Dr. Jianli Yang

Dr. Jianli Yang is a scholar and human rights leader. 

Dr. Yang was born in Shandong Province, China and graduated from college at the age of 19. A rising star in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the 1980’s, he quickly became disenchanted with the corruption and duplicity he experienced in the communist system. He left China to pursue a career in Mathematics at University of California in 1986 when he was 23 years old. In 1989, his fellow Chinese students at Berkeley elected him to go back to Beijing in support of their counterparts in China who were demonstrating for democracy in Tiananmen Square. He returned to Beijing, joined the movement and witnessed the massacre of thousands by the guns and tanks of the CCP army including tanks running over protesters. This event changed his future. He narrowly escaped capture and returned to the United States to study democracy and continue his activism. 

In 2002, after completing his Doctorate in Political Economy at Harvard (earlier he had gotten a PH.D. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley), Dr. Yang returned to China to help the labor movement with non-violent struggle strategies. He was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison, kept in solitary confinement for a good part of the imprisonment. Following an international outcry for his release, including a UN Resolution and a unanimous vote of both houses of the United States Congress, Dr. Yang was freed in April of 2007. Immediately following his return to the U.S., he formed Citizen Power Initiatives for China, a pro-democracy movement committed to a peaceful transition to democracy in China. He firmly believes that continued world democracies' leadership in holding China accountable for respecting the human and political rights of its citizens is a critical component for world stability and for the peaceful transition to a democratic society in China. 

Dr. Yang holds a deep conviction that the path to democracy in China lies through the awakening of a unified Citizen Power (公民力量 Gong Min Li Liang) among all the peoples under Chinese government rule. A few months after its formation, Initiatives for China/Citizen Power launched a demonstration of Citizen Power by sponsoring a 500-mile walk by Dr. Yang from Boston to Washington D.C. to highlight the human rights situation in China and to call for continued American leadership in the struggle for peaceful democratic reform. The GongMin Walk received worldwide acclamation from leaders around the world, including H.H. the Dalai Lama, President of Republic of China (Taiwan), Ma Ying-Jeou, and the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Dr.Yang concluded the GongMin Walk by joining Speaker Pelosi and spoke at a large commemorative rally on Capitol Hill on June 4, 2008, the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. 

Before the establishment of Citizen Power Initiatives for China, Dr.Yang founded and presided over the Foundation for China in the 21st Century (1989-2002). During that time, he co-authored a constitution for a democratic China which was endorsed by the Dalai Lama, and founded the online magazine Yibao (Civic Forum). Under the theme of understanding, trust, and cooperative actions, in 2000, he created the annual Interethnic/Interfaith Leadership Conferences. 

In March 2010, Dr. Yang co-chaired the Committee on Internet Freedom at the Geneva Human Rights and Democracy Summit. In December 2010 in Oslo at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize awarding ceremony, he represented that year’s laureate, the imprisoned Chinese democracy leader Liu Xiaobo, who would die in the CCP regime’s custody on July 13, 2017.  In March 2011, he spoke at UN Human Rights Council, directly questioning the representatives of China on the Human Rights issues. In December, he joined the Dalai Lama and four other delegates, to attend Forum Democracy and Human Rights in Asia, hosted by former Czech president Vaclav Havel. Over the years, Dr. Yang has helped design, launch, and lead many of China’s major citizen initiatives. Dr. Yang is a frequent contributor to and interviewee by the international media, a panelist at hearings held by the US Congress, the European Parliament, the UK Parliament and the Taiwan Legislative Yuan. He has also been a speaker at various international forums on topics ranging from human rights in China, China’s democratization, China’s politics, ethnic relations in the PRC, cross-strait relations, and on US - China policies as well as literary works. Dr. Yang is also a well-known poet and Chinese calligraphy artist.  

I have the privilege of knowing Jianli , a man of great integrity and passion for humanity, for decades now. We met when he was a scholar in residence at Harvard,. He spoke for a number of EPIIC and Insitute forums, especially TILIP.  (ppg.  8-11)

I worked for his release from captivity in China and we memorably worked together on a major forum on human rights and constitutional protection for minorities in China. Together we serve as advisors and mentors for the Human Rights Foundation.

