As part of their agenda while here in New York City, the group traveled to Jackson Heights, Queens where Alison Gardy, director of international relations at 92Y told the Daily News: “I hope they’ll see how diverse communities can work toward common goals. People live together here that could not live together back home. And they make it work.”

That’s certainly one of Grace Yeanay’s goals. She runs an organization that helps Liberian women get out of prostitution and poverty by teaching them marketable skills. Often, the women are from feuding tribes.

She was impressed by how different immigrant groups in the U.S. successfully live in the same communities.

“Everyone is different, everyone has their own ideas and all of those ideas can come together,” said Yeanay, 34, executive director of Young Women Organized for Sustainable Development.

Galit Toledano-Harris, 47, executive director of the Youth Renewal Fund in Israel, was similarly impressed with the area.

“It was a totally different experience,” she said of the tour. “There’s a place for everybody.”

You can read the full article here, and see more photos of 2009 Ford Fellows here on our Facebook.

[International Relations at the 92nd Street Y]

Only one month following the start of Iran’s civilian uprising, PEN American Center joins forces with The New York Review of Books and 92nd Street Y Unterberg Poetry Center for New York City’s first public discussion about the recent events in this pivotal Middle Eastern country on July 15 at 92Y. Shaul Bakhash, a leading expert on Iran and frequent contributor to The New York Review of Books will moderate a panel including New York Times’ columnist Roger Cohen— who has recently returned to the U.S. from covering the elections —and Iran analysts Haleh Esfandiari (Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson international Center for Scholars, who was imprisoned in Iran in 2007) and Karim Sadjadpour (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington D.C.).

With traditional media shut down (and the masses turning to Twitter), it is increasingly difficult to follow events on the ground and behind the scenes in Iran. What is happening in heavily censored Iran today? And where are today’s events taking this country of 70 million people (two-thirds of whom are under the age of 30)? Do not miss this extraordinary opportunity to hear real stories from the streets and a discussion led by experts on the future of this complex country.

To purchase tickets ($15/$8 for students with ID and PEN members), go to www.smarttix.com or call 212-868-4444.

Tony Blair, Britain’s former Prime Minister and current Special Envoy to the Middle East, was at 92Y on Monday evening for The Business of Giving with Matthew Bishop, New York bureau chief for The Economist. The two spoke about Iran, Iraq, global warming, the Middle East, Africa, and much more. “Charming to a tee,” said blogger The Brooklyn Socialite.

The Jewish Week covered Blair’s frank comments on Israel and Palestine. “The Arab world today actually wants the issue [the Israeli-Palestinian conflict] resolved,” he said. “That gives us an opportunity.”

According to the Times of London, Blair thought “that it was impossible to predict the outcome of protests in Iran over the landslide presidential election victory claimed by the incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.” Since then, the government of Iran has made their intentions more clear, with the LA Times reporting that that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be sworn in for a second term by mid-August.

Blair’s most interesting remarks might have been on Globalization and America’s place in it. Vikie Karp at True/Slant wrote:

In his introductory remarks about the future of globalization and achieving justice and equality for all on an international scale, Blair said “We are a global community. And its chief attribute is that no one nation, not even this great nation of America, can do it on its own. In any case, power is shifting East and it is shifting quickly. Countries like India and China will take their rightful place. And it’s galvanizing people, too. Look at Iran today. So that’s my theory, and if I’m right, the countries of the global community must work in alliance with each other, and with equality, and it will work only if there is a feeling of obligation beyond their borders and a real belief that they can share values. If it’s simply a battle of interests, we will fail and the failure will be ugly.

“Tupac would leave us in his mansion and I’d go through Pac sh*t looking for trees.” That was Brooklyn rapper Buckshot (pictured at right with Twitter user mattraz) last night at Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg Present Juan Epstein & Friends LIVE From 92YTribeca, as quoted on Twitter by micseannyc. Also present were artists Jim Jones, Peter Rosenberg, It’s The Real, and others as the show was broadcast live on Rosenberg Radio.

