by Christian Picciolini
October 29, 2004
Introduction
On September 8, 9 and 10, 2004, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 57th Annual DPI/NGO conference at the United Nations in New York City. The theme of the conference was based upon the mantra, Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action. Initially, the thought of being a part of the conference was intimidating; however, once the initial nervousness subsided I was certainly glad that I was a part of this unforgettable conference. The following account aptly describes what I felt as I approached the goliath known as the United Nations, on the morning of September 8th, 2004.The sight of the United Nations headquarters building in New York City was stark and daunting. The sheer size of the campus made me feel as though I were walking into the belly of a large antiquated beast. The cold, dated core of this creature made my whisper reverberate as if I were standing in a colossal valley and the languages that echoed that day were alien to my ears. A sea of cold, stagnant anxiety engulfed me that morning, and it wasn’t until the initial moments of the opening session in the General Assembly that I finally felt the warmth fill the space between those barren walls.
I’m not quite sure what I had expected. In fact, I had attended many previous conferences for my job at IBM and had overcome those without much trepidation. However, this seemed much larger and looming, filled with an aura of the unknown. I had wholly expected my visit would be remarkable. What I hadn’t expected, was that it would unwittingly alter my perception of the world as I knew it.
Key Lessons Learned
The United States is not the center of the universe. That’s right, I said it. God forbid that phrase fall on the ears of the thundering masses of blue collar, less-than-worldly Americans I had been accustomed to. Had they wandered into the UN that week and felt what I had felt, they would join in my chorus, “the United States is not the center of the Universe!” Today, at the epicenter of this home we call the globe was, however, the warmth, passion and spirit that echoed inside the cold façade of these austere gray walls. With vibrancy and tenacity, voices proclaimed freedom – freedom from poverty, from hunger, and independence from the centuries-old malignancy of inequality and despair. Seemingly in unison, the voices proclaimed, “People are the epicenter! It is our birthright!” What was said was felt, and how it was said was not in words, but in faces and in indelible memoirs of the soul. Everyone in this room meant what they believed and they believed in people. And I believed in them.That first day I learned that poverty, hunger, inequality, desperation, indignity, fear, death, and most importantly hope existed in places I never knew existed. It was no longer tucked away safely in corners never to be found. It was there right in front of me, exposed nakedly, not waiting for a Samaritan to clothe it, but simply hoping for someone to observe the nakedness. There were no outstretched hands, only hands cupped around mouths yelling for someone to notice.
My Rapporteur Task
Acting as a Rapporteur during the workshops allowed me to get comfortable in and of myself. I was joined in every workshop by friendly, welcoming faces. The mood was always upbeat and the liveliness and energy was undaunted. People spoke passionately about their successes in order to share them with fellow collaborators of spirit and task. The message was not one of victory, but one of hope. Hope that if only one more person was infected by this virus of goodwill, it could spread to enough people to make a difference. If 189 bureaucrats could agree to envision this great undertaking we call the Millennium Development Goals, perhaps the meek that were gathered here could implement that vision.As Rapporteur I listened, not only with my mind and my ears, but with my heart. Person after person sharing experiences of valor; villages in Kenya designed by college students; young people in Holland traversing desert miles to minister to AIDS-stricken children in sub-Saharan Africa. And here I was a part of it. The friendships made and the alliances forged on this trip will be everlasting. They are consummate reminders of a future that can be realized should we be willing to give of ourselves to our quietly screaming, tucked away brothers and sisters.
Most Favorite
While it is difficult to pinpoint any specific aspect or person that may have been the most interesting to me while attending this conference, I must simply say that it was the passion and energy coursing through the UN building that day that lingers with me the most. I enjoyed being a part of a working group that was alive with enthusiasm. It was amazing to be a part of a collection of people set out to change the inequities of the world. The enthusiasm was contagious and I came home with a severe case of “save-the-world” syndrome. While I realize I cannot accomplish this task alone, it is inspiring to know that, in fact, I am not alone.
Final Comments
As Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said, “Our chances of success depend in great part on the degree to which [we], the individuals and groups that make up civil society, mobilize around this [MDG] mission.” It is our duty as citizens of this world not to turn our backs.It is with the deepest sincerity that I wish to extend my gratitude to Instructor Pat Szczerba and DePaul University for giving me the opportunity to experience this. Without the hard work and the vision behind this course, I would not have had the occasion to reach deep inside my soul and find the tenacity to make a difference. As a result, the goliath has been struck down and been replaced by hope and resolve. For that, I thank you and will be forever grateful.