Rachel Svetanoff, nominated by Sherman, receives Distinguished Alumna Award

Hakim El Karoui

A graduate of Ecole Normale Supérieure (France) with a degree in geography, Hakim El Karoui’s career spans the public and private sector. His roles have ranged from positions in the French government to investment banking, as well as in think tanks, strategy consulting, and societal engagements.  

Hakim’s initiatives are rooted in the interconnectedness of disciplines, interests and people. He is an advocate of social and cultural diversity, believing that what seemingly divides people and cultures can be transformed into opportunities for deeper collaboration.  

After teaching at University of Lyon II, Hakim served as an advisor to Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin from 2002 to 2005, and to Minister of Economy and Finance Thierry Breton from 2005 to 2006. He then joined Rothschild & Cie as Deputy Director and then Director in charge of Africa and the Middle East.

Hakim El Karoui has authored four books and numerous reports, including as an associate expert at Institut Montaigne. His writings cover topics such as Islam, France's Arab policy, the robotization of the economy, and the future of European construction.

He is also a columnist for L’Opinion, a French newspaper, and frequently discusses the current state of French affairs, social integration, Islam, immigration, and the stakes of the upcoming presidential elections in France.

In 2011, he joined Roland Berger as a Partner, advising the French government and expanding the firm's business in Africa. Later, he led Brunswick's Paris office, specializing in government and corporate communications. 

In 2016 Hakim founded Volentia, a strategy consulting firm at the crossroads of business, geopolitics and public affairs.

Committed to societal engagement, he has launched several initiatives, including the Club XXIe siècle, where he serves as the founding Chairman. The Club promotes cultural diversity and aims to counter the far-right’s politization of discourse, fostering solidarity and commitment amidst growing social, cultural, and territorial divides.

Currently, Hakim is launching the Action Committee for the Mediterranean to tackle challenges such as demographics, business opportunities, and climate. This initiative seeks to leverage the complementarities of both sides of the Mediterranean, enhancing their cooperation through the private and public sectors, at a time when the Mediterranean is increasingly seen as a border rather than an interface.

Another significant project is about devising a viable and mutually acceptable solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. His opinions on that issue are closely followed within French political circles.

Hakim was introduced to us by Convisero's Leo Stern, one of his team at Volentia. It immediately became apparent there were important convergences of interests, and a strong sense of his intelligence and decency.  Pleased he will educate me, our community, and my students. 

Andrew Zielinski

Andrew Zielinski received his bachelor’s from Tufts University earning his degree in English Language and Literature before pursuing a master’s in Public Administration (MPA), Management, and International Affairs Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. For nearly nine years, Andrew was a Managing Director at the Deutsche Bank in both London and Frankfurt. He is currently an independent consultant and is based out of Vienna, Austria.

I first met Andrew through a wonderful encounter that Remi created by simply being the canine she is and attracted a lovely woman on Longnook Beach in Truro, when I heard her voice over my shoulder, politely asking if she can pet my dog. It was Carola Hoyos, a remarkable person who subsequently introduced me to her husband Andrew. As it turns out, they are both Tufts alumni of great distinction. More importantly, now warm friends. Andrew and I spent a week of mornings on early walks on Cornhill Beach discussing everything from corruption and global banking to his experience coaching a baseball team in Vienna. He is uniquely cosmopolitan, intelligent, and possesses a wry sense of humor. He is also one of the most insightful, warm critics of what I am attempting to do in transforming Convisero from a highly valued personalized community into a more accessible and therefore more impactful initiative. There was a fun moment when Iris and I had dinner at their wonderful home in a landmark building in Truro, once a church converted into a school converted into a roller rink. We had a delicious meal on a unique dining room table. In one of the more bizarre examples of the serendipity I experience frequently, it turns out to have been fashioned by a wonderful young man I knew when he was a good friend of my son, Nathaniel. 

Carola Hoyos

Carola Hoyos  attended Tufts University and majored in Economics and International Relations. She was the Chief Energy Correspondent at the Financial Times in London until 2010 when she became a Defence Correspondent and later Editor, Executive Appointments and Editor, FT Non-Executive Directors Club until 2017. Carola is currently a speechwriter and adviser to the Director General at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is based out of Vienna, Austria.

