2009 TEAA Conference

Final Report

Shelby Lewis

 

 

The fifth Teachers for East Africa Alumni (TEAA) Conference was held in Atlanta Georgia on October 1-4, 2009.  Approximately 75 people from the United Kingdom, Panama, East Africa and a variety of cities in approximately 20 U.S. states took part in the conference as planners, presenters, registrants and single session participants.  The backgrounds and careers of participants were many and varied, including university professors and administrators, lawyers, foreign service officers, NGO professionals, health professionals, business managers, Africanists, international developers, writers, performers and teachers linked together by their life-changing experiences in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania during the 1960s and their commitment to furthering education and development in East Africa.  Many attended the inaugural TEAA conference in Washington, DC, 2001; Uganda, 2003; Tanzania, 2005; and Seattle, 2007, and despite the abysmal economy and the recent floods in Georgia, the retirees on fixed incomes and the still employed made their way to Atlanta to join old friends, learn about conditions in East Africa, support TEAA projects, network with others engaged in education and development in East Africa, and celebrate their TEA experience.

 

The theme of the Atlanta Õ09 conference was: ÒUnderstanding and Supporting Education in East Africa.Ó  The broad range of conference programming included five enlightening and inspiring seminars on NGO activity in East Africa; interesting, informative and enjoyable films: ÒThrow Down Your HeartÓ and ÒThe King Legacy;Ó a reception hosted by the Schuchards that provided a warm and inviting setting for lively discussions and catching up on family news while feasting on wonderful homemade dishes and East African beer; an informative and inspiring keynote address and interesting chats with Professor Perezi Kamunanwire, UgandaÕs Ambassador to the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean; presentations and tours at AtlantaÕs landmark institutions (considered national treasures): The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change, a National Park established after the assignation of Dr. King in 1968, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, the Carter Center, established after the Carter presidency ended in 1976. Additionally, the opening and closing sessions and hotel receptions allowed TEAAers to renew old acquaintances, make new friends, assess TEAA progress and direction and make plans for the sixth bi-annual conference which will mark the 50th anniversary of the Teachers for East Africa program.

 

The Conference Team wish to thank TEAA colleagues and friends, Ambassador Perezi Kamunanwire, President Isaac Ferris of the King Center, Dr. Jay Hakes of the Carter Center, Dr. Vicki Crawford of the Morehouse College King Collection, the staff of the Embassy Suites Hotel, the awesome NGO program presenters and all of the individuals and institutions that collectively made AtlantaÕ09 a wonderful experience.  A tally and a statistical and geographical break-down on conference participants and activities follow.  A complete financial report will be submitted to the Executive Council by October 25, 2009.

 

 


Atlanta Ô09

Conference Sites:

Embassy Suites Hotel                                     1 ½ days

Carter Center                                                  1 day

King Center                                                     ½ day

 

Total Conference Attendance                                 75

Sign-In List                                                     51

Luncheon Only                                               3

Tour(s) Only                                                  4

Guest Presenters                                             18

 

Geographical Spread

International: Panama, United Kingdom, Uganda

United States:

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Georgia

Florida

Indiana

Illinois

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnesota

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

South Carolina

Washington

Washington, DC

 

Conference Activities:

Seminars                                                          5 (4 external, 1 TEAA)

Films                                                               2 (Throw Down Your Heart and King Legacy)

Luncheon - Keynote                                       1 (Carter Center)

Luncheon - Informal                                       1 (King Center)

General Sessions                                             2 (Opening and Business)

Cultural Activities/Tours                                2 (Carter Center and King Center)                             

Formal Reception                                           1 (Schuchard)

Informal Receptions                                       2 (Hotel)

Special Presentation                                        1 (City of Atlanta Proclamation)

 

Guest Presenters                 

Courtney Chartier, Archivist, King Collection of Morehouse College

Nell Diallo, Medshare

Isaac Newton Ferris, President & CEO, King Center

Jamail Gyagenda, Mercer University

Jay Hakes, Library and Museum, Carter Center

Ravi Jayakaran, MAP International

Perezi Kamunanwire, UgandanAmbassador to the U.S. and LAC

Derick Kayongo, CARE, International

C.T. Martin, Atlanta City Council

Irene Mbari-Kirika, Our Reading Spaces Foundation

Michael Nyenhuis, J-0 FoundationWalter Dean, Habitat Aid Initiative

Robert Owor, Alumni Association of East Africa

Karen Schaefer, Friends of Tanzania Education Project

John Stremlau, Vice President, Peace Program, Carter Center

Stanford Thompson, Music Project in Meru, Kenya

Eric Vickers, King Legacy Student, Morehouse College

Felker Ward, Rotary Club, Kenya Water Project

P. Craig Withers, Jr., Director of Health Programs, Carter Center

 

