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Global Bridges
Empowering Communities
Mission Statement:
Building sustainable programs to empower underserved communities through collaboration and personal development.
Global Bridges is a California based non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a purpose to create and build sustainable programs to support and enhance the lives of communities of African descent through global network of partnerships and empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential.
The focus areas are:
· Workforce Development · Women Empowerment · Education and Mentorship · Social Services · Sustainable Energy · Advocacy
The Global Bridges Workforce Development initiative aims to educate and train immigrants of the African descent who are interested to work in the field of IT and join the industry’s workforce. There is currently a high demand for IT professionals and this program enhances the capabilities and effectiveness of those enrolled in the program. Students acquire advanced technical knowledge and training, and gain exposure to and experience handling complex IT challenges.
We are raising funds for two types of tuition scholarships; one track to train beginners as Cloud Security Experts and the second to train junior IT professionals as Cloud Data Experts. Courses included below: Cloud Security Expert – AWS Solutions Architect Associate, AWS Security Specialty and Terraform Automation Cloud Data Expert – AWS Data Specialty, AWS Data Analytics Specialty and Terraform Automation
This initiatives aims to empower women through education, increased awareness and involvement in every aspect of the social structure. Investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. In collaboration with organizations of similar mission, this program offers mentorship, education and engagement opportunities for women of different backgrounds.
This initiative provides mentorship opportunities to allow youth as well as adult professionals by connecting a mentor with a mentee for a one-on-one as well as group mentoring interactions. This network affords the opportunity to connect students, entrepreneurs, health and IT professionals, filmmakers etc. with others who are in their respective fields and industries. The platform fosters partnerships, allows for information exchange and personal/professional growth, which in turn provides opportunities to give back to the community. Global Bridges collaborates with different organizations and groups to support its mentorship initiatives
This program aims to improve the well-being of communities of African descent through the implementation of different programs and collaborating with organizations of similar mission and values. This initiative promotes the provision and accessibility of culturally relevant services and information.
Collaborate with organizations in Africa on projects related to sustainable and renewable energy as well as green-income generation. Collaborations and partnerships with local non-profits, government associations and entrepreneurs is our business model in order to provide continuity, create jobs, and knowledge transfer in order to maximize positive impact in the community. In addition, it helps us overcome cultural and language barriers that can otherwise be very time consuming and costly.
Promote better health, education and other opportunities for communities of African descent and those living in diaspora. This includes advocating for disadvantaged global communities through practical support, encouragement, information, advice, guidance and training. We work to empower individuals and families experiencing multiple disadvantages and barriers including health, poverty, deprivation, isolation and those relating to language, culture and resource issues.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential, these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
- Confucius
MAKE AN IMPACT
Interested in connecting with a larger community? We'd love to hear from you! Check out the number of ways to get involved.
Ketem Embaie is a motivated, self-starter who combines a relentless work ethic with integrity to ensure a customer service centered hiring experience for internal and external partners. As a Talent Acquisition Manager, she is a member of the leadership team in the Northeast – Atlantic
Financial Group in Virginia and Maryland. She knows how to identify successful individuals, train Agency Owners, build brand, develop marketing strategies, and improve profit. She helps entrepreneurs have success as Farmers Insurance Agency Owners. She is actively involved in the local community and interested in networking with other like-minded business professionals.
She enjoys strategizing with business leaders and finding innovative ways to hire tough to fill requisitions while ensuring Talent Acquisition meets hiring objectives. She bring sincerity, passion and positivity to each interaction she has in a given day.
Previously, Ketem worked as Junior Database Administrator with two years of experience on large and complex databases of SQL server 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008(R2) and 2005.
Expertise in installation and configuration, maintenance plans, security management, performance tuning and troubleshooting, backup/restore, migration/upgrade. Expertise in installing and configuring SQL server reporting services (SSRS) and SQL server integration services (SSIS).
Prior to working as a Junior Data Administrator, Ketem also worked as a National Account Manager with Verizon Wireless helping companies discover how wireless can power their business, by providing innovative solutions and utilizing technology to solve for complicated challenges. This includes Cyber Security, Mobile Security, IOT, On/Off Prem or a hybrid solutions, 5G evolution, and innovation across all platforms.
She is a high achiever who excels in challenging, fast-paced environments. Understanding how connectivity including the Internet of Things (Machine to Machine), software and the evolution of technology directly impacts the bottom line for businesses are core competencies of my skill set.
Fast forward, Ketem has traveled a full circle and finds herself at a place where she is excelling and living her passion. Her passion for recruiting can be traced back to her pre-professional days. Whether as a member of her high school admission team or part of the campus interview team at Penn State University. She has been on a recruiting path from the start. The reason? She likes getting people excited about the things she is excited about. Right now, that’s anything and everything in helping others.
Merhawit is a pharmacist for Cigna Medical Group, Multi-specialty group
Merhawit is passionate about improving patients’ therapeutic outcome by providing Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services. She is a believer in empowering patients to be an active participant of their own care by educating them about their medications and disease state.
Feels strongly about providing healthcare to underserved population. Serves as a volunteer in medical outreaches providing free medical care to underserved parts of East Africa.
Merhawit holds a Bachelor of science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona (UOA) and a Doctor of pharmacy degree (PharmD) from the University of Southern California (USC)
Kelechi A. Kalu is Vice Provost of International Affairs and Professor of Political Science at University of California, Riverside. Kalu previously served as Associate Provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs and Professor of African American and African Studies at The Ohio State University. His Ph.D. (1997) is in International Studies from the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. Kalu earned an M.A. (1988) in Political Science from the University of Dayton, Ohio and a BA (1986) in Political Science from University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.