Elle Ota

Elle Ota is a dedicated nonprofit professional with a passion for defending democracy, human rights, and access to humanitarian aid in conflict zones. Born and raised in Southern California, Ota earned an MA in Anthropology and a BA in Archaeology and Classics from Stanford University, where she studied the international management and politicization of cultural heritage. She gained valuable experience with organizations like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris and the International Rescue Committee in San Diego.

In 2020, Ota joined the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), a nonpartisan NGO focused on promoting democracy and human rights in closed societies. In her current role as a Program Officer, Ota directs HRF’s Oslo Scholars program and the College Freedom Forum, a series of events designed to connect university students with world-renowned human rights activists.

In 2022, Ota began volunteering on the ground in Ukraine, just months after Russia’s full-scale invasion. She now serves as Chief Strategy Officer and Board Member of Renegade Relief Runners (3xR), which delivers humanitarian aid to underserved communities in Ukraine, particularly villages located near the frontlines. Ota oversees the organization’s external strategy and development, advocates for Ukraine with US lawmakers, and contributes op-eds and blogs on the crisis.

It is a great privilege to post Elle into Convisero. I could not imagine a better person to shepherd and mature the Oslo Scholars which I created on behalf of Human Rights Foundation in 2010. She's a young woman that I knew possessed the integral qualities that resonate why I am privileged to be a strategic senior advisor for HRF: intelligence, integrity, and passion, for humanity and the eternal quest for justice and peace. We are working together closely to expand Oslo Scholars, most notably I will be working with Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela to bring it to Stellenbosch and linking the domestic chapters to the work that I am doing currently at Sai University and Krea University. It is not surprising to me but given her courage that she is involved with the Renegade Relief Foundation. We are also working closely to bring the College Freedom Forum back to Tufts University where I first created it. After 8 years, I will once again be programming together with Elle and Heather Barry, now the Special Adviser for Global Strategy and Student Initiatives at Tisch College where she is reviving the spirit and intellectual intensity of EPIIC in a year-long program on Democracy on the Brink. 

Jamil Simon

Jamil Simon is a visionary peace activist, award-winning documentary filmmaker and an expert
in communication strategy. He was a conscientious objector in the Vietnam War from age 18.
He is now the founder and director of Making Peace Visible, a nonprofit organization designed
to bring journalists and peacebuilders together to reimagine the way the news media reports
on peace and conflict. He was awarded the 2019 Luxembourg Peace Prize for his work
promoting public awareness of peace efforts.

Making Peace Visible (MPV) produces a podcast by the same name with 50+ episodes, it’s been
downloaded in 105 countries. It includes interviews with remarkable individuals operating at
the intersection of peacebuilding, media and journalism. Jamil has interviewed changemakers
from all over the world who share their insights on how peace and conflict appear in the media
and its impact on public perceptions. MPV publishes a journal NUANCE and is developing an
Educational Initiative to train journalists to improve conflict reporting.

MPV creates live and online events that bring its key audiences together. At the inaugural event
in NYC in April 2018, journalists and peacebuilders were challenged to examine new approaches
to covering peace and conflict. The next conference will be in Washington DC in October 2025.
The team plans to implement additional events in major global media centers like Bogota,
London, Nairobi, Mumbai, Tokyo and other cities to reach journalists around the world.

Jamil founded Spectrum Media, his media production and consulting firm in 1970 and has since
produced documentary films and media projects in the US, and in countries in Africa, Europe,
Asia and Latin America to promote social and environmental reform. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s,
Jamil made breakthrough documentary films on poverty in America, education, energy
conservation and appropriate technology. He worked with the Derek Bok Center at Harvard
University for 20 years making award winning films on college teaching.

His last documentary film, prior to launching Making Peace Visible was called Fragile Island of
Peace. It focused on Burundi, a close neighbor of Rwanda that suffered the same kind of violent
ethnic conflict. A remarkable peace process began in Burundi that integrated Hutus and Tutsis–
in the army, in politics and at the grass roots level. Sadly, shortly after Jamil and his crew filmed
there, the peace Burundians had achieved fell apart when the President decided to run for an
illegal third term. Tragically, the killing resumed, and Burundians fled the country, many
became refugees again, including the two Burundian cameramen Jamil worked with.

