The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and European Investment Bank Launch Pilot in Africa to Improve Women Entrepreneurs' Access to Capital
SEATTLE, Washington, April 19 -- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation issued the following news release on April 17, 2024:
LUXEMBOURG and SEATTLE - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Investment Bank (EIB) today launched a new partnership to strengthen women's economic power in Kenya by tackling key barriers to financial inclusion.
The cooperation is spearheading a new Euros30 million microfinance programme in Kenya, backed by Euros15 million from EIB Global and financing from KCB Bank Kenya. Designed to ensure that 80% of final beneficiaries will be women, this pilot includes
... Show Full ArticleSEATTLE, Washington, April 19 -- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation issued the following news release on April 17, 2024:
LUXEMBOURG and SEATTLE - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Investment Bank (EIB) today launched a new partnership to strengthen women's economic power in Kenya by tackling key barriers to financial inclusion.
The cooperation is spearheading a new Euros30 million microfinance programme in Kenya, backed by Euros15 million from EIB Global and financing from KCB Bank Kenya. Designed to ensure that 80% of final beneficiaries will be women, this pilot includesincreasing access to finance for borrowers who lack collateral or a credit history, risk-adjusted pricing to address high interest rates, adapting digital services to the specific needs of female borrowers, and improving financial literacy.
This first scheme, to be launched in the coming weeks, will improve access to microfinance across Kenya and be managed by KCB Bank Kenya, under their dedicated Female-Led and Made Enterprises (FLME) and KCB Foundation 2jiajiri initiatives. It will leverage key learnings to enhance the impact of further gender equality engagement across Africa as the cooperation is expanded in the coming years.
"Across Africa, women need access to more and better credit to support their entrepreneurial activities," said Greta Bull, director, Women's Economic Empowerment at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Unequal access to credit remains a huge challenge that holds back economic activity and social progress, including for women in Kenya. This partnership will help remove some of the barriers women face in accessing affordable financing and will not only support women in getting businesses off the ground but will contribute to wider economic growth. It's a win-win."
"Women are the backbone of the African economy, and Africa is home to the highest percentage of women entrepreneurs in the world," said Thomas Ostros, European Investment Bank Vice President. "Yet African women continue to face huge hurdles with prohibitive interest rates, lacking collateral, and financial institutions failing to respond to the specific needs of women. This exciting new partnership brings together philanthropic expertise and resources from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and development finance from the EIB and the European Union to overcome challenges and enable women across Africa to harness new opportunities. The pioneering gender-focused microfinance scheme led by KCB Bank Kenya establishes a benchmark to tackle the $42 billion financing gap for female entrepreneurs in Africa."
KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director, Mrs. Annastacia Kimtai said: "Despite their dominance, women's economic potential is dwarfed by multiple challenges such as the lack of appropriately designed financial products, weak institutional capacity, and lack of incentives within banks to target and lend to women. The financial industry stands to significantly increase its bottom line by addressing banking's gender gap: female financial inclusion - particularly the promotion of financial literacy, digital banking, and access to credit."
"Kenya and the European Union are committed to delivering gender equality," said H. E Henriette Geiger, European Union Ambassador to Kenya. "This exciting new cooperation between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Investment Bank, and the European Union will enhance opportunities and improve the lives of thousands of women and their families here in Kenya and later across Africa."
Tackling technical and financial barriers to equal access to finance
Research last year estimated that the gender finance gap in Africa is $42 billion, a gap that hinders women's ability to take a greater lead in growing the economy and improving social change.
The 2023 EIB Financing in Africa survey also found that 65% of African banks have a gender strategy in place and an additional 19% plan to implement one soon. Concerning lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, almost 70% of surveyed banks reported that less than 30% of their lending was to female borrowers, and 50% of surveyed banks cited a lack of acceptable collateral as a major constraint, while 40% stating that poor or incomplete credit history is a major constraint.
The new pilot will address a range of issues that limit low-income women's ability to access finance. Technical assistance provided to KCB Bank Kenya will help financial institutions lower the cost of loans to women through digital technology and data, and risk sharing.
