Events
The Global Summit

Mission of the Global Summit and the People associated with the Global Summit 2014

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

The Global Summit is a Social, Economic & Environmental Forum providing a neutral platform for worldwide collaboration uniting diverse people, organizations and businesses working towards a healthier, culturally rich and sustainable future. The Global Summit is autonomous, free from governmental, religious, political or any other singular agenda. It is grounded on the belief, “Through global collaboration, powerful changes can happen.”

Specifically, The Global Summit is a biennial event enabling participants of all different levels to interact in focus groups and think tanks, creating plans and goals and helping shape a new operating system that works for 100% of humanity—impacting everything from grass-roots markets to global trade policy.

Through The Global Summit-enabled collaboration and connectivity, broad worldwide goals for environmental change and sustainable development are achievable and effective. For example—nonprofits interested in clean water in Zimbabwe can join with environmental engineers in Germany specializing in water purification systems, while conferencing with technologists worldwide looking to expand their network, in addition to collaborating with foreign policy makers looking for traction, and journalists looking to bring exposure. Each meets their specific, individual goals within the broader context of creating a more sustainable society.

The Primary goals of The Global Summit are:

1. Enable grass-roots voices to be heard through a complimentary global citizen driven policy system incorporating and responding to those policies most affect – youth, women, farmers, people living with AIDS, people living below a dollar a day.

2. Increase synergistic collaboration, coherence, and thus – collective impact among the world’s social, economic, & environmental movements through co-development of shared frameworks, standards and critical mass action strategies.

3. Catalyze immediate climate change solutions through the development & transfer of sustainable technology in energy, digital communication, transportation, agriculture, health, housing & education.

Beyond each biennial meeting, impact is advanced by a growing network of Partners In Empowerment (or 1PIE when they unite), local partner Summits, education and scalable frameworks for collaboration to empower all sectors of society to build resilient communities from the ground up.

Background / What’s Next:

Launched in San Francisco in 2008 through a 2 day planning symposium, hundreds of social innovators, sustainable business leaders and visionary organizations laid the bedrock for a new system of collaboration with the potential to change history.

After its second biennial in San Francisco, The Global Summit III was held August 15 – 17, 2012 in London where it began its convergence with humanity’s greatest living example of a peaceful convergence: the Olympic Games.

While gathering inspiration and partners for 2016 in Rio, The Global Summit IV – 2014 Biennial Meeting returns to the Bay Area Nov 16-18 at the SF Women’s Building, and will bring together delegates from pivotal movements, organizations and techies to explore how Empowered Women are transforming Money, Power & Politics, and how we can unleash the potential of humanity.

Sign Up for Announcements & Co-Create!

Core Principals:

• 100% Self-determination: Empowering those most affected by critical issues to co-create localized solutions

• 100% of Humanity: Beyond donors and nonprofits, it engages six diverse economic sectors for synergistic impact

• 100% Collaboration: Educational tools & processes to catalyze mutually-supportive impact 365 days a year

• Facilitated by sustainability think-tank, Empowerment WORKS and brought to life by diverse program partners, pro-bono contributions and volunteers, The Global Summit™ is a 100% For-Impact initiative with all proceeds supporting community-led sustainable development initiatives & education.

