years, Liz Murray’s commitment to individual achievement and survival redefine the boundaries of humanity and social progression. Her inner strength and poise abounds, reaching student assemblages to business audiences in need of inspiration to overcome their own obstacles. Audiences are transfixed — and uplifted — by the tale of her own transformation.

The YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County brings together women of diverse backgrounds, ages, and experiences to build a community and dedicated to "eliminating racism and empowering women." Since 1883, the YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County has provided programs and services to assist women in reaching their full potential. Through its services and partnerships, the YWCA inspires women to overcome the most difficult periods of their lives.

Historically, the YWCA has played a critical role via the dramatic transformation of the Progressive Era in the U.S. Women of the YWCA realized that effective leadership translated into activism in the arena of advocacy and public policy work. YWCA women recognized that lobbying for minimum wage laws and federally funded housing would exceed their efforts in merely providing boarding houses and meals. Among its initiatives and legislative successes were the Fair Labor Standards Act, child labor laws, protective legislation for women workers, the Social Security Act, as well as immigration labor standards which influenced legislation through the International Labor Organization (ILO).

RAY WU, RENOWNED  HUMANITARIAN AND PIONEER OF GENETIC ENGINEERING  MEMORIAL TRIBUTE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Dr. Ray J. Wu, Cornell University professor of molecular biology and genetics, widely deemed as one of the fathers of genetic engineering, was honored in memorial tribute at Cornell University for his stunning scientific accolades and humanitarian efforts. Wu developed the first method for sequencing DNA and elements of the fundamental tools for DNA cloning. Implementation of the sequencing protocol led to the DNA sequence determination pathway of the human genomes and rice grains cultivation - aiding scientists globally in understanding and differentiating genetic traits and advancing efforts for global sustainability by alleviating hunger and poverty.

In the 1980s, Dr. Wu and other scientists at Cornell began to look at ways to make rice more resistant to insects, drought, salt water and extremes in temperature. Using genes isolated from bacteria and other sources, the researchers induced rice cells to produce certain proteins that improve the plants’ strength and resistance. For example, a gene isolated from potatoes, proteinase inhibitor II, was successfully introduced to produce a protein disruptive to the pink stem borer, an insect that can damage rice plants.

The modified plants, called transgenic rice, have since been grown in greenhouses at Cornell, in preparation for field testing in the United States and in developing countries where rice is a staple cereal crop. A collaborator of Dr. Wu’s, Ajay K. Garg, a senior research associate in molecular biology and genetics at Cornell, said the transgenic rice would eventually be crossed with rice strains native to each region, in the hope of creating healthier and higher-yielding plants. Dr. Wu applied similar genetic influences to corn, in order to produce kernels with a higher sugar content.

The work on genetically modified plants was based in part on Dr. Wu’s earlier studies of DNA sequencing in the 1970s. In 1976, Dr. Wu and others spliced genetic material into bacteria, demonstrating that it is possible to introduce an artificial genetic message into living cells. At the time, he predicted that the procedure would one day make it possible to transplant a great range of genetic material, using cellular components known as plasmids to carry the messages.

The study demonstrated stress tolerance by introducing the genes for trehalose (sugar) synthesis into Indica rice varieties, which represent 80 percent of rice grown worldwide and include the widely eaten basmati rice. Wu and his colleagues remarked the newer strategy could work for Japonica rice varieties and other crops, including corn, wheat, millet, soybeans and sugar cane.

Ray Jui Wu was born in Beijing and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, where his father Hsien Wu, was a biochemist. Hsien Wu collaborated in developing Folin-Wu  method of analyzing blood sugars. Ray Wu earned his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1955. educated in the United States, at the urging of his father. Consequently, Wu served as an international scientific adviser to China and Taiwan. Among his advisory roles, Wu was instrumental in establishing the Institute of Molecular Biology, the Institute of Bio-Agricultural Sciences of Academia Sinica in Taiwan, and the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing, including several honorary professorships at Chinese universities and research institutes. Dr. Wu shared his findings and laboratory techniques with many other scientists through teaching and writing, leaving a “legacy in development, the training of many leading rice researchers in China, India, Korea and throughout the developing world,” stated Susan R. McCouch, a professor of plant breeding and genetics at Cornell.

Through the generous contribution and support of $500,000 by Ray Wu, established a permanent endowment named the Ray Wu Graduate Fellowship in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Cornell University to support one graduate student each year in the field of molecular biology and genetics. Wu joined the Cornell faculty in 1966 and subsequently was named the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor Molecular Biology and Genetics. He served as department chair in Cornell's Dept. of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology. Prior to joining the Cornell faculty, he was a Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellow, working under Efraim Racker at the Public Health Research Institute of the City of New York, including positions at Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania. He was a National Science Foundation Senior Fellow at the Medical Research Council Laboratory in Cambridge, England, and a visiting associate professor in the Department of Biology and Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Wu's visionary legacy lives on in the CUSBEA China-US Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Examination and Application program he founded, resulting in over 100 faculty members in major universities and principal members in industry. These scientists and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, formed the Ray Wu Society to promote life sciences frontiers.

Dr. Wu is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Christina Chan; his two children, both Cornell University graduates, Dr. Albert Wu '80, M.D. '84, a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University and Alice Wu '82, M.S. '86 of Ithaca NY, and four grandchildren. Wu is also survived by his brother, Dr. Victor Wu of Charlotte, NC; a sister, Dr. Christine Wu of Long Beach, CA; and nephew Joseph Boyle of Oakland CA.

"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