Earlier this week, the Gates Foundation released a whitepaper on the challenges and opportunities to provide more and better capital to Africa's women entrepreneurs, who have largely remained invisible from formal financial institutions. This cooperation represents a concrete step forward to close gender gaps and get more financing into the hands of women. Collaborations such as this are urgently needed to expand microfinance in other East African countries and across Africa.
The first facility benefits from a partial guarantee from the European Union under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) and is part of the Global Gateway strategy.
* * *
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Co-Chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.
European Investment Bank
The EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.
EIB Global is the EIB Group's specialised arm dedicated to operations outside the EU, and a key partner of the EU's Global Gateway strategy. It aims to support at least Euros100 billion of investment by the end of 2027, around one-third of the overall target of Global Gateway. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local communities, companies, and institutions through offices across the world.
The EIB Group aims to embed gender equality, and in particular women's economic empowerment, in its business model and is also committed to driving gender equality in its workplace. The EIB provided Euros5.8 billion of investment across the globe in 2023 that significantly contributed to gender equality, more than half of which also supported climate action.
* * *
KCB Bank Kenya
KCB Bank Kenya Limited is the largest commercial bank in the country. A subsidiary of KCB Group Plc, the Bank has the largest branch network, with over 200 branches, 367 ATMs and 16,000 agents offering banking services on a 24/7 basis in East Africa. This is complemented by mobile banking and internet banking services with a 24-hour contact center services for our customers to get in touch with the Bank. KCB Group Plc- which also has presence in Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda DRC Congo and Representative offices in Ethiopia and Brussels also boasts of a wide network of correspondent relationships totaling over 200 banks across the globe and our customers are assured of a seamless facilitation of their international trade requirements wherever they are.
JDRF Presents Dr. Kirstine Bell With 2023 Dr. Robert Goldstein Award
NEW YORK, April 19 (TNSres) -- JDRF, a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, issued the following news release:
* * *
Award recognizes outstanding efforts in type 1 diabetes research
* * *
JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, proudly announces Kirstine Bell, Ph.D., as the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Robert Goldstein Award in recognition of her notable contributions to T1D research.
Named for Dr. Robert Goldstein, who played a key role in developing JDRF's Research department and served as chief scientific officer for JDRF International
... Show Full ArticleNEW YORK, April 19 (TNSres) -- JDRF, a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, issued the following news release:
* * *
Award recognizes outstanding efforts in type 1 diabetes research
* * *
JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, proudly announces Kirstine Bell, Ph.D., as the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Robert Goldstein Award in recognition of her notable contributions to T1D research.
Named for Dr. Robert Goldstein, who played a key role in developing JDRF's Research department and served as chief scientific officer for JDRF Internationaland JDRF Canada for decades, the award recognizes early career T1D researchers who show great promise for future work in the field.
Dr. Bell is a diabetes educator, dietitian, and the principal research fellow at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney. She leads the Australian T1D National Screening Pilot, a national feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness program to determine the optimal method for routine, publicly funded national screening program for all Australian children. She has served in a critical role as a co-first author on the 2022 ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guideline: Stages of T1D in children and adolescents.
"JDRF is honored to present this award to Dr. Bell and celebrate her leadership in advancing type 1 diabetes research that has expanded the field's understanding of the stages of T1D and the importance of screening and monitoring in early stages," said JDRF Chief Scientific Officer Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D. "Dr. Bell's insight and research is a core part of JDRF's strategy to improve the lives of those at risk of developing T1D. Her strategic focus and innovation in T1D research will undoubtedly continue to have a profound impact on the T1D community globally."
JDRF Research Award recipients were recognized at a ceremony in New York City earlier in April 2024.
* * *
About JDRF
JDRF's mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally and globally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a global stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D.
* * *
About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short or long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death if left untreated. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D.