Our Valuable Team “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead The Global Summit 2014 Organizing Team Melanie St.James – Convener, The Global Summit / Executive Director, Empowerment WORKS Bill Shireman - Multi-stakeholder Engagement and Strategy / President & CEO, Future500 Rebecca Busse – Co-Chair, WPMP Program – Senior Manager, Stakeholder Engagement Future500 Jay Markert - Co-Producer & Production Manager – Founder, Living Mandala Dan Ellis - Team Lead, Education & Inspiration – Co-Founder, Rally Team Huan Ho – Co-Chair/ Director, Technology & Collaboration – Co-Founder, Rally Team Tbird Tall Flame Luv - MC / Co-Chair, Culture / Creator, Spiritual Business Model Rani Croager - Co-Chair, Innovation Pitch – Co-Founder, Uptima Business Bootcamp Yacine Kouyate - Co-Chair, Culture – Biologist / Musician / Co-Founder, Birdland Jazz Brent Phillips - Co-Chair, Logistics & Production / Founder, Beehive Crowdfunding Special Advisors Fedor Ovchinnikov – Participatory Process Adviser – Director of Practitioner Empowerment, Academy of Management Practice Theme Committee Jan Black, PhD, Human Rights Adviser & Honorary Co-Chair / Board Member, Amnesty International (USA) David Wortley – Technology and Virtual Worlds Annabel Park – SEED Change Forum Adviser (Writer, filmmaker/ Founder, Coffee Party Scholastica Sylvan Kimaryo – Programme Chair / Former UNDP Deputy Regional Director for Africa Pamela Millar – Green Business Writer at Examiner, Owner & CEO – Bridgemakers Consulting Sophie Lapaire – Fulbright Scholar, Consultant to NASA Sean Ahearn – Concert & Production (Music Director, Harmony Music Festival) Tal Finney – Global Policy Chair / Former Director of Policy to the Governor of California Legacy Circle Contributors Jenny Huang – Chair, Empowerment WORKS / Int’l. Free & Open Source Solutions Foundation Jeff Weigel – Global Business Management Consultant, Road Warrior Group Holly Mosher – Filmmaker – Bonsai, the vision of Muhammad Yunus (USA) Lainie Liberti – Creative Director (Principal, Jungle8) Jose Luis Nazar – Philanthropist / Entrepreneur, English Without Borders (USA/Chile) Architects / Contributors Stephan Cibian, PhD - Global Policy & Development Strategy (Central European University, Hungary) Marie Stojimirovic, PhD. – Evaluation Director (Sustainable Development Professor, France) Lainie Liberti – Creative Director (Principal, Jungle8) Jennifer Gooding – Brand Director (Project Manager, Jungle8) Ben Clayton – Founding Program Coordinator / Development Associate Mike Chamess – Founding Development Associate & Partnerships Jeff Buderer - Co-Founder, Programming & Digital Village Case Studies Director Irving Sarnoff – Co-Founder, Liaison to the United Nations (Founder, Friends of the UN) Lainie Liberti – Creative Director (Principal, Jungle8) Joseph Malki – Co-Founder, The Global Summit, Seven Star Events Georgia Malki – President, Seven Star Events Brian Wee - Non-profit specialist at Merrill Lynch Rick Pinckert – Network Administrator, Annenberg School of Communications Alissa Sears – Director of Global Betterment, Christie Communications Jessica De Jaifre, M.A., MFT – Youth Programs & Outreach Coordinator Autumn Radtke – Development & Information Technology Partnerships Ed Cherlin – Technology Research Associate (Director, Earth Treasury Institute) Elinor Averyt – Sustainable Standards Coordinator (Founder, LEAF Certifications) Scott W. Badenoch Jr., Atty - Director of Mediation Services (CEO, Creative Citizen, LLC) Hillary Waadt – Communications & Partnerships Federico Haro – Multimedia Producer (Creative Director, Xlantic Media) Lorenzo Falzarano – Appropriate Technology (Co-founder, Solio) Alex