Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship: A Forum Presented by Partners of the Americas and Stetson

University**Sponsored by the Florida-Colombia Partners of the Americas to Mark 50

Years of “Connecting, Serving, and Changing Lives in the Americas.”

Friday, April 4, 2014, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Rinker Environmental Learning Center, 230 E. Michigan Ave., Stetson University, DeLand, FL.

Open to the Public, All WelcomeContact: Dr. John K. Schorr, jschorr@stetson.edu (386) 405-2212, for further information. Cultural Credit available for Stetson University undergraduate students.

Program Agenda:

9:00-9:30am Informal gathering with continental breakfast9:30-9:40am Opening Comments9:40-10:30am Partners of the Americas Programs for the Environment, College

Students, Volunteers, Florida Partners, Colombian Partners, Partners Campus. How Can You Get Involved?

10:30-11:30am Climate Change in the Americas, Partners of the Americas Climate Change Fellows Panel.

11:30-12:15pm Climate Feud Game Show, Audience Participation (Prizes).12:15-1:30pm Lunch Break, Hip Hop Music by Sekajipo and Florida Partner

Alberto Gomez Art Exhibit.

1:30-2:00pm Examples of Partners Environmental Projects and Opportunities: “Our Birds are Their Birds Too.” Student-to-Student Program between Florida and Colombia.

2:00-2:30pm Florida's Passive-Aggressive Policy and Approach to Climate Change. Clay Henderson.

2:30-3:00pm Building Partnerships for Environmental Stewardship and Positive Change in the Americas. Steve Vetter.

3:00-4:00pm Panel and Audience Discussion of Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship in the Americas.

4:00-4:30pm Closing Remarks, Raffle Drawing.4:30-5:00pm Informal Discussion, Music Performance and Art Exhibit.

Featured Speakers and Panelists:

Mr. Clay Henderson, Speaker: is senior counsel at Holland & Knight specializing in environment, land use and smart growth, and nationally recognized for his work on land conservation issues. He was elected to the Volusia County Council from 1986-92 and served as President of Florida Audubon Society from 1995-2000. In 1998 he served on the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and sponsored most of the environmental provisions in Florida's Constitution. He has extensive experience in conservation land acquisition and planning and has negotiated the acquisition of over 300,000 acres of lands now part of national and state parks and preserves. He has received numerous public service awards from groups including: the Nature Conservancy, Florida Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Florida Audubon Society, Museum of Arts and Sciences, Stetson University and League of Women Voters. The Florida Bar honored him with the Bill Sadowski Memorial Award for lifetime public service in environmental law. The Central Florida Partnership named him Champion of Sustainability. His book, The Floridas, celebrates the state's special places and he is an adjunct professor at Rollins College and Stetson University for environmental studies.

Mr. Steve Vetter, Speaker: has served as the President and CEO of Partners of the Americas since 2008. With over 35 years of experience in international and domestic development, Vetter offers a rich background in international voluntary service, grassroots community leadership and developing public-private partnerships to reduce poverty and improve the economic and social development of disadvantaged populations. Prior to his arrival at Partners, Vetter held a number of executive-level positions at the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), a public corporation dedicated to supporting the self-help efforts of grassroots communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.  He also served as the President and CEO of Eureka Communities, a non-profit leadership program that provided fellowship support to inner city leaders working to improve the life conditions of children and families  living in poverty.  He is also an active Woodrow Wilson Fellow.

Panelists:

Dr. Tony Abbott, Panelist: Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Science, Stetson University. Partners of the Americas Climate Change Fellow.Dr. Barbara Bischof, Panelist: Visiting Assistant Professor of Geography and Environmental Science, Stetson UniversityMs. Melissa Golladay, Panelist: Director of the Climate Change Fellows Program, Partners of the Americas, Washington, DC.Mr. John November, Panelist: Executive Director of Outreach, COAST: Coastal Ocean Association of Science & Technology, Inc. St. Augustine, Florida. Partners of the Americas Climate Change Fellow.Guests:

Mr. Juan Camilo Benevides, President Central Colombia, Partners of the Americas.Ms. Raaida Mannaa, Representative of the North Colombia Partners and Partners of the Americas International Board Member.