JDRF Celebrates Research Award Winners and Recognizes Type 1 Diabetes Research Leaders
NEW YORK, April 19 (TNSres) -- JDRF, a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, issued the following news release:
JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, proudly presented awards to five outstanding leaders in T1D research whose impact has pushed JDRF's mission forward. Award recipients include:
* Linda DiMeglio, M.D. and Moshe Phillip, M.D., co-recipients, George Eisenbarth Award for Type 1 Diabetes Prevention
* Colin Dayan, M.D., Ph.D., JDRF Rumbough Award
* Kirstine Bell, Ph.D., Dr. Robert Goldstein Award
* Viral Shah, M.D., Mary
... Show Full ArticleNEW YORK, April 19 (TNSres) -- JDRF, a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, issued the following news release:
JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, proudly presented awards to five outstanding leaders in T1D research whose impact has pushed JDRF's mission forward. Award recipients include:
* Linda DiMeglio, M.D. and Moshe Phillip, M.D., co-recipients, George Eisenbarth Award for Type 1 Diabetes Prevention
* Colin Dayan, M.D., Ph.D., JDRF Rumbough Award
* Kirstine Bell, Ph.D., Dr. Robert Goldstein Award
* Viral Shah, M.D., MaryTyler Moore and S. Robert Levine, M.D., Excellence in Clinical Research Award
"Since our inception, JDRF's mission has been focused on accelerating research and breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. Our progress has been driven by the exceptional work and commitment of T1D researchers across the globe," said JDRF Chief Scientific Officer Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D. "It's an honor to recognize and celebrate these dedicated individuals for their leadership and clinical implementation in research and the tangible impacts they have had on their fields and the millions of people who live with or are at risk of T1D."
George Eisenbarth Award for Type 1 Diabetes Prevention
Named after esteemed researcher George Eisenbarth, M.D., Ph.D., who provided the foundation for predicting T1D and identifying novel approaches toward prevention and cures, this award recognizes researchers who have made great contributions to preventing T1D.
Dr. Moshe Phillip and Dr. Linda DiMeglio have led the development of international consensus guidance for monitoring of T1D in its early stages prior to clinical diagnosis. As chair and vice chair of this effort, they helped convene a broad range of global experts and co-led the writing of the guidance document, which will provide actionable information for healthcare providers to monitor early-stage T1D in the clinical setting.
Dr. Phillip is the director of the Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes, National Center for Childhood Diabetes at Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva, where he has served since 1997, and leads the Diabetes Technologies Center at the institute. Under Dr. Phillip's leadership, the institute was leading the first multinational multicenter study with automatic insulin delivery (AID) outside of a hospital. Dr. Phillip is currently engaged in studies for national screening of diabetes in the general population and in family members. He remains active in clinical and applied research, focusing on childhood diabetes and growth.
In addition to maintaining an active clinical practice, Dr. DiMeglio serves as the Edwin Letzter Professor of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology at Riley Children's Health. She began her career with a JDRF career development award to support one of her first research projects on insulin pump therapy in very young children with diabetes. Now, she directs local and national research teams focused on preventing T1D, preserving beta cell function, and improving metabolic control and quality of life for persons living with the disease.
JDRF Rumbough Award
The JDRF David Rumbough Award acknowledges an individual who has made outstanding contributions in the field of T1D that have significantly accelerated the JDRF mission.
For over 20 years, Dr. Colin Dayan has been a leader in T1D immunotherapy research, and his work has been central to JDRF's research strategy and overall mission. He is leading efforts to bring teplizumab, the first disease-modifying therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that can delay clinical T1D in individuals in early stages, to Europe and the UK to expand treatment options available in these areas. He is a leading member of the JDRF-funded UK T1D Research Consortium, through which he has brought the research community together to accelerate critical research, leverage collective resources, and collaborate to improve T1D clinical trial delivery. Currently, Professor Dayan serves as chair of Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism and head of section at Cardiff University School of Medicine and as part-time senior clinical researcher in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Robert Goldstein Award
Named for Dr. Robert Goldstein, who played a key role in developing JDRF's Research department and served as chief scientific officer for JDRF International and JDRF Canada for decades, this award recognizes early career T1D researchers who show great promise for future work in the field.
Dr. Kirstine Bell is a diabetes educator, dietitian, and the principal research fellow at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney. She leads the Australian T1D National Screening Pilot, a national feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness program to determine the optimal method for routine, publicly funded national screening program for all Australian children. She has served in a critical role as a co-first author on the 2022 ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guideline: Stages of T1D in children and adolescents.