Theory, Ph.D. – Sound Director, Global Sound Conference & Elevate Film Festival Jennifer Partridge – Media Broadcasting (Producer, Our New Earth) Susan Daya Hamwi – Co-Director of Mediation (Settlement Works) Gurminder Singh – Co-Chair Sustainable Technology (Founder, Green Technology Institute) Tony Greenberg – Strategy (Chairman, RampRate™ Sourcing Advisors) Jay Levin – Responsible Media & Journalistic Ethics (Founder, LA Weekly & RealTalk LA) Suad Sulaiman, PhD – Environmental Health (Co-founder of Sudanese Environmental Conservation Society) Bob Ayres – Production (E.D. of The Next 20 Years Series, Former Executive Director of the TED Prize) The Global Summit Founding Delegates NOV. 16-18, 2008 Presidio – Golden Gate Club – San Francisco, CA, USA First name Last name Aaron Ezra Ableman Sean Ahearn Mary Allen Dana Arak Elinor Averyt Katherina Bach de Pauli Scott Badenoch Jahn Ballard Marc Barasch Carla Banson John Perry Barlow Michelle Barton Janice Belson Scott Berry Bonnie Bibas Giselle Bisson Kristie Bryan Jeff Buderer Chris Bui Stephen Bullard Ann Carr Asha Castleberry Mike Chamess David Chang Suzi Chang Mark Chasan Ben Clayton Christiane Lemieux Clayton douglas cohen Geofrey Collins Shawn Collins Lawrence Axil Comras Louis D’Amore Karil Daniels Wendy Daugherty Bill Daul Howard Dean Bruce Dear Jessica DeJaifre Francis DellaVecchia Abe Dertner Ben Devries William Edmonson Michael Elam Elizabeth Estrada Baba Oosa Gbemi Israel Sheilah Evans Lorenzo Falzarano Janet Feldman Andrew Ferrera David Ferrera Colin Finlay Thomas Flach Andrea Franchini Nicole Franco Evan Fraser Missy Galore Esperanza Garcia Robert Gillespie Julian Gonzales Michael Gosney Sian Gowan Amie Grenier Chloe Hall Susan Daya Hamwi Brandon Hance James Hanusa Byron Head Becca Herrman Claudia Maria (Diamar) Herrmann Mike Hobbes Nicklas Hoeg CHRISTOPHER HORNOR Philip Horvath Michael Howard Libby Hubbard Johnathan Human Judith Iam Mariko Ihara Pilar Stella Ingargiola Casey James Cyd Jenefsky Reese Jones Michael Kaliski Gurutej Kaur Alhaji Jeffery kamara Paul Katzeff Human Kindness Adam Krim Chandra Krown Sophie Lapaire Judith Iam Kim Langbecker Elizabeth Lapan Michael Leifer Christiane Lemieux Wendy Levicoff Nancy Asrid Lindo Alpha Lo Sharon London Hunter Lovins Sonia Lub Joanne Lyon Christopher Macrae Mark Mahon Zoael Markrysta Andy Mannle Cecilia Mansilla Magalie Bonneau-Maral Bryan Marks Gregg Marks Choat KRISTEN MARTIN Peter Matthies Ray Mawhinney Diana Maxwell Jessica Mayoraz Pamela Millar Camilla Misser Michelle Moore Alan Moore Kianti Murphy Erik Negash Susan Nesbitt Heather Newbold Matthew Newnham Marie aka: onamare Newsom Anne “Starr” Njoroge Dr. Antonia Neubauer Doctress Neutopia Anank Nunink Nunkai Happy Oasis Anders Olsen Dominique Pacheco Kacy Palmieri Jeannine Parker Jennifer Partridge Gunter Pauli Joshua Penman Robert Perala Evan Phillips Brock Pierce Rick Pinckert Phillip Poteat Kathy Poteat John Raatz Tal Rachleff Amayea Rae Autumn Radtke Jorge Rebagliati Cory Reddish Tonya Tbird Ridgely Neal Roberts David Rose Missy Rosie ERIK ROTHENBERG Ricardo Rothhirsoh Andrew Rufe Steven Sadleir Marta Salas-Porras Isabella Schilpp Shera Angelina Sever Patricia Sill Richard Silver Gurminder Singh David Sinclair Emily Smith Mary Saint-Marie Melanie St James Rana Stewart Jiwei Sun Richard Taubinger Peter Temple Bradford Tilden Barry Circle Tillman Alex Theory Raam Toerper Gary Tomchuk Miguel Toro Patrick Troup Rosie Turner Masters Haig Varjabedian Amalie Villesen John Vitale Matt Voloshin Hillary Waadt Ruel Walker Kimberly Weichel Dana Wellborn Claudia Welss Gregory Wendt Courtney White Brent Thomas Willett Sin Wong Sheri WoodsGreen Jennifer Woodward Merlin Yockstick