More from micseannyc and mattraz, where you’ll read that: ”Pac loved Sunkist soda,” and other great nuggets of information. As Twitter user MPmakesmusic said: “yo frank this show is dope yo… They are telling some crazy ass stories.”

It seems whenever Peter Rosenberg is at 92YTribeca with guests, amazing things happen. Remember when Q-Tip and ?uestlove played their impromptu jam session?

If you feel like you keep hearing about these events after the fact, but wished you had been there, stay plugged into 92YTribeca’s Twitter, for frequently updated information on what is going on. You can also visit their Facebook, join their eNews, and of course visit the websiteto learn more about any events, and view a complete calendar.

Some events coming up around the corner you might like to attend include:

A passionate and dedicated musician, American violinist Rachel Barton Pine is an inspiration to audiences everywhere. She has received worldwide acclaim for her profound and thoughtful interpretations delivered with tremendous enthusiasm and intensity, which she applies to an extremely diverse repertoire.

Rachel, who has played all over the U.S. and Europe, winning competitions and acclaim from press and institutions along the way, is making her New York City recital debut on Sep 15 with Matthew Hagle for New York Chamber Music Festival at the 92nd Street Y presents. 

And on Sep 14 at 92Y, musicians of the New York Philharmonic will be joined with Alexandros Kapelis on piano and Elmira Darvarova on violin.

The Ford Motor Company International Fellowship of the 92nd Street Y now underway was designed with the goal of enhancing the efforts of emerging leaders in communities throughout the world. Each year, a group of 20-24 emerging leaders from different regions of the world are selected to become Ford Fellows of the 92nd Street Y. Participants are leaders in the NGO sector addressing issues whose resolution will have a significant positive impact on their communities, on their countries, and, collectively, on the world.

Idealist.org wrote:

In what looks like a pretty impressive cross-sector, cross-continent, and cross-NYC collaboration, 18 leaders from NGOs in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Estonia, Ethiopia, Israel, Latvia, Liberia, and Uruguay recently landed here for three weeks of “intensive training in nonprofit management and building civil societies.”

The agenda looks packed, from a kickoff dinner with Ford executives, local Ford dealers, and local diplomats; to neighborhood tours of Jackson Heights, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Harlem, and the West Village; to a number of site visits, including:

The Point Community Development Corporation

Sesame Workshop

Sustainable South Bronx

Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding

The United Nations

I’d have loved to be a fly on the wall; this looks like quite an enriching—and exhausting!—few weeks. Imagining this budding global network of NGO leaders, I can’t help but remember old episodes of Captain Planet: by their powers combined, who knows what amazing things might happen?

As an attendee last year stated, “It’s a life changing opportunity, but only if you decide to make the choice.”

[International Relations at the 92nd Street Y]

It is now high season in New York City for Jazz. Reports the Wall Street Journal:

The jazz season in New York has, for more than a decade, reached its climax in June and July, and until this year no less than three major festivals arrived in close succession—the Vision Festival, the JVC Jazz Festival and the 92nd Street Y’s Jazz in July series. If New York’s jazzfests resemble a three-ring circus, the center ring traditionally was occupied by the epic JVC Jazz Festival, a marathon two-week event built around well-known contemporary headliners (and even a few smooth jazz and pop stars). To the right was Jazz in July, where the emphasis is on swing and the songbook; to the left, Vision, which focuses on what is variously known as free jazz, experimental music or the avant-garde (none of these terms being entirely accurate).

We’re flattered to be name dropped by the Wall Street Journal as having one of one of three major summer jazz festivals in New York City.

Our readers might recall that we are pretty fond of Summer in the city. If you are too, consider taking a Body and Soul staycation: Sign up for any of our jewelry/ceramics intensives, workshops or visiting artists series, and receive a one-week guest pass with all of the privileges of a preferred May Center for Health, Fitness and Sport membership for only $45. Or enter to win a ten-class Flex Dance Card for the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center. Go to NYC Tango Week. Or just browse a few links we put together.