Mary Tyler Moore and S. Robert Levine, M.D., Excellence in Clinical Research Award
This award was established in honor of the late actress, Mary Tyler Moore, who served as chairman of JDRF International from 1984 until her passing in 2017, and her husband, Dr. Levine, who remains committed to JDRF's mission. The award recognizes leaders and innovators of outstanding clinical and translational T1D research.
Dr. Viral Shah is currently leading a JDRF-funded trial to examine the effects of semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, in people with T1D and hybrid closed-loop systems, and he recently published the first report on use of the GLP1-GIP agonist Mounjaro in T1D that demonstrated promising results. His research has also shown the association between time in range and retinopathy progression in T1D, which provides necessary evidence to support future therapy development.
Dr. Shah is a professor of medicine in endocrinology and metabolism and the director of diabetes clinical research at the Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at Indiana University whose research focuses on improving glycemic control and reducing complications in people with T1D.
JDRF Research award recipients were recognized at a ceremony in New York City earlier in April 2024.
JDRF recognizes and appreciates all of the dedicated researchers who are committed to finding cures and improving the lives of those living with T1D.
* * *
About JDRF
JDRF's mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally and globally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a global stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D.
* * *
About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short or long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death if left untreated. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D.
Georgia Public Policy Foundation Issues Commentary: The Right Way to End Federal Student Loans
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 19 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation issued the following commentary on April 18, 2024:
* * *
The right way to end federal student loans
By Preston Cooper, Senior Fellow
I get readers from all parts of the political spectrum, but it probably won't be controversial to say this: the federal student loan program is a mess. Administrative chaos, high delinquency rates, subsidies for low-quality institutions, and enormous fiscal costs are just some of the problems with federal student lending.
Many people, particularly those on the right, think the government should
... Show Full ArticleATLANTA, Georgia, April 19 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation issued the following commentary on April 18, 2024:
* * *
The right way to end federal student loans
By Preston Cooper, Senior Fellow
I get readers from all parts of the political spectrum, but it probably won't be controversial to say this: the federal student loan program is a mess. Administrative chaos, high delinquency rates, subsidies for low-quality institutions, and enormous fiscal costs are just some of the problems with federal student lending.
Many people, particularly those on the right, think the government shouldgive up and let the private sector take over the responsibility for making student loans. Those arguments are gaining more currency as the problems with federal student loans reach something of a climax. Millions of borrowers missed their first payments in October, and new loan-relief plans threaten to drain the Treasury of hundreds of billions of dollars.
It's time to start taking student loan privatization seriously. That's the subject of a new report I coauthored with Beth Akers and Joe Pitts of the American Enterprise Institute. We explore the current state of the private student loan market, weigh the benefits and drawbacks of privatization, and outline a policy agenda to make privatization work.
Privatization could improve higher education-but there are drawbacks
Just 10 percent of college students use private student loans, since the federal student loan program is so heavily subsidized that private lenders cannot compete. But the federal government will make a loan to almost any student to attend almost any accredited college, even if that college has an abysmal track record of helping students graduate and find jobs that enable them to repay their debts. Federal bureaucrats lend taxpayer dollars rather than their own, so there's little incentive to ensure those funds actually go to good programs.
Private financial institutions, by contrast, won't lend to students unless they expect to be paid back. Beth, Joe, and I find that the delinquency rate on private student loans is just one-third the rate on federal loans. Lenders have an incentive to steer prospective college students towards programs where graduates typically earn enough to repay their debts. If the private sector assumed a greater role in higher education finance, colleges would need to shape up or risk losing access to loans for their students.
That would hold colleges accountable for their outcomes in a way that the government seems incapable of doing. We'll see far fewer horror stories of students mired in education debt they can't repay. Privatization would also save taxpayers around a quarter trillion dollars over ten years.
But privatization comes with stumbling blocks that its proponents need to address. There are practical and regulatory barriers to expanding private student loans, particularly to student borrowers without a satisfactory credit record or a creditworthy cosigner. Mortgage borrowers can use their house as collateral, but students can't exactly borrow against the value of their degree. Moreover, regulators are hostile towards new methods of underwriting based on students' expected return on investment. Private lenders face loads of regulatory uncertainty.