In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Jamil spent 35 years working as a consultant in
communication strategy for multilateral organizations like USAID and the World Bank. He
designed and implemented public awareness programs in developing countries to promote
reform of all kinds. He worked in 25 developing countries around the world. He designed
programs to promote sustainable agriculture in Malawi, conflict resolution skills in Jordan,
democracy in Mali, and water conservation in Tunisia. He worked for a year in Haiti following
the 2010 earthquake. His programs have been remarkably successful at the grass roots level.

Jamil is an accomplished still photographer who has been published in books and magazines
and exhibited in galleries. Jamil has given talks at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government,
The Fletcher School at Tufts University, Stanford University, and Brandeis. He gave a talk to the
World Peace Forum in Luxembourg in honor of his award.

Jamil graduated from Johns Hopkins University as an Art History major. He lives in Somerville
MA with his wife Yolanta and two dogs.

I met Jamil when we were both undergraduates at Johns Hopkins University, now over 60 years ago. He was hard to miss, as he created a flamboyant image on a motorcycle, with a beret rather than a helmet. At the time, I didn’t know that before entering Johns Hopkins he had traversed the United states on his motorcycle and traveled through Latin America, but I certainly appreciated then his unique verve and passion for the very issues he has sustained regarding the pursuit of a just and peaceful world. 

WP Article and Podcast episode: Vladimir Kara-Murza tells his story

From the Washington Post: Pulitzer Prize winner Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was part of August’s massive prisoner exchange with Russia, sat down to talk with Post Opinions editor David Shipley about his time in jail, the importance of freedom of speech and what the future holds for Putin’s regime.

Read more and listen to the episode here.

I have the privilege of calling Vlad a friend and colleague. We know each other through our work at the Wallenberg Foundation for Human Rights and Human Rights Foundation of which Yuila Navalnaya is now Chair, succeeding Garry Kasparov who succeed Vaclav Havel.

Steven Kest to serve CPD Action Leadership Team

The Trebuchet hosted a conversation with Steven Kest and Abby Keisa about the current state of the 2024 Presidential and Congressional elections. Several of The Trebuchet's Convisero community attended including including Barry Bluestone, Ehren Brav, Bonnie Kramer, and Michael Maso. I also wanted to acknowledge Dayna Cunningham, the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Dean of Tufts' Tisch College for introducing me to Abby for this dialogue. 

CPD Action, along with their sister organization Center for Popular Democracy, works to create equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with high-impact base-building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions. CPD Action works on campaigns that promote a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda and win victories to improve people’s lives. Steven Kest, a friend and colleague, serves on the Leadership Team and has recommended me to this organization of which I am in support of its efforts.

How India Can Fix Its Employment Crisis by Convisero mentor Bhaskar Chakravorti

How India Can Fix Its Employment Crisis: Bhaskar Chakravorti

Harvard Business Review

Despite a roaring economy, India is in the middle of an employment crisis: In a country with the world’s largest and youngest workforce, there are very few good jobs to be had. To maintain its economic momentum through consistently high GDP growth, India needs to produce more jobs and move a greater proportion of its workforce into higher productivity sectors. Failure to do so would result not only in depressed incomes and slowdown in consumer demand, it would also add to future political instability, social unrest, and a waste of the country’s much-vaunted “demographic dividend.”

Peace Activist Whose Ordeal Began in Gazan Prison Arrives in Canada

Last week, we were very pleased to welcome Syrian born Palestinian peace activist and former political prisoner Manar Al-Sharif to Canada.

Her ordeal, which began in solitary confinement in a Gazan prison, is over, and a new chapter can begin.

About Manar Al-Sharif

Al-Sharif is a Syrian-born journalist and peace activist who attended university in Gaza. While there, she became involved with the Gaza Youth Committee, a dynamic group of young Gazans working to create a better life for the people of Gaza, including through grassroots peacebuilding initiatives for Israelis and Gazans.

She and her colleagues regularly hosted small online video chats with Israelis under a bridge-building initiative they called “Skype with Your Enemy.” After a particularly well-attended online gathering in April 2020, Hamas arrested the youth committee’s leadership and charged them with “holding a normalisation activity” with Israelis. Most organisers were sentenced to six months in prison.

After spending three months behind bars, some of that time in solitary confinement, Al-Sharif was released but forced to stay in a “home for women” under 24-hour supervision. Labelled a “dangerous person” by Hamas, she was then deported from Gaza to Egypt in October, 2020. Her situation remained precarious and vulnerable.

