Leveraging a Moment of Crisis into Change:
Perspectives on Black Lives Matter
August 19, 2020
More than 60 participants enjoyed a stimulating discussion with three exceptional women. In their feedback, participants described the panel as a timely, interesting, informed , and nuanced discussion, with excellent panelists who provided diverse perspectives from their personal experiences.
PHOTOS OF THE EVENT
Panelists
Pnina Agenyahu
Director of Interfaces and Synergy at the Jewish Agency for Israel, and a prominent social activist among the Israeli Ethiopian community. Pnina made Aliyah to Israel with her family 36 years ago, when she was just three years old. When her family lived in Ethiopia as a persecuted minority, they dreamed to come to the Holy Land and live their lives freely as Jews. Click here to watch Pnina share her story, and read an article she wrote last summer about the struggles faced by Israeli Ethiopians, which resembles the struggles of the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Princess Sarah Culberson
Co-Founder of Sierra Leone Rising, Author, Public Speaker, Humanitarian, Philanthropist, Actress. Born in West Virginia to an African father and white American mother, Princess Sarah was adopted and grew up not knowing anything about her birth parents. Many years later, she found and reconnected with her biological father, only to find out that she is accorded the status of princess by the people of Sierra Leone. Watch her tell her incredible story in this short video clip, and in an interview to CNN.
Alexious Butler
Development Diplomat in Residence, USAID. Development Diplomat in Residence, USAID. Alexious joined USAID in 2006, as a Democracy and Governance Officer, focussing on electoral development. She has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Bangladesh, South Sudan and Haiti. Amongst her several responsibilities, she dedicated much time and effort to promoting women's rights and wellbeing in third world countries. Listen to a podcast of a panel discussion Alexious participated in while she studied at the US Army War College.