The right way to end federal student loans
All this may lead the private sector to underinvest in higher education-that is, deny loans to many students who could nonetheless benefit from college. While some degree of market failure is inevitable-and may pale in comparison to the government failure that plagues the federal student loan program right now-reformers should still think about how to mitigate the drawbacks of privatization.
Regulatory reform is an obvious candidate. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act discourages lenders from using students' expected return on investment (ROI) from higher education to make lending decisions, so they instead fall back on FICO scores. Lawmakers should create regulatory "safe harbors" to allow lenders to use ROI-related measures.
Policymakers should also consider a modest expansion of scholarship aid for low-income students and others who might have trouble securing a private loan. Just a fraction of the estimated $249 billion savings from student loan privatization could enable a significant increase in the Pell Grant, which would reduce low-income students' need to borrow. Privatization advocates typically want to get the federal government out of higher education, but considering that federal student loans do far more damage than Pell Grants, swapping the former for the latter is still a worthwhile trade.
With the federal student loan program going off the rails (if it was ever really on them), the time is right for a serious conversation about privatization. A sensible privatization agenda-combined with regulatory reform and better grant aid-would help ensure students come out ahead when they pursue college.
Preston Cooper is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity focusing on the economics of higher education, including student loans and college ROI. This piece was originally published here (https://substack.freopp.org/p/the-right-way-to-end-federal-student).
Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression: A Third of Stanford Students Say Using Violence to Silence Speech Can Be Acceptable
PALO ALTO, Pennsylvania, April 19 (TNSres) -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression issued the following news release on April 18, 2024:
* * *
* A year after Judge Kyle Duncan was shouted down at Stanford University, a new FIRE report lays out just how dim the free speech climate at the school really was before and after the incident.
* Three-fourths of Stanford students say shouting down a speaker is either "rarely," "sometimes," or "always" an acceptable form of protest, and more than a third say the same about physical violence.
* FIRE used polling data before and after the
... Show Full ArticlePALO ALTO, Pennsylvania, April 19 (TNSres) -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression issued the following news release on April 18, 2024:
* * *
* A year after Judge Kyle Duncan was shouted down at Stanford University, a new FIRE report lays out just how dim the free speech climate at the school really was before and after the incident.
* Three-fourths of Stanford students say shouting down a speaker is either "rarely," "sometimes," or "always" an acceptable form of protest, and more than a third say the same about physical violence.
* FIRE used polling data before and after thejudge's visit to map out how a high-profile heckler's veto changed Stanford's free speech climate.
* * *
In March 2023, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan attempted to speak at an event held by the Stanford Law School Federalist Society-and was instead shouted down by dozens of demonstrators.
Under the pretense of quieting the crowd, Stanford's then-Associate Dean Tirien Steinbach took the podium and delivered prepared remarks scolding Duncan for having "caused harm" and questioning whether his appearance was worth the trouble, asking, "Is the juice worth the squeeze?" The heckling and disruption persisted, leading to Duncan's premature departure under escort by federal marshals.
Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression released "The Judge Duncan Shoutdown: What Stanford Students Think," a retrospective survey detailing how Stanford students felt about the school's handling of the incident and laying bare the endemic anti-free speech attitudes that led to the disruption.
As the Judge Duncan shoutdown was happening, FIRE and College Pulse were in the process of surveying more than 55,000 college students nationwide, including 284 students at Stanford, as part of the 2023 College Free Speech Rankings. FIRE was therefore able to compare the responses of Stanford students from before the incident to those of students after the incident to track the real-time effect of a high-profile heckler's veto on the campus speech climate. FIRE also took the opportunity to poll an additional 531 Stanford students and ask specific questions about the shoutdown.
FIRE's polling shows that while conservative students reported more comfort discussing the Stanford shoutdown after the fact than did liberal and moderate students, they also felt more uncomfortable discussing "controversial political topics" and reported self-censoring more often. In the starkest finding, close to half of conservative students said they felt comfortable publicly disagreeing with their professor on a controversial topic before the visit (45%), but that percentage plummeted to merely 6% after the visit.
"After the Judge Duncan shoutdown, our polls show conservative speech on Stanford's campus wasn't just chilled. It was frozen solid," said FIRE Chief Research Advisor Sean Stevens. "An act of censorship doesn't just silence one speaker. It silences thousands of others who take notice and choose to keep quiet for fear of receiving the same treatment."
