Charity Talks

Keith Harward, who spent 33 years in prison for crimes he did not commit, and Nigel Quiroz, an attorney and policy analyst at the Innocence Project, are this episode’s guests.  During the podcast, Keith discusses how he was wrongly convicted of a murder and sexual assault based on faulty forensic evidence, and what life has been like for him since he was exonerated.  Nigel discusses how the Innocence Project came to Keith’s defense, and what the organization and Keith are doing to prevent further injustices.  Keith’s ordeal gives a fascinating window into some of the problems in the criminal justice system, and the story of his release from prison and positive outlook on life are sure to uplift you.  (0:40).

Website:  https://innocenceproject.org/

Caitlin Smith of the World Resources Institute joins Charity Talks. WRI is a global research organization spanning more than 60 countries that is dedicated to working with leaders in those counties to sustain the world’s natural resources.  From climate, energy and water, to our oceans and cities, WRI's over 1,000 experts and staff turn big ideas into action to protect our natural resources.  (0:26).

https://www.wri.org

Dr. Keith Sheth, Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Yale School of Medicine, and a neurologist at Yale New Haven Hospital, as well as a member of the Quality Team at the American Stroke Association, is this episode’s guest.  Strokes affect 1 in 6 people, and while most people generally know what a stroke is, they do not necessarily know what causes them, what the symptoms and signs are, and what recovery can be like for a person who has suffered a stroke.  During this episode, Dr. Sheth explains what causes strokes, what you can do to lower your risk of experiencing one, the research he and his team are doing in this field, and what you should do if you think you are having a stroke.  (0:17).

Website:  https://www.stroke.org/

Michael Roberts, the President and CEO of First Nations Development Institute, is this episode's guest.  Native American tribes have been marginalized for over 400 years, and as Michael discusses, philanthropy and funding provided to American Indians to address this is a small and disproportionate fraction of that distributed throughout the country.  First Nations is doing important work in addressing these gaps and strengthening American Indian economies, by providing direct financial grants, technical assistance, and training to those communities, as well as carefully listening to their needs and advocating on their behalf.  (0:23).

Website:  https://www.firstnations.org

Priya Palani, the Associate Creative Director for the Task Force for Global Health, is this episode’s guest and she discusses the important work that the Task Force does around the world to improve the health of those in low and middle income countries.  Fighting infectious diseases, distributing vaccines and conducting field epidemiology are just some of the issues that the Task Force is tackling during these challenging times for world health. (www.taskforce.org 2020 Annual Report:  https://taskforce.org/2020-annual-report/#section_1  

Charity Talks welcomes Jennifer Hyman to the podcast.  Jennifer is the Director of Communications for Living Goods, which provides critical healthcare solutions to women and children in Africa by deploying a network of community health workers.  Partnering with local governments, Living Goods ensures that quality healthcare is available to those who need it most, and is using technology and data to maximize the impact it is having in these underserved communities.  (0:21).   Website:  www.livinggoods.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/livinggoods.healthare.1 Twitter:  www.twitter.com/Living_Goods  

Susannah Schaefer, the President and CEO of Smile Train, joins Charity Talks to discuss the problem of cleft lips and palates that many children are born with around the world.  Children with this ailment live in isolation, and often have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing and speaking as a result their untreated clefts.  Smile Train’s mission is to provide a sustainable approach to fixing this problem, including through reconstructive surgeries, training and empowerment of local medical professionals.  You are sure to be uplifted when you hear about Smile Train's amazing work.  (0:27).   Website:  https://www.smiletrain.org  

Lacey Horn and Joel Williams, of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), are this episode’s guests. As the Chairwoman and long-time attorney for NARF, Lacey and Joel, respectively, discuss the plight of Native American and Alaskan tribes, and how NARF has impacted tens of thousands of Indian people across more than 250 tribes. NARF’s mission — to preserve tribal existence, protect tribal natural resources, promote Native American human rights, and hold governments accountable to Native Americans — is one that all of us should want to support. (0:22).   Website:  www.narf.org  

Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, Vice President of the Gaden Phodrang Foundation of the Dalai Lama, joins Charity Talks. The Dalai Lama created his foundation to promote his Tibetan Buddhism-based views on human values, mutual understanding among religions, peace, and the protection of the environment, as well as helping to preserve the unique Tibetan culture. As you will hear, Tseten, as the former personal representative of the Dalai Lama, and the first in his family to be born in exile from Tibet, has a great perspective on the Foundation's work, as well as more generally on kindness, giving and how to live a meaningful life. (0:28).   Website:   https://www.dalailamafoundation.org                  https://www.dalailama.com                  https://www.mindandlife.org                  https://compassion.emory.edu/see-learning/index.html

Victoria Mendez, the Global Director of Cool 2 Be Kind, is this episode’s guest and she discusses what C2BK and its parent foundation, the National Association of People Against Bullying, are doing to stop bullying. Following her brother Daniel taking his own life as a result of the bullying he suffered in middle and high school, C2BK was started at a single high school in California, and now has chapters around the world, where participating students are working to reduce bullying where it is happening, and with NAPAB providing important interventions to help affected kids.  (0:23).

Website:  www.cool2bekind.org                  www.napab.org