Presenters Addresses  (for use in networking and mailing certificates)

1.Ambassador Perezi Kamunawire

Embassy of The Republic of Uganda

5911 16th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20011

 

2.  Councilman C.T. Martin

Atlanta City Council

55 Trinity Avenue  SW

Atlanta, GA 30303

 

3.  Dr. John Stremlau

Vice President, Peace Program

The Carter Center

453 Freedom Parkway

Atlanta, GA 30307

 

4.  Mr. P. Craig Withers, Jr.

Director of Health Programs

The Carter Center

453 Freedom Parkway

Atlanta, GA 30307


5.  Dr. Jay Hakes

Director, Library and Museum

The Carter Center

453 Freedom Parkway

Atlanta, GA 30307

 

6. Ms. Nell Diallo

Director, MedShare

3240 Clifton Springs Rd.

Decatur, GA 30034-4608

 

7.   Dr. Ravi Jayakaran

MAP International

4700 Glynco Parkway

Brunswick, GA 31525-4800

 

8. Mr. Michael Nyenhuis

CEO, Map International and Director, J-9 Foundation

4700 Glynco Parkway

Brunswick, GA 31525-4800

 

9.  Walter Dean

Habitat AID Initiative

6855 Shiloh Road East

Alpharetta, GA 20005

 

10.  Dr. Ismail Gyagenda

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

Mercer University

3001 Mercer University Drive

Atlanta, GA 30341-4415

 

11.  Ms.  Irene Mbari-Kirika

Our Reading Spaces

2870 Peachtree Rd., #155

Atlanta, GA 30305

 

12.  Dr. Derreck Kayongo

CARE International

151 Ellis Street

Atlanta, GA 30303

 

13.  Mr. Isaac Newton Ferris

President and CEO, Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change

449 Auburn Avenue, NE

Atlanta, GA 30312-1590

 

14.  Ms. Courtney Chartier

King Collection, Woodruff Library

111 James P. Brawley Drive

Atlanta, GA 30314

 

15.  Eric Vickers

(Student in King Legacy Class)

Morehouse College

830 Westview Drive, SW

Atlanta, GA 30314

 

16.  Dr. Vicki Crawford

Co-Director, Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection

Morehouse College

830 Westview Drive, SW

Atlanta, GA 30314

 

17.  Mr. Felker Ward

10 Peachtree Pl. NE

Atlanta, GA 30309

 

18. Ms. Karen Schaefer

Friends of Tanzania

985 Courtenay Drive

Atlanta, GA 30306

 

19.  Mr. Stanford Thompson

Music Project Meru

Decatur GA (check details with Keith Schuchard)

 

 

TEAA Program Participants                        13

Sam Bell

Betty Castor

John Dwyer

Pat Gill

Brooks Goddard

Henry Hamburger

Hank Hector

Priscilla Lane

Shelby Lewis

Ed Schmidt

Keith Schuchard

Ron Schuchard

Robert Scully

 

Conference Sign-In List:     51                               

Betsey Anderson

Bob Ashcraft

Jerry Barr

Bill Cahill

Fran Cahill

Emilee Cantieri

Lois Carwile

Betty  Castor

Betty Coxson

Gene Child

Audrey Dickson

Leal Dickson

Linda Donaldson

John Dwyer

Vince Farley

Bruce Franklin

Pat Gay

Pat Gill

Brooks Goddard

Anita Hakes

Henry Hamburger

Sharon Hartmann

Carol Heath

Hank Hector

Sharon Hepburn

Carol Jones

William Jones

Jan Kerr

Marva Kester

Don Knies

Maureen Knies

Linda Ann Kunz

Priscilla Lane

Marty McCall Lemke

Gus Lewis

Mary Ann Lewis

Shelby Lewis

Pat Mische

Marsh McJunkin

Larry Olds

Jonne Robinson

Karen Schaefer

Jerry Schieber

Joan Schieber

Ed Schmidt

Robert Scully

Keith Schuchard

Ron Schuchard

Lee Smith

Mary Ryan Taras

Jim Weikart

 

Conference Program            .  A copy of the Atlanta Ô09 conference program is attached.  It is the official Conference Program because the names of some of the presenters changed or were not available before the printing of the program that was included in registration packets. Please print it out for your records

Conference Committee      

John Dwyer

Hank Hector

Shelby Lewis

Keith Schuchard

Robert Scully

 

Invaluable Conference Support

Pat Gill

Brooks Goddard

Henry Hamburger

Ed Schmidt

Priscilla Lane

Jay Hakes

Vickie Crawford

Carter Center

King Center