U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy

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Marisol Molstre
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Denise Essman
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The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy Honors Local Teacher
Khris Nedam with First-Ever National Award for Citizen Diplomacy

Award Ceremony to be held February 12 in Washington, D.C.

Des Moines, IA (January 7, 2008) – Khris Nedam from Livonia, Michigan, and founder of “Kids4AfghanKids,” is one of six honorees for the first-ever National Awards for Citizen Diplomacy. Nedam and the five other honorees from across the United States will be recognized at an Awards Ceremony at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. on February 12, 2008. The honorees will be recognized for inspiring others through their exemplary work as citizen diplomats and for promoting cross cultural understanding around the world.

“It is not only the right, but the responsibility of every American to be a citizen diplomat, of the highest quality, for our communities and our country,” said Harriet Mayor Fulbright, board member for the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy and the President of the J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center. “We are particularly proud to recognize Khris Nedam for the first-ever National Awards for Citizen Diplomacy. Khris, through her various causes and programs, understands the need for citizen involvement in international relations. This award recognizes Khris’ efforts and highlights her national and international contributions.”

About Nedam

Currently, Nedam is an elementary school teacher for Amerman Elementary in Northville, Michigan. In her classroom, Nedam has emphasized the importance of world class citizenship. Her students actively research and investigate different cultures through speakers, the Internet and cross-country collaboration.

This emphasis on world class citizenship combined with her previous experiences teaching abroad have led her to founding “Kids4AfghanKids” – a non-profit organization to re-establish educational facilities for boys and girls in Afghanistan. Nedam will receive a $5,000 cash donation from the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy. She will donate this money to “Kids4AfghanKids” project, which now has supporters and contributors throughout the United States and several schools in Europe.

Additional National Award Honorees

Anjali Bhatia of Kinnelon, New Jersey, founded Discover Worlds at the age of 16. This student-run, non-profit organization promotes relations between the U.S. and Rwanda. It focuses on eradicating poverty by enabling orphans of genocide and youth affected by HIV/AIDS to stay in school. Now 19, Bhatia continues to inspire young Americans to make a difference for at-risk students in Rwanda.

Tarik S. Daoud of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, stands out as a dynamic business leader and active philanthropist. Through organizations like the International Visitor’s Council of Detroit, he has championed cross-cultural understanding. Daoud has led international delegations and demonstrated a commitment to community service and diplomacy overseas.

Greg Mortenson of Bozeman, Montana, is the co-founder of the Central Asia Institute and Pennies for Peace. Mortenson has raised funds to build 64 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan and has helped over 25,000 children. He is co-author of The New York Times best seller, Three Cups of Tea.

Jillian H. Poole of Arlington, Virginia, mentors with “an unquenchable drive” The Fund for Arts and Culture in Central and Eastern Europe which she founded in 1991. Her achievements have empowered international arts and cultural institutions that had long relied on government patronage to adjust to a free-market economy.

Donna Tabor of Granada, Nicaragua, works with Building New Hope, a non-profit organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Together they have raised funds to start a school. Tabor has rallied volunteers and opened her home to street children in Nicaragua, feeding them, teaching them to read and providing medical care when needed.

National Awards Criteria

U.S. citizens were nominated based on accomplishments and/or activities that have increased mutual understanding, strengthened ties, promoted international cooperation and developed peaceful relations between people of the United States and other countries. The National Awards Advisory Committee evaluated nominees according to the following criteria:

Nominees must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old.
Activities/accomplishments are ongoing and have taken place since January 2006.
Activities/accomplishments must reflect a commitment to promoting global understanding.
Nominees represent excellence, diversity and vitality of citizen diplomacy.
Outstanding ability to attract, support and motivate people in the field of citizen diplomacy.
Evidence of dedication, originality and capacity for leadership and self-direction.

In addition to the Award and national recognition, a $5,000 cash donation will be awarded on behalf of each honoree to a non-profit organization of his/her choice.

2008 National Summit

The Awards Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the 2008 National Summit on Citizen Diplomacy, “The Power of Citizen Diplomacy in a Turbulent World.” The two-day Summit aims to recruit, engage and educate more Americans to serve as citizen diplomats, and to recognize and build awareness of citizen diplomacy work currently underway.

The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy

The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy was established in 2006 and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The Center is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. It promotes opportunity for all Americans to be citizen diplomats and affirms the indispensable value of citizen involvement in international relations. For more information about the Center, the Awards and the honorees, and to download photos, visit http://www.uscenterforcitizendiplomacy.org/media/index.php.

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