TLI Case Study - Nicholas Kristof

Photo credit: David Bazemore

Prior to Nicholas Kristof’s visit -- on April 18 – TLI presented a free screening of the film
A Path Appears: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty (Episode 2) at the Faulkner Gallery at the
Santa Barbara Central Library. Also, A&L made available for free 400 copies of the Spring
2018 Thematic Learning Initiative Book Selection – Nicholas Kristof and his wife Sheryl
WuDunn’s book A Path Appears.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Nicholas Kristof came to Santa Barbara on
April 23, 2018. In the afternoon A&L TLI and the Santa Barbara Public Library produced
Taking Action Matters: Santa Barbara Organizations as Global Change Makers. This
event for adult learners focused on Santa Barbara-based aid agencies working on an
international scale on issues such as medical assistance, poverty alleviation,
sustainability, nutrition, education and global human rights. The panel was led by Jen
Lemberger of the Santa Barbara Public Library and featured a short conversation with
Nicholas Kristof followed by presentations by Cydney Justman, International Program
Manager / Latin America for Direct Relief; Randal Avolio, CEO for Vitamin Angels; Linda
Cole, Founder & Executive Director for African Women Rising and Amy Steets, Senior
Program Manager for Surgical Eye Expeditions International.

In addition to their informative slide-illustrated individual presentations, the panelists
joined Nicholas Kristof in responding to audience questions and comments. Topics
ranged from the efforts to achieve sustainability and self-sufficiency in economically and
politically challenged communities to creating effective delivery models and programs.
The 155 attendees were also able to collect information and meet representatives from
the local non-profits at tables after the event staffed by African Schools of Kenya,
Vitamin Angels, Unite to Light, Human Rights Watch, SEE International, African Women
Rising, and Shelter Box USA. Additionally, everyone received suggested readings and a
Resource List of Santa Barbara Organizations as Global Change Makers.

A private reception hosted by Direct Relief and UCSB Arts &Lectures took place at the
Goodland Hotel in Goleta and was followed by an evening A&L TLI Town Hall: Building a
Resilient Community: Turning Adversity into Opportunity, moderated by local reporter
John Palminteri. Kristof lectured for 50 minutes sharing insights and personal stories
about global development and poverty alleviation based on his reportage and
experiences abroad. Afterwards, Palminteri moderated the Town Hall portion of the
event calling on various people in the audience who have been touched by the recent environmental devastation in Montecito (fires / flooding / debris flow) including
government officials, volunteer community members and audience members.