The Penn Alumni Diversity Alliance Speaker Series is designed to expose the Penn community to the rich and varied accomplishments of our graduates. Alumni representing one or more of the Diversity Alliance member organizations will return to campus to speak about their areas of professional expertise and their personal experiences. Students, faculty, staff and alumni are encouraged to attend.

MARCH 2008
Museum Art and the City: Breaking Down Barriers
Esperanza Altamar, GFA'00

EVENT RESCHEDULED - New date and time TBA

Although the world's top museums of art are located in major metropolitan areas, their primary audience is not as reflective of that environment as it could be. Esperanza Altamar, GFA'00, is determined to change that. In her current role as Manager of Community Programs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Altamar oversees relationship building with populations that have not historically comprised the Museum's most frequent visitors. She has conducted workshops with Penn's own Center for Community Partnerships, and has found multiple opportunities to combine her background as a fine artist, her museum responsibilities, and her passion for working with youth- and community-based organizations. Come hear about Altamar's experience as an artist working on the museum side of the art world, what advice she has for those who would like to pursue similar careers, and how she works to educate new audiences about the joy of expression through — and appreciation of — visual art.

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FEBRUARY 2008
Sharing Your Success: Building a Sustainable Nonprofit
Farah Jimenez C'90, L'96

Wednesday, February 27
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Penn Law, Silverman Hall, Room 240B
3400 Chestnut Street

For those willing to take on the unique financial and organizational challenges of leading and sustaining a non-profit corporation, the journey can inspire both profound trepidation and tremendous satisfaction. Enjoying great success along this journey is Farah Jimenez, C'90, L'96, Executive Director of Mt. Airy●USA, a community-focused non-profit real estate development corporation in Philadelphia. Farah has gained both local and national recognition for her work with this organization; she was appointed to one of only ten seats on Philadelphia's Fairmount Park Commission, and President George W. Bush appointed her to the Community Development Advisory Board for a US Treasury Department fund in 2006. Join us to hear what events prompted Farah to put her Penn degrees to use in the non-profit world, what challenges and rewards — both personal and professional — she has experienced along the way, and what advice she would offer to those interested in pursuing a career in a similar arena.

This event is co-sponsored by Penn Law's Career Planning & Placement Office.

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JANUARY 2008
Remembering the Community:
Building Service into Your Life and Career
Rev. Chaz Howard, C'00

Wednesday, January 30
(RESCHEDULED from 12/5/07)
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Penn Hillel, Steinhardt Hall
215 South 39th Street
Harrison Library (2nd Floor)

Because Rev. Chaz Howard, C'00 is Associate Chaplain of the University of Pennsylvania, service is a natural part of his duties. Yet he goes above and beyond his role, further incorporating community service into his professional and personal life. As President and co-founder of the Greater Love Movement, a non-profit anti-poverty organization, Chaz promotes awareness and action to address the needs of the homeless. Chaz also served as Executive Producer of a CD and a documentary project entitled The Souls of Poor Folk, and has edited a book of the same name that is due out in 2007. Come hear how Chaz has found and created outlets for his passion to serve, how he makes time for this while juggling other life commitments, and how he would encourage others to reflect upon the impact they and their own passions can have upon their communities, and the world at large.

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