Stanford students had complicated and seemingly contradictory feelings about the judge's visit itself:
* 74% of students agreed that the school failed to uphold its commitment to free speech during Judge Duncan's visit.
* But more than half (54%) said the school should have canceled the speech.
* 60% of Stanford students said the administration was correct to suspend Dean Steinbach.
* But about two-thirds (65%) said the school should not have apologized to Judge Duncan.
Stanford students' views on the shoutdown differed depending on their politics. Conservatives were more likely than liberals to defend Judge Duncan and liberals were more likely than conservatives to defend the disruption. In the largest partisan gap, 88% of conservatives believed the students who disrupted the event should have been punished, whereas only 35% of liberals believed the same.
Stanford students were also significantly more likely than students at other colleges polled for the College Free Speech Rankings to support illiberal and violent methods for shutting down campus speech. Three-fourths of Stanford students said shouting down speakers is either "rarely," "sometimes," or "always" acceptable, and more than a third (36%) said the same about using physical violence.
"That some of these students say violence is 'rarely' acceptable should be no comfort when there's only one correct answer to this question: violence is never an acceptable response to speech," said Stevens. "Every bully and mob comforts themself with the notion that they have identified the rare instance where violence is required to defeat an idea. It never is, and schools need to punish and prevent violence."
When asked about which specific controversial beliefs should not be allowed on campus, Stanford students were more accepting of liberal-coded political opinions than they were of conservative-coded ones. Overwhelming majorities said Stanford should allow a speaker who believes transgender women should compete in women's sports (82%) or that the federal government should confiscate all guns (71%).
But only 59% said Stanford should allow a speaker on campus who believes that biological differences explain gender differences, including less than half of liberal students (49%). Only 40% said that a speaker who believes that same-sex marriage is unconstitutional should be allowed (Duncan argued in support of same-sex marriage bans as an attorney). And only 31% would allow a speaker who supports the prosecution of women who obtain abortions.
"It doesn't matter if the speaker is on the left or the right, a freshman or a federal judge. Incidents like the Judge Duncan shoutdown aren't isolated affairs, but symptoms of a larger problem with campus free speech culture," said Stevens.
"FIRE is heartened by some of the moves (https://news.stanford.edu/report/2024/04/17/letter-admitted-undergraduates/) Stanford has made in the past year to instruct its students about the value of free speech. We're standing by to help any schools that want to recommit to creating an environment where contentious views are met with debate and dialogue, not shoutdowns and censorship."
* * *
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought - the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE recognizes that colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought within a free society. To this end, we place a special emphasis on defending the individual rights of students and faculty members on our nation's campuses, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience.
College Pulse is a survey research and analytics company dedicated to understanding the attitudes, preferences, and behaviors of today's college students. College Pulse delivers custom data-driven marketing and research solutions, utilizing its unique American College Student Panel(TM) that includes over 750,000 college students and recent alumni from more than 1,500 two- and four-year colleges and universities in all 50 states.
The sample for the Judge Duncan survey consists of 413 undergraduate students, 90 graduate students, and 28 students of unknown status - for a total of 531 students. Data were collected from April 26 to July 26, 2023. The overall margin of error was +/- 4%.
The report also includes an analysis of responses from 284 Stanford students separately surveyed for FIRE's 2024 College Free Speech Rankings. This included 78 Stanford students surveyed before Judge Duncan's visit to campus and 206 surveyed after Judge Duncan's visit. The margin of error for the whole sample of 284 Stanford students is +/- 6%.
AWF and Africa Refocused Announce the African Conservation Voices Producers Lab Fellows 2024 Cohort
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 19 -- The African Wildlife Foundation issued the following news release:
The Nature, Environment, and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) proudly introduced this year's African Conservation Voices Producers' Lab (ACVPL) cohort of 10 storytellers at the NEWF 2024 Congress. Through this collaboration, all 10 storytellers have become NEWF Fellows. ACVPL was made possible with support from Africa Refocused, NEWF's collaboration with the National Geographic Society.