His research and teaching interests are in International Politics, African Political Economy and U.S. Africa Relations. Kalu was a Mellon Research Fellow in the Department of Government, Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut in 1994–95, Professor of Political Science at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley (1990–2008) and Faculty affiliate at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at The Ohio State University.
He is widely published and has served as a consultant to the World Bank on Public Sector Governance and to the Asian Development Bank on Managing Sustainable Development in Resource-Rich Countries. He is a recipient of grants from The Ford Foundation, The Mershon Center and The Korea Foundation. He is co-editor and contributor of West Africa and the U.S. War on Terror (Routledge, 2013), Territoriality, Citizenship and Peacebuilding: Perspectives on Challenges to Peace in Africa (UK: Adonis and Abbey, 2013) and United States–Africa Security Relations (Routledge, 2014).
Edna Yohannes currently serves as the Senior Director of Development at UC Riverside School of Medicine and is part of UCR’s first comprehensive “Living the Promise” campaign with a goal to raise $300 million by December, 2020. Over the past 15 years, she has had experience in executive senior management in an academic and corporate environments, driving strategic growth, product/service visibility, fundraising, public and government relations, and marketing. She is
experienced communicating with nonprofit and for profit organizations.
Prior to joining UCR, she worked at Charles. R. Drew University of Medicine and Science for over 10 years as Chief of Staff to the Office of the President as well as Liaison to the Board of Trustees and Board of Councilors supervising staff and directing all administrative, financial and operational activities for the Offices of the President and Board of Trustees. She led the formation of the President’s Community Advisory Council in 2013 including the development of its governing
charters. In her role, she was responsible for the oversight of over $15 million yearly budget. She managed the implementation of three Strategic Plans and monitored performance and evidence of completion. She also ensured all public communications enhanced the image and visibility of the institution as well as participated in WASC and other accreditation processes.
Edna also served in the roles of Director of Development and University Affairs as well as Acting Vice President for Development raising $10.3 million exceeding the three-year (2013 – 2015) goal by $1.9 million. As the Acting VP, she restructured the Office of Development and recruitment processes, supervised six directors and managers, designed new systems, and developed long-term and short-term implementation plans. She created and led the Bricks of Honor and Drew Corporate 100 fundraising campaigns and was in charge of Title III and other grants in excess of $10 million annually. In addition, she established the Mission Maker Campaign, The M. Alfred Haynes Endowed Scholarship Fund (led by former Surgeon General Dr. David G. Satcher and Dr. Keith C. Norris), The Edward R. Roybal Scholarship Fund and The Mrs. Lillian H. Mobley Presidential Endowed Scholarship Fund; all geared towards increasing student diversity.
She has served in multiple committees including President’s Search Committee; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Search Committees; Vice President for Advancement Search Committee; General Counsel Search Committee; President’s Inauguration Committee, Chair; University Events Committee, Chair; Tuition Committee; Deans’ Council Committee; WASC Accreditation Task Force; School of Nursing Accreditation Task Force; South LA Healthcare
Leadership Roundtable Committee; Commencement Committees etc. She is experienced in leadership, high profile projects management, partnership building and product/services management.
Edna received her Masters of Business Administration and Intercultural Studies degree from Biola University with distinction (summa cum laude) and her Baccalaureate of Science in Physics from Asmara University where she wrote a Dissertation paper on “Complementary Codes for Radar Applications”. She is Covey Certified.
She lives in Lakewood, CA.
Clement Onu Aroh currently serves as the Director of International Affiliations for Save Lives Foundation (non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Nigeria) (2014-present); an organization that focused on improving the health care system in Nigeria and other African countries. Clement previously served as the President of the Student Union Government at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles. Mr. Aroh began his higher education in University of Nigeria, Enugu campus before moving to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences and Health (Biomedical Sciences Concentration), and graduated magna cum laude in 2014. He is currently a medical student (candidate for Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree 2021) at the Medical University of the Americas, Nevis island. His leadership and advocacy as a Student Union Government President at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science brought a lot of transformations in the areas of administrative accountability and educational improvements for students’ academic success.
His research interests cut across Breast cancer, Colorectal cancer, Wound healing, Stem Cell Regenerative Cures, Maternal and Child health, Public Health, and Advocacy; to improve health and education especially in the underrepresented populations in health care in the United States.
Mr. Aroh was a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Undergraduate Public Health Scholar (CUPS Scholar), (2015), Maternal and Child Health Careers/ Research Initiative Students Enhancement-Undergraduate Program Scholar (MCHC/RISE-UP Scholar), (2015) at the Kennedy Krieger Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Stem Cell Bridges Scholar for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), (2015), and 1 st Prize Award Winner for the Medical Research Presentation 2018 at the Medical University of the Americas, Nevis island.
His leadership, academic performance and scholarly research have attracted numerous scholarships and other accolades. He has presented a number of research abstracts at conferences, published and co authored scholarly research articles including: Constitutive Activation of STAT3 Signaling Regulates hTERT and Promotes Stem Cell-Like Traits in Human Breast Cancer Cells (2013), An Idea Whose Time Has Come: The Need for Increased Diversity in Medical Practice and Education (Western Journal Black Studies, Vol. 38(1) 2014), Identification of Novel Biomarkers for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Using Angiogenesis-Antibody Array and Intracellular Signaling Array (2015), and Fluoxetine as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Mesenchymal Stem Cells- Mediated Improvement of Wound Healing (Abstract: Wound Healing Society of America, 2017).