Biennial of the Americas Denver 2010

The Americas Roundtable on Education:
The Achievement Gap

Roundtable Focus: The Roundtable on Education focuses on a pervasive achievement gap – a disparity in education attainment based on socio-economic status, ethnicity, and/or gender. With so much effort placed on education reform in the Western Hemisphere, is the achievement gap getting better or worse? Where can success be shared and replicated? What more can be done – by governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations?

Confirmed Participants:

• Cecilia María Vélez Minister, Ministry of Education Colombia
• Sen. Michael Bennet U.S. Senate USA
• Amb. Francisco Villagrán de Leon Ambassador to the U.S. Guatemala
• Dr. Eduardo Padrón President, Miami Dade College USA
• Marie Levens Director, Dept. of Human Development, Education and Culture, OAS Suriname
• Andrea Taylor Director of Community Affairs, Microsoft USA
• Asha Williams Program Manager, POETA Youth Trinidad and Tobago
• Father John Foley Executive Director, Cristo Rey Network USA
• Michael Shifter President, Inter-American Dialogue USA
• Laura Albornoz former Minister of Women's Affairs Chile
• Lt. General Michael C. Gould Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy USA
• Rose Marie McGuire Member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, Program Manager for Indian Education, DPS USA

The Americas Roundtable on Philanthropy:
Private and Public Collaboration

Roundtable Focus: Many nations of the Western Hemisphere lack basic human services related to clean water, health care, education, transportation, public housing, and access to credit. In response, direct foreign aid by governments is one essential component of international engagement. Philanthropy is increasingly another. Today, philanthropists include well-established foundations as well as common citizens making contributions by way of the internet or their cell phones. How can philanthropists, government leaders, and international aid agencies work in a more integrated fashion, both within their own countries and abroad on behalf of other nations?

Confirmed Participants:

• Lisa Quiroz Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, Time Warner USA
• Amb. Larry Palmer President, Inter-American Foundation USA
• Harriet Fulbright President, William and Harriet Fulbright Center USA
• Dr. Paul Latortue Dean, Graduate School of Business, University of Puerto Rico Haiti
• Steve Vetter CEO, Partners of the Americas USA
• Rigoberta Menchú Tum 1992 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Guatemala
• Martha Smith de Rangel Interim CEO, US/Mexico Foundation Mexico
• Diana Campoamor President, Hispanics in Philanthropy USA
• Sec. Shaun Donovan Secretary, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development USA
• Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. Governor of Colorado USA
• Juan Fernando Fonseca "FONSECA" Singer/ Song-writer Colombia

The Americas Roundtable on Women:
Drivers of the New Economy

Roundtable Focus: According to the World Bank, women own or operate up to one third of all private businesses in the world, and those enterprises tend to grow faster than those owned by men. Many NGOs have taken up the call to focus on women as drivers of the new economy and as agents for positive and effective change. How might women-owned and operated businesses continue to grow and thrive? What actions could lead to the acceleration of women's economic development?

Confirmed Participants:

• María Hinojosa Moderator, Senior Correspondent PBS USA
• Beth Brooke Global Vice Chair, Public Policy and Sustainability, Ernst & Young USA
• Mayu Brizuela former Minister of Foreign Affairs El Salvador
• Danielle Saint-Lot Member, Vital Voices Global Leadership Network Haiti
• Rigoberta Menchú Tum 1992 Nobel Peace Laureate Guatemala
• Sec. Hilda L. Solis Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor USA
• Nell Merlino President & CEO, Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence USA
• Amb. Carmen Lomellin U.S. Representative to the Organization of American States USA
• Amb. Vilma Martinez U.S Ambassador to Argentina USA
• Marco Antonio Orozco Arriola Mayor, San Pedro Sacatepéquez Guatemala
• Rosa Rios Treasurer, U.S. Department of Treasury USA
• Gastón Mascias President, Mujeres 2000 Argentina
• Laura Albornoz former Minister of Women's Affairs Chile

The Americas Roundtable on Health:
Transnational Threats

Roundtable Focus: In almost all countries in the Americas, chronic diseases such as diabetes cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions have now replaced communicable diseases as the leading causes of illness, disability, and death. Obesity is an underlying condition of many of these diseases, and a recent study by the World Health Organization predicts an increasing trend in obesity as Latin American countries emerge from poverty. Even so, communicable diseases such as the H1N1 flu virus and drug-resistant tuberculosis persist as growing threats, as well. What incentives can governments and companies provide to combat these transnational threats? What did the world learn from Mexico's proactive and public actions regarding H1N1? How do health care systems vary throughout the Western Hemisphere, and how can what works in one system be applied toward improvements in others?