[Jazz in July Summer Festival July 20-30, 2009]

Previously:

“We are not the only beings on the planet with personalities, minds, and feelings.” That’s Jane Goodall, speaking in the video above. Goodall, a recognized environmentalist, humanitarian, and anthropologist, is best known for her study of chimpanzees. Arguably her biggest break-through in the field of primatology was her documentation of tool-making among chimpanzees. Though scientists had recognized that all animals use tools, previous to Jane’s study it was thought only humans made tools. This presumed distinction had always set animals and humans apart, which science now had to reconsider. Which is not the only thing science and technology are reconsidering these day.

Jane now spends much of her time advancing the objectives of the Jane Goodall Institute. On Sep 2 she will be at 92Y with Harvard University Professor Howard Gardner for How to Change the World with Howard Gardner and Guests: Jane Goodall. These tickets are already selling briskly, and we want to give you a chance to win two of them. Our Trivia Challenge this week is offering one lucky winner two free tickets to the event. This contest closes at 5pm (EST) on Jul 3 and the winner will be announced here on Jul 6.  Go ahead and enter your answer here!

And while we are doing trivia, here’s one more just for fun. View the picture below, and tell us where it came from. Leave your answer in the comments and first person to guess correctly will receive our fawning appreciation and healthy respect for daring to venture into the lands few people dare go...our comment box! 

Wondering why, they ask: “is Mr. Ross going to assume more of a role in Mr. Obama’s evolving Middle East policy, particularly in relations with Israel?” David Makovsky, Mr. Ross’s co-author in the just-published book Myths, Illusions & Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East, offered a different possible reason: “Dennis Ross is the Lebron James of Middle East diplomacy.”

The New York Times couldn’t have asked a more knowledgeable person for comment. Makovsky, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Director of their Project on the Middle East Peace Process, is a seasoned expert on Middle East Policy. He is a frequent Op-Ed contributor on the topic at such outlets as the Wall Street Journal and Huffington Post.

This Sunday on Jun 21, Makovsky will join Les Gelb, former editor and columnist for the New York Times and President Emeritus and Fellow on the Council on Foreign Relations for the talk, Puncturing Middle East Mythologies—focusing on a variety of mythologies that have become obstacles to reshaping foreign policy in the region.

Interestingly, it’s not just the White House that is shuffling around people on their Middle East policy. Dennis Ross was originally scheduled to be with us on Sunday night with his co-author David Makovsky. Now it’s Makovsky and Les Gelb.

Upcoming events:

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is currently working in the Middle East as Quartet Representative, helping the Palestinians to prepare for statehood as part of the international community’s effort to secure peace. He has launched the Tony Blair Faith Foundation to promote respect and understanding between the major religions and to make the case for faith as a force for good in the modern world.

Blair will be at the 92nd Street Y on Jun 22 with Matthew Bishop for our signature series, The Business of Giving. Bishop, American Business Editor and New York Bureau Chief of The Economist, will conduct a rare one on one discussion with former Tony Blair about his range of philanthropic work and commitments. Past guests in this series have included President Clinton, Vartan Gregorian and Eli Broad.

We have just released a few tickets for the event. Please note that tickets are available only via phone at 1.212.415.5500 or in person at the 92Y Box Office. All tickets will be held at will call for security reasons and must be picked up that night with photo ID for everyone in the party. Tickets will not be mailed and cannot be picked up at any point prior to the event. Please have the first and last names of everyone in your party available at time of purchase.

Keeping abreast with the panels at World Science Festival last week, and in particular our Battlestar Galactica: Cyborgs on the Horizon panel, only solidified that belief for us. The panel joined cast members from Battlestar Galactica and leading roboticists to explore the approaching frontier where intelligent machines are commonplace and cybernetic technology enhances human capabilities. What are we talking about you ask? We’ll let audience members explain it.