Throughout the nine-month fellowship, these 10 mid-career filmmakers will receive
... Show Full ArticleNAIROBI, Kenya, April 19 -- The African Wildlife Foundation issued the following news release:
The Nature, Environment, and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) proudly introduced this year's African Conservation Voices Producers' Lab (ACVPL) cohort of 10 storytellers at the NEWF 2024 Congress. Through this collaboration, all 10 storytellers have become NEWF Fellows. ACVPL was made possible with support from Africa Refocused, NEWF's collaboration with the National Geographic Society.
Throughout the nine-month fellowship, these 10 mid-career filmmakers will receivesupport in developing, shooting, and distributing short conservation films told from an African perspective. The fellows will also participate in storytelling workshops throughout the program, including one in Nairobi in April.
With Fellows representing Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius, ACVPL demonstrates the true power of Pan-African collaboration, said Wambui Rachel, lead for NEWF Story Labs.
"NEWF has strengths as a storytelling organization and the African Wildlife Foundation has vast experience as a conservation organization, and now we're leveraging the reach and impact of both," said Wambui during remarks at the NEWF Congress. "And seeing the cross-pollination of our collective storytelling community that includes AWF's African Conservation Voices Fellows, NEWF Fellows, and African National Geographic Explorers has been so exciting."
The fellows' films in development will explore themes including human-wildlife coexistence, climate change, the role of Indigenous people and local communities in conservation, community resilience, and species conservation.
The cohort of new fellows are:
* Adams Cassinga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Kudzanai Dhilwayo, Zimbabwe
* Shuimo Trust Dohyee, Cameroon
* Ghaamid Abdulbasat Hatibu, Tanzania
* Aika Kirei, Tanzania
* Prashant Mohesh, Mauritius
* Sama Mildred Ngenseh, Cameroon
* Anthony Ochieng Onyango, Kenya
* Benjamin Owuor, Kenya
"When we thought about what this collaboration could look like... we wanted fellows to be able to use the films to convene around certain issues," said Ariel Gakunga, AWF's Field communications, Storytelling, and Production Manager. "We have a unique philosophy at AWF. We understand that If you care for wildlife, you must care for the lands where the wildlife exist, and you must also recognize the people who live in those lands and the laws that govern them. Film is a powerful way to get leaders and policymakers to care about these issues."
Some of the new ACVPL fellows are longtime youth educators and community leaders, so filmmaking is a natural extension of the storytelling they're already doing in classrooms and informal settings.
The ACVPL cohort's films are expected to be showcased at the 2025 NEWF Congress. Some of the fellows aspire to bring their films to governments, classrooms, and wider audiences.
* * *
ABOUT NATURE, ENVIRONMENT, AND WILDLIFE FILMMAKERS (NEWF)
NEWF is a platform in Africa for filmmakers, conservationists and scientists to engage, network and contribute through storytelling towards a shared vision of protecting the earths' natural assets for future generations. NEWF started out as an annual Congress in 2017 and has grown to become an all year round capacity building, impact and outreach organization building a connected network of Africans advocating for the protection of the continent's natural habitats and wildlife through visual storytelling. NEWF's vision is that the stories of Africa that celebrate and advocate for the protection of her natural history are told by a connected network of visual storytellers organically led by indigenous African voices. NEWF's mission is to remove the barriers to entry and build capacity in order to enable access, support inclusion and foster a culture of equity for African nature, environment and wildlife visual storytellers.
* * *
ABOUT AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
The African Wildlife Foundation is the primary advocate for the protection of wildlife and their habitats as an essential part of a modern and prosperous Africa. Founded in 1961 during the African independence movement in order to build our capacity to steward our natural resources, AWF articulates a uniquely African vision, bridging science, education, public policy, and field programs to demonstrate the benefits of conservation and build a future for Africa where people and wildlife thrive.
* * *
ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content.
24 Greater Dayton Charities Receive $496,975 in Dayton Foundation Competitive Grant Awards
DAYTON, Ohio, April 19 -- The Dayton Foundation issued the following news release:
Twenty-three discretionary and Greenlight GrantsSM totaling $496,975 were awarded by The Dayton Foundation's volunteer Grants Committee and approved by the Foundation's Governing Board to address emerging needs and opportunities in the region. These grants, made possible thanks to individuals who have established unrestricted or lightly restricted charitable funds, promoted efforts in the arts and culture, health, education, human services, philanthropy and other community-building endeavors.