Who’s Coming?

The Global Summit delegates are Partners in Empowerment playing for whole system transformation across all sectors, and co-create solutions hands-on.

Meet a few of our 2014 Featured Delegates

Joan Blades: Joan Blades: Co-Founder, MoveOn.org, Mom's Rising, Bridge-Builder Joan Blades is a co-founder of LivingRoomconversations.org an open source effort to rebuild respectful civil discourse across ideological, cultural and party lines while embracing our core-shared values. As a co-founder of MoveOn.org in 1998, Joan has seen the dysfunction of partisan behaviors and believes we must and can do better. Mother’s Day 2006 Joan co-founded MomsRising.org with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner to tap the power of online grassroots organizing for mothers and families in the U.S.A. She is a Great Work Cultures champion and co-author of The Custom-Fit Workplace and The Motherhood Manifesto, which won the Ernesta Drinker Ballard Book Prize in 2007. Joan is also a software entrepreneur (a co-founder of Berkeley Systems), nature lover, artist and former attorney/mediator.

Jeanette Acosta: Jeanette Acosta: Native American Chumash Wisdom Keeper “Jeanette serves the Land & the Peoples with her participation in numerous committees and groups, including a growing emphasis on building collaboration among Indigenous nations to uphold the United Nations’ Declaration Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with particular emphasis in the protection of sacred burial and ceremonial sites. Her experience with international business leaders, heads of states, renowned & artists/celebrities gives her a unique perspective on various cultures and customs. A certified permaculture designer & teacher trainer, Jeanette specializes in maritime culture and ethnobotany, emphasizing humankind’s symbiotic relationship between earth and sky. Jeanette is also a spiritual counselor, a certified yoga and teacher trainer with the Kundalini Research Institute. “

Dr. Pushpa Iyer: Dr. Pushpa Iyer: Founding Director of the Center for Conflict Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies Pushpa is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Policy and Management at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, has over 20 years of experience in the field of conflict studies. She specializes in identity conflicts, non-state armed groups, civil wars, peace processes, and peacebuilding in post-war societies. Her current research interests are: non-state armed groups, challenges to peacebuilding, and gendered security in the US military. Pushpa is a long-term activist and advocate for the poor and marginalised communities in Gujarat, India. She has consulted and conducted research in several countries in South and Southeast Asia and in Africa.

Joyasree Mahanti: Joyasree Mahanti: Innovator, Nano Finance Beginning in her home state of Odisha, India, Joyasree transitioned from her career as a Computer Programmer Analyst to help people living on less than $1 USD per day access to zero interest loans (versus interest rates of 120% or higher by money lenders). Joyasree started Aamara Biswas (Our Trust) in 2007 to implement the Nano Finance (NF) which has now helped nearly 8,000 women and their families escape the cycle of poverty, and helped them to build financial security for themselves and their families.

Huan Ho: Huan Ho: Co-founder at Rallyteam “I envision a world where there are no crappy jobs and everybody is working on something they love. …Cliche as it sounds, I want to look back at my life one day and say that ‘I made a dent in this universe’. Leveraging my technical skills and entrepreneurial drive to help move society forward, I’m interested in open innovation and collaboration as well as workforce optimization.”

Jennifer Crooks: Jennifer Crooks: Grand Prix Horse Jumper & Mother of 10 Proud mother of ten children (eight adopted from China and Ethiopia), Jennifer is an internationally recognized Equestrian Grand Prix Show Jumping Rider (for Ireland). Through all her successes, the international adoption and orphanage arena is the dream she is pursuing in starting Uryadi’s Village. In preparation, Jennifer recently completed a Permaculture Design Course for International Development with Warren Brush at Quail Springs.