Confirmed Participants:

• Dr. José Ángel Córdova Villalobos Secretary, Secretariat of Health Mexico
• Dr. Patricia Gabow CEO, Denver Health and Hospital USA
• Amb. Arturo Sarukhan Ambassador to the United States Mexico
• Dr. Jeffrey Sturchio President and CEO, Global Health Councils USA
• Dr. Felicia Knaul Director, Harvard Global Equity Initiative Canada
• Dr. Jon Andrus Dep. Director, Pan American Health Organization USA
• Sandra Thurman President, Int'l AIDS Trust, Emory University USA
• Gustavo Noboa former President, 2000-2003 Ecuador
• Dr. William H. Dietz Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, Centers for Disease Control USA
• Dr. Adson Roberto França dos Santos Executive Advisor to the Minister of Health Brazil
• Juan Targett MWH Global Senior Executive, Water and Wastewater Distribution Systems Project Peru
• Dr. Doug Jackson President, Project C.U.R.E USA

Special Luncheon Event:
Summit of Bilateral Ambassadors

Roundtable Focus: Over a twenty-year period, most of the nations of the Western Hemisphere will celebrate their 200 year anniversaries. Haiti and Bolivia celebrated their bicentennials in 2004 and 2009, respectively, and Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile all celebrate their bicentennials this year, in 2010. With a focus on the achievements of these nations as their anniversaries approach and with increased attention placed on the many challenges currently facing the Western Hemisphere as a whole, perhaps there is no more opportune time to gather diplomats together for a frank and unifying discussion. In addition to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela, the Bilateral Summit will include ambassadors from and to many nations of the Hemisphere, with a special focus on the 2010 bicentennial countries.

Confirmed Participants:

• Dr. Arturo Valenzuela Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs USA
• Amb. Vilma Martinez U.S Ambassador to Argentina USA
• Amb. Arturo Sarukhan Ambassador to the United States Mexico
• Amb. William Brownfield Ambassador to Colombia USA
• Amb. Hugo Llorens U.S Ambassador to Honduras USA
• Amb. Francisco Villagrán de Leon Ambassador to the U.S. Guatemala
• Amb. Arturo Fermandois Ambassador to the United States Chile
• Amb. Luis Valdivieso Ambassador to the United States Peru

The Americas Roundtable on Poverty Reduction:
Politics and Strategies

Roundtable Focus: Nearly 200 million Latin Americans, or 37 percent of the total population, still live in poverty, leaving the Western Hemisphere as one of the most income-unequal regions in the world. In response, a broad spectrum of governments, private enterprise, and non-governmental organizations have dedicated considerable time, talent, and resources to fighting poverty. Initiatives include: support for conditional cash transfer programs; improving social services such as education, health, and housing; spearheading social entrepreneurship, micro-credit, and other banking services; protecting and promoting human rights; increasing access to technology; and encouraging greater political participation. Where has success actually occurred? What initiatives have worked and why? What democratic institutions inside countries are most important to engage in order to ensure effective poverty reduction?

Confirmed Participants:

• Amb. Harriet Babbitt former Ambassador to the Organization of American States USA
• Dr. Arturo Valenzuela Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs USA
• Alejandro Toledo former President Peru
• Amb. William Brownfield Ambassador to Colombia USA
• Oscar Morales Visiting Fellow, Human Freedom Program, George W. Bush Institute Colombia
• Luanne Zurlo President, Worldfund USA
• Carlos D. Mesa former President Bolivia
• Dr. Luis Pazos former Director General, National Bank of Public Works and Services, BANOBRAS Mexico
• Victoria López-Negrete SVP and GM Hispanic Product Management, Western Union Mexico
• Marlen Iveth Perdomo Rivera Journalist, Proceso Online Honduras
• Danielle Saint-Lot Member, Vital Voices Global Leadership Network Haiti

