• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Global Kids to Honor Leading Human Rights Advocates Ernest Green and Judge John Gibbons at Annual Benefit

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 November 2007, 09:00 CST

Two of America's foremost civil rights advocates will be the special honorees at the 2007 Global Kids Annual Benefit.

Ernest G. Green, an original member of the "Little Rock Nine" and now Managing Director of Public Finance for Lehman Brothers, and John J. Gibbons, former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, and currently Director of the Business & Commercial Litigation Department of the law firm, Gibbons P.C., will be honored for their contributions to education, civil rights, and international affairs. (Brief bios for each honoree can be found at the end of this release.)

"Ernest Green and Judge Gibbons both embody the values of Global Kids and the vision we have for the young people who participate in our programs," said Carole Artigiani, founder and executive director of Global Kids. "Our two honorees, who have dedicated their lives to advancing democracy and social justice, are great examples for the hundreds of young people participating in Global Kids. They understand that human rights and democracy cannot be sustained without the full participation of people of all backgrounds and points of view."

The 2007 Global Kids Annual Benefit will be held on November 29, 2007 at One Time Warner Center from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A brief presentation at 7:15 will include remarks by both honorees, Ms. Artigiani, Ken Miller, chairman of Global Kids' Board of Directors, and youth participants in Global Kids' leadership programs.

"It is a special honor to have Global Kids recognize me at its annual benefit," said Mr. Green. "Since attending Little Rock Central High School, it has been my belief that America benefits by understanding this shrinking world we live in. Global Kids is dedicated to understanding and appreciating the differences among people of this world. Our differences become our strengths. This organization has an important role to play and I am proud to be a part of it."

Judge Gibbons remarked that "Global Kids is a premier leadership development organization for urban youth, focusing not only on academic success, but on the importance of being an engaged citizen, both within one's community and, more broadly, as part of a global network promoting the understanding of human rights issues. Through the organization's enormously diverse curriculum and unique approach, Global Kids reaches young adults using a variety of mediums, including both traditional school-based outreach and cutting edge on-line programs. It deserves our continuing encouragement and support."

Leslie H. Gelb, President Emeritus and Board Senior Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, will serve as the Benefit's honorary co-chair. The Benefit is being co-chaired by Richard Edelman and Rosalind Walrath, Stanley and Suzanne Arkin, and Ken Miller and Lybess Sweezy.

Over the past year, Global Kids has expanded significantly as an organization to reach more youth and educators. Global Kids recently moved to new office space nearly four times the size its previous headquarters to meet the growing demand for programs that address the urgent need for young people to acquire the global perspective and leadership and academic skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century.

In 2007, Global Kids reached more than 17,000 youth--the vast majority of whom come from underserved communities--through leadership programs at 20 New York City public high schools. The organization is also the co-founder and community partner for a leading public high school in Brooklyn. Now in its fourth year, the High School for Global Citizenship offers a rigorous international affairs-based curriculum, and it was recently cited by the NYC Department of Education as a model for students seeking an alternative to large high schools.

Global Kids is also working to extend its innovative programming to more young people through the Online Leadership Program, which brings the Global Kids curriculum to over one million youth through youth-led online projects. In addition, Global Kids has partnered with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development to produce Teen Action, a service-learning curriculum that will bring the organization's methodology and content to over 40 sites citywide during the 2007-2008 school year.

To enrich and extend its programming, Global Kids has collaborative relationships with the Council on Foreign Relations, the New York City Department of Education, the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, The After School Corporation, UNICEF, United Way of New York City, National Youth Leadership Council, New Visions for Public Schools, Youth Venture and Ping Chong Theatre Company among others.

Because the event is generously sponsored by Time Warner, 100% of the proceeds from the Annual Benefit will directly support the work of Global Kids. Individual tickets cost $250 and can be purchased on the Global Kids website (www.globalkids.org). Anyone interested in attending, making a donation or receiving further information about Global Kids should contact Megan Ryan at (212) 226-1030 x 128 or email mryan@globalkids.org.

About Global Kids, Inc.

Founded in 1989, Global Kids' mission is to educate and inspire urban youth to become successful students and global and community leaders by engaging them in socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences. Through its leadership development and academic enrichment programs, Global Kids educates youth about critical international and domestic issues and promotes their engagement in civic life and the democratic process. Through professional development initiatives, Global Kids provides educators with strategies for integrating experiential learning methods and international issues into urban classrooms and after school programs. For more information, visit www.globalkids.org.

About Global Kids' 2007 Honorees

Ernest G. Green

Managing Director, Lehman Brothers

Ernest Green came to national prominence at a young age as a member of the "Little Rock Nine," the first group of African American Students to enter Little Rock High School in 1957. They overcame fierce opposition, including the Arkansas National Guard, which was ordered by the Governor to prevent them from entering the school.

A native of Little Rock, Mr. Green became the first black graduate of Central High School. On November 9, 1999, President Clinton presented Mr. Green and eight other students with the highest honor this nation gives to a civilian, the "Congressional Gold Metal," for his outstanding bravery during the integration of Little Rock HS.

Mr. Green has served as senior banker at Lehman Brothers for such key clients as the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Authority, the City of Oakland, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Prior to joining Lehman Brothers, Ernest was President of Ernest Green & Associates, Inc., a minority-owned consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. He also served as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training in the U.S. Department of Labor.

Black Enterprise magazine has named Mr. Green one of the most powerful African Americans on Wall Street many times. Mr. Green also serves on several boards, one of which is the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP). Mr. Green earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees from Michigan State University.

The Honorable John J. Gibbons

Director, Gibbons Business & Commercial Litigation

John J. Gibbons is the former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, where he served for 20 years and published more than 800 opinions. He is Director of the Business & Commercial Litigation Department at Gibbons P.C. and the founder of the law firm's John J. Gibbons Fellowship in Public Interest and Constitutional Law.

In his work with the Gibbons Fellowship, Mr. Gibbons argued before the United States Supreme Court defending the rights of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Rasul v. Bush.

In addition, Mr. Gibbons has taught law at Seton Hall University Law School, and he is the past president of the New Jersey State Bar Association, a Life Member of the American Law Institute, and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. For his accomplishments, Mr. Gibbons has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America by The National Law Journal and received a Lifetime Achiever Award from The American Lawyer. Mr. Gibbons earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.S. from the College of the Holy Cross.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category