2021 Summit – Video Transcripts

Tuesday August 3, 2021

Summit Opening

• Introduction
  • Matthew Lussenhop, Acting Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State 
  • Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State 
• Congressional Welcome
  • Karen Bass, U.S. Representative, California  
  • Christopher Coons, U.S. Senator, Delaware   
• Keynote Address  
  • Introduction:  Myra Labiche, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Seychelles  
  • Keynote Speaker:  Dr. Uzodinma Iweala, Author and Chief Executive Officer, The Africa Center 
• Ignite Talks
  • Tsholofelo Letsholo, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Botswana
  • Biniam Yayehyirad Kitaw, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Ethiopia
• Policy Spotlight Briefing
  • Judd Devermont, Director, Africa Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)  
  • Belinda Jackson Farrier, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State  
  • Silas Njacheun Ngahane, Programs Coordinator, African Union Commission (2019 Mandela Washington Fellow Alumnus, African Union) 
  • Moderator: Elizabeth Liu, Special Coordinator for the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), U.S. Department of State
• Message from Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
  • Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor of Atlanta    
• Ignite Talks
  • Mariatu Kabba, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Sierra Leone
  • Lusia Immanuel, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Namibia
  • Hastings Golosi, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Malawi

Wednesday August 4, 2021

Welcome Session

• USAID Administrator Samantha Power
• U.S. Congressional Welcome
  • Cory Booker, U.S. Senator, New Jersey
  • Joni Ernst, U.S. Senator, Iowa
• Concurrent Panel Discussions: Climate Change, Public Health, and Social Justice
  • Climate Change: Collective Action and Leadership
    • Adedana Ashebir, Regional Director – Africa and the Middle East, Village Capital  
    • Jasmine Sanders, Executive Director, Our Climate 
    • Moderator: Shaban Senyange, Wildlife Health and Conservation Media Specialist (2018 Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumnus, Uganda) 
  • Leading and Innovating During a Public Health Crisis
    • Nicolette Louissaint, Ph.D., Executive Director and President, Healthcare Ready 
    • Dr. John Nkengasong, Director, Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention 
    • Loyce Pace, M.P.H., Director, Office of Global Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  
    • Moderator: Babatunde Okunlola, Content Head, Royal FM 95.1 (2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumnus, Nigeria) 
  • Building as We Climb: Leading for Social Justice
    • Nisha Anand, Chief Executive Officer, Dream Corps 
    • Abbey Wemimo, Co-Founder, Esusu 
    • Ambassador Rama Yade, Director of the Africa Center, Atlantic Council 
    • Moderator: Nancy Hopkins, Director of Programs, Presidential Precinct 
• Ignite Talks
  • Gloria Anderson, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Tanzania
  • Dennis Nyarko, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Ghana
  • Lensa Dorothy Joseph, 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, Kenya
• Message from a Special Guest and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
  • Message from a Special Guest
  • Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
• Next Steps: Resilience and Alumni Opportunities
• Launch of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Catalyst Grant 
• Closing Session