SUNY UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development The collaboration between The UWI and SUNY (University of Buffalo, Upstate) was rewarded with a five-year grant of US$1.1 million for the Global Infectious Diseases Research Training Programme by the National Institutes of Health, Fogarty Award. This initiative, led jointly by The UWI Mona Campus’ Professor John Lindo and Professor Gene Morse of SUNY University of Buffalo, is a significant achievement for the health sector in Jamaica and the Caribbean. It facilitated the continued growth of the SUNY-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development (CLSD) in that arena. The programme was launched at The UWI Regional Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica in November 2018 and in February 2019 in New York at the SUNY Global Center. Special guest presenter at the New York event was Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Director of Sustainable Development, Solutions Network, Columbia University. Guided by its mission to actively engage the Caribbean Diaspora community, CLSD hosted its second Community Engagement Series: “The Caribbean Music Industry 2019: What’s Next for Dance Hall and the New Breakout Artist?”. Keynote speaker, Dr. Carolyn Cooper, Professor Emeritus, The UWI, was ably supported by a panel of industry practitioners and experts including popular Dance Hall artiste, Carlton Grant aka Spragga Benz; Cristy Barber, artiste and manager; and Robert ‘Bobbie’ Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Media Group.
This outreach was followed by a Caribbean film series that featured five films of Caribbean origin that focused on major economic, social and cultural issues that impact the livelihood and well-being of the citizens of the different island nations. They were screened between June and November in different locations across the state of New York. Audiences were treated to a rare opportunity to interact with some of the producers/ directors of these films, such as Stephanie Black and Dr. Keith Nurse, who produced Life & Debt and Forward Home respectively. A highlight of the year was the hosting of the Climate Action Symposium held at the SUNY Center, which aimed to energise partnership commitments, maximise synergies and globalise coordinated action to combat climate change. At this occasion, The UWI and SUNY also launched its novel Advanced Certificate in Leadership for Sustainable Development postgraduate programme, which is jointly delivered by SUNY Empire State and the UWI Open Campus under the auspices of CLSD. A major milestone for the Center, this programme is the first academic offering from the SUNY-UWI collaboration, with a master’s programme slated to follow suit by fall 2020. It is designed to build human capacity in SDGs by providing a practical programme for persons engaged in environmental, community, public and private sector leadership. The five-course programme offers dual certification by both universities, which will enhance its global portability. The operation of the Center is now co-managed/directed by Dr. Latasha Brown of SUNY Empire State and Ms. Ann-Marie Grant of the American Foundation for The UWI along with virtual technical support from Kevin Manning, of The UWI Cave Hill Campus, while Dr. Luz Longsworth, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Open Campus and Ms. Sally Crimmins Villea, Associate Vice- Chancellor for Global Affairs, SUNY, continue to provide direct oversight on behalf of their respective universities.
Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Director of Sustainable Development, Solutions Network, Columbia University.
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