The Americas Roundtable on Trade:
Leveraging Partnerships for Sustainable Economies

Roundtable Focus: Combined GDP of the Western Hemisphere exceeds $19 trillion. As a result, the 35 nations of the Hemisphere produce close to 30 percent of the world's GDP. Nevertheless, along with those of the rest of the planet, economies in the Hemisphere have recently suffered tremendous setbacks. To promote and sustain healthy economies in the region, trade is certainly one important catalyst. For that reason, one approach might be to write even more bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. Greater value might come, however, from attempting to leverage the trade agreements already in place. How could these agreements be refined to work more successfully? How might their economic gains to-date be consolidated and furthered? How can technology advancements be put to use more strategically?

Confirmed Participants:

• Barry Featherman Executive Director, Global Center for Development and Democracy USA
• Beatrice Rangel President and CEO, AMLA Consulting Venezuela
• Thomas Steyer Co-Managing Partner, Farallon Capital Management USA
• Enrique L. García President, Andean Development Corporation Bolivia
• Michael Fries CEO, Liberty Global USA
• Alberto Alemán Zubieta CEO, Panama Canal Authority Panama
• Suresh Kumar Asst. Secretary for Trade Promotion, Dir. General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service USA
• Amb. Adam Blackwell Secretary of External Relations, Organization of American States Canada

Special Event:
Summit of former Heads of State

Roundtable Focus: Perhaps no one is more knowledgeable or better equipped to comment on the needs of his or her country than a former head of state, now unrestrained by the confines of political office. In 2007, former President Alejandro Toledo of Peru gathered for the first time many of his colleagues from throughout the Western Hemisphere to initiate the drafting of a social agenda, the focus of which is the role of democracy in improving the lives of the Hemisphere's citizens. The Summit of Former Heads of State features a diverse group of former presidents as they describe the priorities of their nations, as they see them, in the promotion of democracy to reduce poverty, increase public health, advance education, and create employment.

Confirmed Participants:

• Alejandro Toledo Delegation Leader, former President, 2001-2006 Peru
• Fernando de la Rúa former President, 1999-2001 Argentina
• Hipólito Mejía former President, 2000-2004 Dominican Republic
• Rodrigo Borja former President, 1988-1992 Ecuador
• Gustavo Noboa former President, 2000-2003 Ecuador
• Nicolás Ardito Barletta former President, 1984-1985 Panama
• Vinicio Cerezo former President, 1986-1991 Guatemala

The Americas Roundtable on Energy and Climate Change:
Designing Answers for Today's Challenges

Roundtable Focus: Of the many ties that could bind the Western Hemisphere together more closely, energy production surely is one of them. The Hemisphere has tremendous resources. Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela supply the U.S. with more than 40% of its crude oil. The U.S. and Colombia are among the top coal producers in the world, and Brazil is the world leader in producing and using ethanol as a transportation fuel. In the context of energy, however, the link between fossil fuel use and CO2 levels in the atmosphere is unquestionable. With little dispute, scientists believe that CO2 and other heat-trapping gases are influencing the climate. How might design be used to address the energy and climate change problems facing us therefore? Design levers likely include energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, markets, the use of natural gas, and reforestation, among others.

Introductory Remarks:
- Lenin Voltaire Moreno Garcés, Vice President (Ecuador)

Confirmed Participants:

• Robert Hutchinson Moderator, Program Director, Rocky Mountain Institute USA
• Sec. Ray LaHood Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation USA
• Sec. Federico Peña former U.S. Secretary of Energy and of Transp. USA
• Amb. Jaime Alemán Ambassador to the United States Panama
• Don McClure USA Division, EnCana Natural Gas USA
• Amb. Gary Doer Ambassador to the United States Canada
• David Eves President and CEO, Public Service Company of Colorado USA
• Lee McIntire Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CH2M HILL USA
• Gustavo Arnavat U.S. Executive Director, Inter-American Development Bank USA
• Amb. Carolina Barco Ambassador to the U.S. Colombia
• Karl Bennet Global Projects, the AGA Group Jamaica
• Enrique Peñalosa President, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, ITDP. Colombia
• Sally Ranney CEO, StillWater Preservation, LLC USA
• Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. Governor of Colorado USA