History Moment: The Origins of Earth Day

By Monica M SmithFriday, May 5, 2023

In honor of Earth Day, which is celebrated annually on April 22 in the US and in many other countries, today I would like to share a Rotary history moment about the origins of the event. I will quote primarily from a blog post written by my National Museum of American History colleague Joan Boudreau.

“What would you have done if you saw your river burning? The Cuyahoga River that runs through the northeastern corner of Ohio was so polluted in the 1950s and 1960s that fish populations were decimated because of the river’s oily, industry-produced pollution. In 1969, with a spark from a train traveling nearby, the river began to burn.

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Julia Roig has more than 30 years of experience working for democratic change and conflict transformation around the world, is best known for her ability to convene diverse coalitions and her facilitative leadership of global networks. An organizer at heart, in her role as Chief Network Weaver at The Horizons Project, Julia is committed to bridge-building across sectors, disciplines, and cultures.

Throughout her career, she has been called upon to translate between theory and practice, while seeding new approaches, organizing principles, and mindset shifts for social change. After serving for almost 14 years as the President and CEO of PartnersGlobal, one of the preeminent international democracy and peacebuilding organizations, in 2022 Julia launched The Horizons Project to focus on the intersection of peacebuilding,
social justice, and democracy in the United States.

She is a renowned public speaker, facilitator, and trainer able to connect deeply with different constituencies within civil society, social movements, governments, and corporations. Julia is the main architect of ground-breaking new research and approaches for more effective Narratives for Peace, working with front-line peacebuilders, social scientists, filmmakers, advertising industry leaders, and other creatives to bring peacebuilding into the mainstream. She works with philanthropists, non-profits, and movement leaders to incorporate narrative competency as
an essential tool for restoring societal relationships and democratic values.

Julia was licensed as an attorney in the state of Maryland and brings to Horizons her many years of diverse international experience and practical field work in more than 30 countries. Prior to joining PartnersGlobal, Julia spent two years as the Country Director for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative in Belgrade, Serbia. She is also a recognized expert in community justice and dispute resolution in Colombia having spent five years living and working from Bogota, promoting a national expansion of the Equity Conciliation and Justice Houses programs.

She is currently the Chair of the Board of the Alliance for Peacebuilding. She also serves on several Advisory Boards including: Nsquare, the Corruption, Justice and Legitimacy Program at Tufts University, and Scripps College Laspa Center for Women’s Leadership.
Julia’s roots growing up in the Pacific Northwest are an important part of her identity, and you can always count on her to lead a group in song around the piano or a campfire. Her biggest passions include baking and decorating cookies for her loved ones, and amateur filmmaking to capture special gatherings of friends and family.

A frequent author and public speaker, Julia’s TedXTalk is called “We Are All Peacebuilders”.

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Julia Roig, Founder | HorizonsProject | Block, Bridge, Build Our Pluralistic Future | Dec. 11, 2024

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Shannon Hader, MD, MPH, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of Programmes at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and a prominent leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the United States and globally, is the dean of the School of International Service at American University.

Before accepting the position at the UN, Dr. Hader served as Director of the Division of Global HIV and TB at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She also has served as Vice President and Director at Futures Group International (now Palladium); as Senior Deputy Director of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration at the District of Columbia Department of Health; Senior Scientific Advisor to the
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief at the US Department of State.

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Shannon Hader, MD, MPH | Trends in Global Disease Eradication | December 4, 2024

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Diana Parsell is a writer, editor and former journalist, and a 45-year resident of the Washington area. During her career she wrote and edited for many publications, including National Geographic and The Washington Post, and for science organizations in Washington and Southeast Asia. Her book, "Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington’s Cherry Trees (Oxford, 2023) was featured by NBC’s “Today” and other media.

Diana has spoken on the book and related topics to a range of organizations, such as the National Arboretum, Women's National Democratic Club, White House Historical Association, Asian American Forum, Library of Congress and others. She likes to illustrate her talks with historic slides.

See her website at www.dianaparsell.com for more information.