Our Centre’s Role

Our team became involved in advancing Al-Sharif’s immigration case and facilitating her safe and smooth arrival to Canada, where she is now pursuing further studies.

“In a time marked by increasing polarization and tragedy, finding moments of inspiration can be challenging. Welcoming Manar to Canada and to freedom is one of those moments. I look forward to witnessing her light shine brightly in her new home.”

- Gila Cotler, RWCHR CEO

We are deeply grateful to community members who asked us to assist in bringing Manar to Canada. We express special thanks to Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, to Citizenship Canada, and the collaborators inside and outside this country who helped secure this life changing (and quite possibly life saving) opportunity for her.

“My overarching mission goes beyond merely amplifying the voices of the disenfranchised in light of diverse social and political challenges. It extends to actively resolving long standing conflicts, curbing the pervasive loss of life, and propelling the establishment of enduring freedom and stability across the region.

Upon my arrival in Canada to pursue my education at Concordia, I am one step closer to achieving my goal. The journey to get here was arduous, yet it was made possible by the support of numerous individuals.

I sincerely thank Irwin Cotler and his team for collaborating with my immigration lawyers. My heartfelt thanks extend to dozens of others who have been instrumental in my journey.”

- Manar Al-Sharif, peace activist

Manar’s goals align with our values and hopes for her region. We have no doubt that her important voice will be heard by many in the years ahead, and we wish her every success.

For more on Manar’s ordeal and activism, read this feature in Forbes or this New York Times story.

Convisero Mentor Rachel Svetanoff Leads UNA-USA Program

Through the UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador Network, members can leverage their passion for issues within an SDG and engage local and national communities around programming and other activities. During this yearlong program, the Ambassadors receive training from UNA-USA and United Nations Foundation staff to help support their engagement plans, blog posts, workshops, speaking with various audiences, and all other efforts around their SDG. Rachel Svetanoff takes on the leading role to coordinate, collaborate, and partner with mission-aligned organizations to promote and advocate for achieving the 2030 SDGs. Please refer to this link for more information!

HRF submits joint petition to the United Nations on behalf of Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi

Last week, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) in the case of Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi in conjunction with Doughty Street Chambers and Index on Censorship.

The groups requested the UNWGAD declare Salehi’s detention arbitrary under international law and urge Iran to immediately and unconditionally release him. Salehi has been tortured, has gone long periods without contacting his family or his lawyer, and has spent more than 300 days in solitary confinement.

Salehi has faced continuous judicial harassment for his songs advocating for democracy in Iran. The latest series of charges stemmed from a song supporting the protests following Mahsa Amini’s murder at the hands of the morality police in September 2022. Salehi was first arrested in October 2022 and faced eight charges, among them “corruption on earth,” which automatically carries a death sentence. In November 2023, the Supreme Court overturned these charges, only for him to be rearrested 12 days later after posting a video detailing the torture he endured in detention.

“Salehi is serving sentence after sentence with no end in sight. The Iranian regime knows the impact he has on the Iranian people and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in detention. The countless charges against Salehi show that they will go to extreme lengths to squash dissent,” HRF Legal and Program Officer Claudia Bennett said. “But enough is enough. Art is a human right, and supporting gender equality is not a crime.”

On April 23, 2024, Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death. And on June 22, the Supreme Court once again overturned his death sentence, which HRF welcomed. But just last week, two new cases were opened against Salehi with two new charges for another song, “Typhus,” which was released while he was detained. These new charges are “propaganda against the regime and incitement of the public to murder and violence” and “insulting sacred values, and spreading falsehoods.” These new baseless charges have been sent to different courts in an attempt to continue oppressing and silencing Salehi.

The groups state Salehi’s detention resulted from exercising his fundamental right to freedom of expression. His songs are his voice. The petition also details numerous other violations, such as the denial of a public hearing before an independent and impartial court, the vague and overly broad charges against him, the excess time in pre-trial detention, and the denial of communicating with his lawyer and family.

We urge the international community to keep highlighting Salehi’s case but also raise awareness for the numerous other prisoners of conscience in Iran who are detained for demanding human rights.

Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

HRF Submits Petition to United Nations on Egyptian Human Rights Activist Ahmed Amasha

This month, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted a petition to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) on behalf of Ahmed Amasha, an Egyptian veterinarian, environmentalist, and human rights activist. Amasha has been arbitrarily detained for more than three years without having been convicted of any crime. Amasha’s detention results from his work highlighting torture, detention conditions, and enforced disappearances in Egypt, as well as the lack of freedom of speech.

In 2020, Amasha was arrested at his home in Cairo without an arrest warrant and without being informed of the reason for his arrest. He was interrogated about his human rights work and blindfolded, stripped naked, electrocuted, beaten, handcuffed, and hung from his hands — torture that resulted in broken ribs. Following his arrest, he was forcibly disappeared for 26 days and held incommunicado for nearly three years, without medical care.

“Ahmed Amasha’s case is an emblematic example of Egypt’s use of arbitrary detention to target individuals for their activism. It mirrors the experiences of countless others who have faced similar treatment at the hands of Egyptian officials,” HRF Chief Advocacy Officer Roberto González said. “Egypt’s use of arbitrary detention as a tool to silence dissent and suppress opposition is an alarming example of the regime’s disregard for the rule of law and basic human rights. Urgent international intervention is needed to secure his release after enduring over three years of detention on trumped-up charges, including torture and inhumane prison conditions.”

Amasha is a member of the Coordination Committee of the Kefaya opposition movement, also known as the Egyptian Movement for Change, and is known for campaigning against the Agrium petrochemical factory in his hometown of Damietta. He also founded the League of the Families of the Disappeared, which raises awareness of enforced or involuntary disappearances and provides domestic and international legal assistance to victims’ relatives.

Amasha was charged with crimes of terrorism in August 2022 and sent to one of the most dreaded prisons in Egypt: Tora high-security prison, also known as Scorpion 2. Amasha was denied gallbladder surgery, an adequate amount of food, and sunlight for an extended period of time and has been held in a cell with 24-hour video surveillance.

Today, Amasha remains in prison, in deteriorating physical and psychological health, and without information regarding when the court will issue its decision. He has been denied any form of due process, including not being brought promptly before a judge to rule on his detention and being denied proper access to an attorney.

HRF calls on the UNWGAD to investigate Amasha’s case, determine that his detention is arbitrary and in violation of international law, and request that Egypt release him immediately.

Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

B Ventures – Liftoff!

I have been asked by Brian Abrams to join a taskforce to think about in how philanthropy can be used to reconstruct the societal and infrastructural devastation of Gaza.

From Brian — I'm thrilled to announce that we have officially completed the first closing of the new B Ventures fund!  This is a first-of-its-kind in the world, applying the venture capital model to the age-old problem of war with a mission to both generate top-tier returns and make the world incrementally more peaceful and less violent.  We're now off to the races, and we expect to announce our first couple of investments by the end of next quarter.

For those who joined the first “friends and family” round, I'm immensely grateful.  For those who weren't able to join yet or are just hearing about this for the first time, it's not too late.  We're now looking ahead to our second closing around year end.

Exiting a portfolio company before you launch the fund falls in the “good problems to have” category.  ODR.com was an online dispute resolution (ODR) company whose mission I often described as “disrupting Judge Judy,” moving thousands of small claims from the courtroom to the smartphone.  It had what I believed to be a huge domestic US market opportunity that could generate an exceptional return.  Once expanded internationally, I envisioned how it could also help resolve the 10,000 small conflicts that underpin the big ones.  While my personal investment generated a stellar return (74% IRR) in May when it was acquired by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), I wish we could have made it a fund-level investment in B Ventures.  At a minimum, it offers an excellent proof-of-concept of how we intend to both generate top-tier returns and simultaneously resolve conflict.

Fortunately, we think we've got the next great investment already in the queue!  More on that next time…

We sponsored a live online event featuring seven peacetech founders organized by our dynamic new team member, Shane Ray Martin.  If you haven't already, please make sure to follow B Ventures, Brian, and Shane on LinkedIn and stay tuned for more great events and podcasts in the months ahead.

Since October 7th, I've been working to advance a “Marshall Plan” for post-war Gaza in the belief that it could benefit all parties: greater security for Israel, hope and opportunity for Gazans, closer alignment with the Gulf states for regional cooperation, etc.  After an extraordinary meeting a few months ago in Helsinki of high-level Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians, Europeans, and Americans, we're now working to knit together the various plans as per the Ethiopian saying, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.”  I hope to share more in the weeks and months ahead.

