Featured Topics
September 12, 2016
Experts on the Election, Eid al-Adha, Syria, Standing Rock Protest, and the UN General Assembly
This week WMC SheSource features experts on the 2016 Presidential Election, Eid al-Adha, the violence in Syria amidst the Russian and U.S. ceasefire, the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the upcoming UN General Assembly.
Expert Spotlight
Liz Kennedy
Voting Rights Manger
Facebook
For interviews on the 2016 Presidential campaign heating up.
With the 2016 Presidential campaign heating up for both candidates, we SPOTLIGHTLiz Kennedy. Liz Kennedy is the Director of Democracy and Government Reform at American Progress. Previously, she served as counsel and campaign strategist at Demos, working on voting rights, money in politics, and corporate accountability. She worked to expand political participation by eliminating barriers to voting and empowering voters; to increase transparency and accountability for money in politics to fight corruption of democratic government; and to fulfill America’s promise of political equality. Prior to joining Demos, Kennedy was an attorney in the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, working on issues of money in politics and democratic accountability. Kennedy was deputy director of voter protection for President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign in Ohio. Media includes: MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, Melissa Harris-Perry, & Up with Steve Kornacki, Al Jazeera, CBS drivetime news radio, RNN.
WMC SheSource
Featured Expert
Daisy Khan
Executive Director
American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA)
For interviews on Eid al-Adha.
With Eid al-Adha throughout the week, we FEATURE Daisy Khan. Khan is Founder and Executive Director of the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE), a women-led organization committed to peacebuilding, equality and justice for Muslims around the globe. Khan has dedicated her life to promoting an expression of Islam based on cultural and religious harmony. A frequent speaker, she lectures across the country at conferences, universities, and religious institutions. She is the recipient of numerous awards, most notably the Edinburgh Peace Award, the Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action Award, and Women's E-News "Seven Who Topple Tyrannies." Khan is currently spearheading a 200-page community-led guide, aimed at mobilizing Muslims to take a stand against violent extremism and develop narratives of peace. Media includes: New York Times, ABC's "This Week" and New York Daily News.
Featured Expert
Marla Keenan
Principal Advisor, Civilian Harm Mitigation & Response (CHMR)
CNA Corporation
For interviews on Syria.
A ceasefire in Syria, negotiated to allow humanitarian aid into the worst hit areas – including Aleppo, has begun. To discuss what that means for the civilian population in Syria, we FEATURE Marla Keenan. Marla is managing director at Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) and is a subject matter expert in civil-military relations and civilian protection. Marla helps shape the Center’s programs in conflict zones and oversees operational aspects of the organization. Since joining the organization in October 2005, she has managed programs and research in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Lebanon, Mali, Israel, Jordan, Nepal, Georgia and the Central African Republic. Prior to joining the Center, Marla was an Edward Rawson Fellow at Citizens for Global Solutions, working in US global engagement. Media includes: Rolling Stone, Radio Lab, Thompson Reuters, Buzzfeed, The Christian Science Monitor.
Featured Expert
Lael Echo-Hawk
Principal
MThirtySix
For interviews on the Standing Rock protest against Dakota Access Pipeline.
To campaign against the Dakota Access Pipeline being built through sacred sites and the dangers of polluted water, the Stand Rock Sioux Tribe have set up protest camps in the area and we FEATURE Lael Echo Hawk. Lael Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) represents tribes and tribal organizations across the United States. After serving as in-house counsel for a tribe and its economic enterprises, Lael moved to Washington, D.C. to take a position as Legislative Director for the Native American Contractors Association and Counselor to the Chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Lael provides advice on tribal internal governance issues and economic development activities and strategic policy analysis on national tribal legislative and regulatory proposals. Lael is a Past-President of both the National Native American Bar Association and the Northwest Indian Bar Association. Media includes: Boston Herald, Indian Country, Discoverlaw.org.
Featured Expert
Shazia Z. Rafi
Managing Director
Global Parliamentary Services, LLC
For interviews on the UN General Assembly.
With the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this week and the possible election of the first female Secretary General, we FEATURE Shazia Z. Rafi. Ms. Rafi was, from 1996-2013, secretary-general of Parliamentarians for Global Action, an association of more than 1,350 individual legislators from 131 national parliaments. PGA programs promote peace, democracy, justice and sustainable development around the world. As a direct implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action, PGA became the first parliamentary organization to appoint a woman as secretary-general and to amend its constitution with a 60:40 gender rule for executive committee elections. In 2013, Ms. Rafi was runner-up finalist for Secretary-General, Inter-Parliamentary Union and the first woman on the ballot in 125 years of the IPU. Media includes: Geo tv, South-South tv, WMC print and radio, Rachel Maddow, national print and tv media in countries around the world.
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