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Diana Parsell | DC's Cherry Tree Legacy of Eliza Scidmore | November 27, 2024

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A passionate linguist and humanitarian, Astrid de Vries embarked on her journey to Haiti in 1998, just as she was beginning her career in the Netherlands after studying economics, linguistics, and hotel management. It was during her time volunteering at an orphanage that she encountered the resilience and spirit of the children, sparking a profound connection that would change her life and theirs forever. Astrid quickly realized that even small acts of love, family support,
and access to education could transform despair into hope.

By 2009, having relocated to the US, Astrid continued her commitment to helping older youth from the orphanage—young adults striving for stability but lacking the resources to achieve their dreams. With her guidance, they completed their education and launched microbusinesses, laying the groundwork for what would become
Kids Connection Haiti (KCH).

Then came January 12, 2010—a day that would forever alter Haiti’s landscape. The devastating earthquake left millions homeless and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, creating an urgent need for support as the number of orphans surged. In the face of such overwhelming challenges, the vision for KCH became a beacon of hope.

Today, KCH supports approximately 100 young men and women, with over 300 having graduated from our program. With a remarkable 99% graduation rate and 92% of graduates finding paid employment, KCH is making a significant impact in a country where unemployment is a staggering 60%. Through education and empowerment, we are turning the tide and inspiring a brighter future for the next generation in Haiti.

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Astrid de Vries | Transforming lives in Haiti throughout the current humanitarian crisis | 11/20/24

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Briana "Bri" Franklin is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and student debt expert leading the crusade to conquer predatory lending.
Having taken on a loan burden that eventually ballooned to nearly $120K through her undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College, Bri developed an acute appreciation for the challenges many student debt holders experience, including diminished ability
to establish financial independence, exercise personal freedoms (i.e. starting a family and home buying) or launch business ventures.
In recognizing the extent to which debt constraint has become the leading source of wealth depletion, especially for Black women, she established an end-to-end solution spectrum dedicated to addressing the issue, consisting of nationally acclaimed 501(c)(3), The Prosp(a)rity Project, its fintech offshoot, Cadet Prosparette, hit YouTube series, UnDEBTfeated and her high school and college education programs,
Pathways to Prosparity.

Her accolades include coverage in Forbes, Katie Couric Media, Buzzfeed, and Authority Magazine, winning SXSW's 2023 Innovation Award for Social Impact, being accepted into the 2024 Chime for Changemakers cohort, and being named
Visionary Women's 2023 Rising Visionary and a 2023 Aspen Ideas Fellow.

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Bri Franklin | Started With Them But Ends With Us: Defeating Debt to Take Back Your Power | 11/13/24

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Jennifer (Jenn) Wisdahl is the driving force behind strategy and operations at FASD United, the national organization dedicated to supporting individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and promoting healthy pregnancies. With FASD affecting 1 in 20 Americans, Jenn plays a pivotal role in shaping the national legislative and policy agenda to address this under-recognized yet widespread disability. Her leadership approach is data-driven but always centered on people’s needs, contributing to significant organizational growth at FASD United. Under Jenn’s guidance, FASD United has successfully expanded key initiatives, including the Family Navigator Program, National FASD Impact Week, and the International FASD Research Conferences, which have now found a permanent home in the United States. Jenn’s efforts have been instrumental in elevating
FASD awareness and ensuring that those diagnosed receive the support they deserve.

Before joining FASD United, Jenn accumulated over 20 years of experience in human resources, recruitment, and operations, serving on international boards and advisory panels. She is also the executive producer of the award-winning short film *The FASD Project*, which highlights the realities of living with FASD. Beyond her professional achievements, Jenn is a passionate advocate as the mother of three young adults with
FASD, which fuels her dedication to the cause.

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Jennifer Wisdahl | FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders): Prevalence, Awareness & Stigma | 11/6/24

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Community Service Grants Co-Chairs Todd Miller and Elise Egan present to the club, at a Club Assembly, the recipients of the Community Service Grants awarded by the Rotary Foundation of Washington DC.

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Club Assembly | Grant Recipients | October 30, 2024

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