Discretionary grants
... Show Full ArticleDAYTON, Ohio, April 19 -- The Dayton Foundation issued the following news release:
Twenty-three discretionary and Greenlight GrantsSM totaling $496,975 were awarded by The Dayton Foundation's volunteer Grants Committee and approved by the Foundation's Governing Board to address emerging needs and opportunities in the region. These grants, made possible thanks to individuals who have established unrestricted or lightly restricted charitable funds, promoted efforts in the arts and culture, health, education, human services, philanthropy and other community-building endeavors.
Discretionary grantstotaling $438,991 were awarded to the following organizations.
Culture Works ($50,000) to help raise matching funds for a National Endowment for the Arts grant to invest in Greater Dayton's arts community.
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company ($64,000) to rebuild Dayton audiences and address lingering post-pandemic impacts by strengthening and developing organizational skills and resources.
Dayton Live ($75,000) to address critical facility needs for the Arts Garage, Metropolitan Arts Center, Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center and Victoria Theatre.
Dayton Metro Library ($75,000) to purchase a new Bookmobile to help enhance school-based and community engagement, as well as enable more children and their families to read more books.
Fisher Nightingale Houses, Inc. ($25,000) to install a generator to power the Dayton VA Medical Center Fisher House in the event of an electrical outage.
Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley ($24,991) to assist individuals who are blind or have low vision by providing assistive equipment and services, such as cane training and workplace accessibility.
The Human Race Theatre Company ($50,000) to purchase new equipment and address long-term artistic needs that will allow the organization to reduce production costs, limit waste and enable artists to expand their creativity.
North Star Community Association ($50,000) to expand and renovate North Star Community Park, providing a larger, more accessible and easier-to-maintain facility for community gatherings.
ThinkTV ($25,000) to support Brick by Brick, a new solutions-driven, community affairs program to address regional issues, such as affordable housing.
The Foundation's Greenlight Grants program assists organizations seeking quick, small grants for special projects, program expansions, capital improvements or capacity building. In recent months, $57,984 in Greenlight Grants was awarded to the following organizations.
Caesars Ford Theatre, Inc. ($4,000) to create website photos and marketing materials for the promotion and development of the Shawnee Living History Tour.
Diabetes Dayton (LifeCare Alliance) ($2,100) to provide translation services for clients who are living with diabetes and experiencing language barriers.
Emerge Recovery and Trade Initiative ($5,000) to construct a greenhouse for horticultural therapy, a proven method to help individuals who are battling addictions.
For Love of Children ($2,000) to provide Christmas gifts for Greene County children who are fostered or have insufficient resources.
House of Bread ($4,000) to purchase a new furnace for the organization's receiving area and kitchen.
K12 Gallery for Young People ($4,000) to purchase a pug mill for the ceramics studio.
The Learning Tree Farm, Inc. ($1,500) to build storage space and closets in the Bank Barn.
Pink Ribbon Good ($7,000) to upgrade financial software to help support infrastructure growth and the increased demand for services.
Preschool Promise ($7,500) to hire a consultant who will help identify new philanthropic and government funding opportunities.
Preservation Dayton, Inc. ($5,000) to establish a revolving fund that will enable the organization to acquire and renovate vacant properties in Dayton's historic neighborhoods.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. ($2,884) to help supply beds for children in need in Northeast Dayton and East Dayton.
Specialized Alternative for Families and Youth of Ohio ($4,500) to help emancipated foster youth gain access to driving education and licenses for enhanced mobility in order to achieve employment and self-sufficiency.
Think Tank, Inc. ($2,000) to build the capacity of community members who have experienced poverty but lack power and resources so they may serve on leadership teams and community boards.
Valor Therapeutics, Inc. ($6,500) to develop a five-year strategic plan, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its mission to support active-duty military personnel, retired veterans and first responders.
More information about The Dayton Foundation and its competitive grants programs is available at https://www.daytonfoundation.org/ or by calling (937) 222-0410.