Blogger Fill In Your Own Blanks wrote:

The panel was really amazing. I had no idea where we as a people stood before on our progress with robotics and cybernetics, but I have a better, scarier understanding of it now. One scientist took cells from a rat brain and grew a new, simple brain in a small dish that was able to communicate with a nearby robot as an organic mind…

Not impressed yet? ScriptPHD writes:

Yes, the robots are SELF AWARE. He showed a video (a variant of which can be found from an earlier talk on You Tube) which showed a spider-like robot experimentally moving its limbs and as it did so, developing an idea of what it looked like. At each generation, the robot’s idea of what it looked like got more and more accurate, and its ability to move grew more and more precise.

The researchers then removed one of the robot’s four limbs, and Dr. Lipson described how the robot became aware that its limb was missing and even adapted to walk with a limp.

Oops. We almost forgot to mention: “Dr. Lipson’s other research involves robots that can self replicate.”

In addition to SciptPHD and Fill In Your Own Blanks, a number of people who attended covered this event in detail, offering superb accountings of the panels discussions. Galactica Sitrep, Discovery’s Science not Fiction, and TED Blog to name just a few.

Cant wait for 2045!

Jazz is being celebrated in the White House, the New York Times informed us yesterday, as they reported on the 150 or so high school jazz students invited to the White House by Michelle Obama for a program called Jazz Studio:

It was not the full-force, let-a-thousand-saxophones-bloom, this-is-our-music festival that some might have wished from a White House where the language of jazz seems to have a place, at least in the president’s iPod. But it was a good start.

It is a great start, and fitting as it seems if everyone in New York City is in a jazzy mood lately. Hot House magazine (pictured at right) has our Jazz in July Summer Festival on their mind, highlighting Peter Washington’s two appearances in the festival on Jul 23 and Jul 27. Washington, “perhaps the most recorded bassist of his generation,” with roles in “two of the most important and highly praised jazz trios of the last 20 years,” wrote All About Jazz, will play with over a dozen musicians on two nights, honoring the music of jazz greats Oscar Peterson and Gerry Mulligan.

“Jazz may be,” Michelle Obama said, “America’s greatest gift to the world” and “there is no better example of democracy than a jazz ensemble.”

[Jazz in July Summer Festival July 20-30, 2009]

Previously:

Summer in New York City seems to be making a run at becoming the new Paris in the 20’s. There is the Jazz-Age Lawn Party that took place last weekend on our beloved Governors Island.  There are numerous Jazz Festivals, including the Jazz in July Summer Festival.

New York Times writer Lily Koppel wrote a fantastic book that got Hollywood’s attention, The Red Leather Diary. The book chronicles a chapter in a young women’s life in New York City during the Roaring Twenties, a life Lily discovered in diaries found in discarded steamer trunks.

And this weekend on Saturday, Jun 20, is the Vintage Summer Ball, a spring celebration of the music and dances of the Ragtime Era, where period attire is encouraged. For sartorial suggestions, you might want to check out The Sartorialist, who has been posting photos of Ragtime Era fashion all week. 

The World Science Festival, an event inspired by the Genoa Science Festival, is now underway. Brian Green, a founder of the WSF, told the New York Times that by mixing up art, music, and theater with science, the organizers hope to create a festival where they “bring people in with the art, and have them leave with the science.”

One of our goals in creating a lot of the programs in the festival,” Brian said, “is to reach outside the core audience that would go to an event that has science in the title…

As co-presenters with the World Science Festival, 92Y is holding three events. Choosing between one or another would be “painful” wrote the New York Times. Though with a little effort, it is possible to attend each one.

This evening, Jun 12 at 5pm, 92YTribeca is hosting the World Science Festival Spotlight. At 8pm tonight back uptown at 92Y, is Battlestar Galactica: Cyborgs On The Horizon. Time Out New York called it one of “seven of its most promising lectures.” And finally on Saturday at 8pm is Yours to Decide: Fate, Free Will, Neither or Both?

[World Science Festival]