Tbird Tall Flame Luv: Tbird Tall Flame Luv: Co-MC & Artist In Action Tbird Luv’s MUSE-i-cal genius, THOUGHT PROVOKING and HEART OPENING messages of RADICAL audacious CREATIVE expression, combined with a BEDAZZLING FLUTE SOLO, push audiences onto their creative edge to ACTUALIZE more of their GREATNESS. Tbird is a master musician, Cal Arts grad, and on the Board of advisers of the Center for Integral Wisdom.

Bill Shireman: Bill Shireman: CEO of Future500 - master of environmental entrepreneurism Called a “master of environmental entrepreneurism,” Bill Shireman has over 20 years of experience aligninging the interests of major corporations and their stakeholders. As President and CEO of the Future 500, he helps the world’s largest companies and most impassioned activists – from Coca-Cola, Nike and Mitsubishi, to Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, and the Sierra Club – work together to drive pollution down and profits up. Bonita Banducci: Bonita Banducci: Silicon Valley Woman of Influence 2014 Creator of Gender Competence®, a new framework for understanding gender differences as competencies and a Founder of Global Women’s Leadership Network, Banducci represented the Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women at the UN World Conference on Women in Beijing.

Maria Sirriya: Maria Sirriya: Creator, Hip Hop Yoga, Power Chakra Flow™ Maria is a yoga teacher, executive coach, the force of Hip Hop Tantra Yoga™, and creator of the first live-streaming online Tantra Yoga class for Women, Feminine Power Chakra Flow™. Before Maria discovered yoga, she was working in the corporate world, overweight and over stressed. After years devoted to learning the spiritual arts with respected teachers, she now travels the Globe teaching the techniques she learned in India and Bali.

Jonathan Talat Phillips: Jonathan Talat Phillips: Writer, media activist, and explorer of consciousness “Talat’s memoir “The Electric Jesus: The Healing Journey of a Contemporary Gnostic” has become one of the must-read books of the transformational culture movement. He co-heads Psychonaut Productions and is building Space Camp: The World’s First Center of Psychonautics. Co-founder The Evolver Network, director of Talat Healing, and blogs for “The Huffington Post”.

Samantha Sweetwater: Samantha Sweetwater: Embodied Facilitator, Writer, Coach, Ceremonialist Samantha Sweetwater‘s expertise and facilitative toolkit bridge embodiment, earth wisdom, whole-systems design and soul empowerment in support of a thriving future for all of life. Samantha is the founder of Dancing Freedom, The Peacebody School, Japan and We Are Evolution (coming soon). Anchoring her life in the eco-centric rhythms of seeds, soil, & seasons, she lives & works at Seven Seeds Farm in Oregon & on the core team of the Rogue Valley Bioregional Summit.

Melanie Bielefeld: Melanie Bielefeld: Principal at Connecting for Global Good Melanie is a global advocate for women’s and children’s health and wellness. She has raised over $35 million in grants and developed strategic partnerships with academia, corporations, global nonprofits and public entities to expand access to quality healthcare. Melanie is a co-founder of E4 Ratings, a online food rating system, and Tunaweza Fund, a project of OneWorld Children’s Fund, that supports disability rights in rural Tanzania. Melanie earned a Fulbright fellowship at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania.

Yacine Badian Kouyate, PhD: Yacine Badian Kouyate, PhD: From Mali, West Africa, Yacine was born into the sacred lineage of the Bambara Jali, the genealogists and epic poets of society. A prolific musician, Yacine writes sings and plays a myriad of instruments. As a teacher, Dr. Kouyaté has lectured and led workshops nationwide on the musical and spiritual traditions. As a scientist, Yacine has taught classes on recombinant DNA at UC Davis, and been part of a California biotech advancing rapid low cost HIV diagnostics.

Dr. Aumatma Binal Shah: Dr. Aumatma Binal Shah: Naturopathic Doctor & Fertility Guru Dr. Aumatma is a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor, trained at the University of Bridgeport, College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is passionate in helping women with pre-conception health and natural fertility optimization. She sees a broad spectrum of women’s health conditions in her practice, using an array of holistic tools to empower women to live their best lives. In her spare time, Dr. Aum likes to dance, listen to music, and start other health-related entrepreneurial ventures.