We'd like to give a quick, spread-the-word shoutout to our new friends at the Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG), which connects and supports a network of foundations and individuals across six continents with expert insight on conflict dynamics, evidence-based peace approaches, and investing in the future of humanity.  For more information about PSFG, feel free to contact their executive director, Alex Toma.

RWCHR Senior Fellow Vladimir Kara-Murza freed in prisoner swap

In response to confirmed reports of the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War, we are elated to share that our dear friend and Senior Fellow, Russian pro-democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, is among the 24 prisoners released.

We are proud that our team - along with our partners - played a small role in advancing this deal and in ensuring that Kara-Murza was included on the prisoner list, which also includes Canadian-US citizen Paul Whelan, American journalist Evan Gershovich, and several other Russian political prisoners.

Every day since Kara-Murza was arrested in April 2022 for publicly condemning the Putin regime and its war in Ukraine, we have feared for his life. His 25-year sentence on baseless charges of high treason, which he served in a harsh Siberian penal colony for over a year, were meant to send a message to any who would stand up for truth and justice in Russia.

Our sustained advocacy for his release over the past two years, including our podcast on his harrowing ordeal, our efforts to ensure he was granted honorary Canadian citizenship, our recent joint efforts with the Free Russia Foundation (FRF), Human Rights Foundation (HRF), and the McCain Institute, as well as our sanctions recommendation to the Canadian government, have finally borne fruit.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all who supported our campaign for his release.

This news is a tremendous relief to all those who know and love him- none more than his wife and fellow activist Evgenia Kara-Murza and their three children.

This is also a victory for all who believe in the principles of human rights and justice to which Vladmir has dedicated his career and risked his life.

Each of the 24 prisoners released from Russian state custody today represents freedom restored and a family reunited. We wish each one a full recovery from their horrific ordeals.

As we celebrate their release, we also renew our commitment to advocating for political prisoners, prisoners of conscience, hostages, and all those unlawfully detained worldwide, including the thousands still unjustly behind bars in Putin’s Russia.

Welcome back to freedom, Vladimir!

Your unwavering spirit and dedication to democracy shine brighter than ever.

We look forward to hosting you in Canada as our honorary citizen soon, and to resuming our work together to build a world in which justice prevails.

Joint Situation Report #2 The Platform – Israeli NGOs for Human Rights

For more on the State of the Occupation by Israeli NGOs for Human Rights, please refer to this link.

Completion of the Ideation 50:50 Program organized by Convisero mentor Amir Grinstein

After an intensive three months of dedication and hard work, our entrepreneurs have successfully transformed their ventures into real startups.

We are proud to have hosted the Ideation 50:50 Demo Day 2024, in collaboration with 50:50 Startups and the AtoBe Startup Accelerator. Following an intensive three-month ideation program, six teams showcased their innovative ideas.

A special thanks to our fascinating panel of judges and keynote speakers:

Hanan Brand, VP and Head of Startup Division, Israel Innovation Authority
Gidi Etzion, Vice President of Innovation and External Relations, Azrieli Jerusalem College of Engineering.
Mahmoud Khweis, CEO of JIINNOVATE Jerusalem Innovation Health-Tech Center.
Aiman Abu Ammar, Senior Lecturer at Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem.
Taleb Idkeidek, CEO of Ishraka, Consulting and Training.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all attendees, investors, venture capitalists, and angel investors who participated in the event.

Congratulations to the winners
 

1st Place: Lazman Team -Ruba Sbeih, Aseel Farrah, with a central online platform for discovering and enrolling in local extracurricular programs tailored to your interests.

2nd Place: Wurkit Team - Irina Ditiatovskaia, Ahmad Abu Gosh, and Saleh Abdeen - Wurkit instantly connects employers with on-demand workers, ensuring secure payments, flexible work, and fair compensation.

3rd Place: Cartly - Hanan Himoni - Cartly helps customers compare grocery cart prices and provides supermarkets with valuable pricing analytics.

A special thanks to the Israel Innovation Authority רשות החדשנות, for sponsoring this program. 

Join Our Next Monthly Session 
Don't miss the chance to register for the next monthly session about Why Ventures Don’t Get Funded, scheduled for August 15th at 18:00.

This session will be led by T. A. Brysch, With more than 23 years of organizational leadership experience in innovation & exponential growth management and strategic business development across various industries, including security applications, behavioral biometrics, IoT, and CyberSecurity.


This invitation is extended to you, your partner, and anyone else who might benefit from it. Register Here

CYPRUS BOOTCAMP
Applications are open!

Apply today to the Startups BootCamp, designed for early-stage teams, taking place from October 27 to November 9, 2024, in Nicosia, Cyprus.
In collaboration with the Social Tech Lab, we offer young entrepreneurs the best resources and expertise to build successful startups. Throughout the program, you will be guided by industry-leading mentors, meet diverse entrepreneurs, and participate in workshops designed to propel you and your ventures forward. To learn check our website: Cyprus Bootcamp. 

Moneshia zu Eltz

Moneshia is passionate believer in our latent power to bring more kindness and justice into the world as the "more" and "something better" that we are desined for. She thrives in bringing together and building communities of individuals to remove obstacles, address complex problems and recognize spiritual truths as the means to achieve our full societal potential across the socio-economic spectrum. A New Yorker of Indian heritage, she leads by example to execute against winning strategies for business and society for the benefit of all stakeholders, leveraging her experience in M&A, strategy, value creation, mentorship, leadership and inclusion. 

 A graduate from Smith College in Economics and Humanities, Moneshia was a Management Consultant at Monitor/Deloitte in the Forestry/Non profit, Telecommunications, Healthcare and Banking sectors across Latin America, Africa, Japan and India before attending Wharton for her MBA. Thereafter, Moneshia played a pivotal role as Director of Corporate Development at IBM,  evolving across 60 transactions across the globe how employees and leadership development could be made instrumental in supporting higher business performance. She established industry best practices for incoming CEOs and integration executives for long term sustainable growth and monitored performance and outcomes across the portfolio. 

In 2015 she moved to Europe as the Vice President of Collaboration & Strategic growth for Philips in Amsterdam, infusing her ability to integrate technology  into healthcare to make it more efficient, personalized and profitable with digital and cloud, working across start ups, and the Pharma and Medical Device industries. 

In 2018 Moneshia moved further in the direction of human development, taking on roles that empowered a business as a force for good mind-set among peers and collaborators. As interim CEO of Volunteer Vision, a mentoring platform for career readiness and leadership, she propogated an expanded notion of self leadership and learning by doing that was embraced by like minded networks such as NOW Partners, the Bahai international Community and the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders. 

She continues to advise investors and CEOs in healthcare, technology and sustainability on fundraising and M&A as companies evolve in their journeys to optimize their mission, while hosting retreats and colloquiums for professionals from all backgrounds to leverage business acumen and compassion into how we can collaborate for a better tomorrow. She established an INSEAD alumni Business as a Force for Good chapter in Germany that serves 3000 business professionals, and developed a pedagogy of leadership learning experiences that includes group coaching on life design for women leaders, generational gatherings on regenerative processes, and mentorship to further the work of social entrepreneurs (Tallberg Foundation) and Finance (Global Alliance for Banking with Values). Her programs range from tree planting in biogas, organic and regenerative farms to spiritual study/meditation and yoga in the hills of Tuscany, Italy under the themes of reducing food waste to AI/tech for good.

Moneshia is honored to serve the Consivero community and grateful to be on this journey together.

Combatants for Peace wins 2024 Organizational War Abolisher Award

World BEYOND War has given the 2024 Organizational War Abolisher Award to Combatants for Peace (CfP), a joint community of Palestinians and Israelis working in solidarity to end the occupation and all forms of oppression in Palestine and Israel.

The timing of the awards ceremony will be July 22, 2024, at 16:00 UTC, which is 6 a.m. in Honolulu, 9 a.m. in San Francisco, 10 a.m. in Mexico City, 12 noon in Washington D.C., 5 p.m. in Dublin, 5 p.m. in Yaoundé, 6 p.m. in Berlin, 7 p.m. in Rafah, 7 p.m. in Jerusalem, 7:30 p.m. in Tehran, and 9:30 p.m. in New Delhi.

The event is free and open to the media and the public. Register for the Zoom link here.

More information can be found at the link here!