Symposium On

“Promoting Civil Liberties, Collective Security, and Development in Post-Conflict Liberia”

Jointly Sponsored By

North Carolina A&T State University & the Liberian History, Education, & Development, Inc. (LIHEDE)
in collaboration with Bennett College of Greensboro, North Carolina

Theme of Symposium: “Mapping Out Appropriate Strategies for the Redevelopment of Liberia”

Date & Time of Symposium: October 29-30, 2004 from 8:00 A.M.-4:30 P.M. each day

Venue of Symposium: NC A&T State University’s Union Exhibit Hall on October 29, 2004 and Union SBR Foyer on October 30, 2004.

The symposium organizing committee of the Liberian History, Education, and Development, Inc. (LIHEDE) would like to invite you to attend this very important national symposium on Liberia, which is aimed at mapping out appropriate strategies for the reconstruction and redevelopment of the war-ravaged country of Liberia. Greensboro City Mayor Keith Holliday will formally welcome symposium participants and guests to the City of Greensboro.

The symposium would include panel discussions and presentations by mostly Liberian professionals, academicians, Liberian community leaders, and former Liberian government officials on selected topics of interest to the redevelopment of Liberia, including healthcare services, decentralization, education, press freedom, and socio-economic and political reforms. Liberian community leaders, academicians, professionals, and former government officials, presenting papers or serving as panelists at the symposium include Mr. T. Nelson Williams, Sr., Mr. Bai M. Gbala, Mr. Nyan Flomo, the Rev. J. Emmanuel Z. Bowier, Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh, Mr. Sam Togba Slewion, Mr. Bodioh Siapoe, Mr. Miamen Z.Z. Wopea, Mr. Dennis B. Garsinii, the Rev. Joseph M.N. Gbadyu, Dr. Abraham L. James, Dr. Abdoulaye W. Dukulé, Dr. Mariah Seton, Dr. James Tarpeh, Dr. D. Edwood Dunn, Dr. Emmanuel Dolo, Dr. Cyril Broderick, Dr. Margaret Kromah, Dr. Lawrence A. Zumo, Cllr. Philip A. Z. Banks, III, Mr. Tarty Teh, Mr. Arthur Watson, Mrs. Mai Yuan, Col. Jonah Kessel Tarley, Gerry Corneau, and Victor Rapozo..

Thanks in advance for your cooperation, and please confirm your participation by phone or email.

Sincerely,

Symposium Topics and Presenters

Topic

Presenter

Free Press & Responsibility in the New Liberia

Mr. T. Nelson Williams

Former Chairman, Mass Communications Department, University of Liberia

Liberian Socio-Cultural Realities & the Challenge for Nation Building

Rev. J. Emmanuel Z. Bowier

Former Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Republic of Liberia

The Role of Women in Post-Conflict Liberia

Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh

Former President, ULAA

Ethnic Diversity and Socio-Economic Development in the New Liberia

Dr. Mariah Seton

Education Consultant

Mental Health & Social Rehabilitation

in Liberia

Dr. Emmanuel Dolo

Principal Investigator, Minority Mental Health Service Utilization Research Project, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lifeworks International Evaluation and Consulting, Minnesota.

Women and Small Business Development

in Post-Conflict Liberia

Mrs. Mia Yuan
Agronomist

A New Partnership for Liberia’s Development

Ms. Roberto Rashid, Former President, ULLA

Mr. Arthur Watson, President, ULLA

Justice and Civil Liberties in Post-Conflict Liberia

Mr. Kabineh Ja’neh, Minister of Justice, Republic of Liberia

The Sunday Project: A Model for Rehabilitating Children and Mentally-Challenged Adults in War-Weary Liberia

Mr. Gerry Corneau & Ms.Victor Rapozo

The ECOMPASS GROUP

Redefining Liberian-American Relations

in the New Liberia

Dr. Abraham L. James

Former Assistant to President W.V.S. Tubman; Adjunct Professor of History at The Comey Institute, Saint Joseph’s University, Pennsylvania

Confronting a Spread of Tuberculosis

In Post-Conflict Liberia

Margaret Kromah, DDS, MPH

General Dental Practice

Improving Airports and Highways in Liberia

Mr. Tarty Teh

Deputy Commissioner of Maritime, Republic of Liberia

Proposal for an All-Liberian Diaspora Conference

Dr. James Tarpeh, Former Ambassador to Nigeria;

Prof. D. Elwood Dunn, Professor of Political Science
University of the South, Sewanee; Dr. Syrulwa Somah; Executive Director, LIHEDE; Mr. Bodioh Siapoe, National Chairman, Coalition of Progressive Liberians in the Americas (COPLA), et al.

Decentralization in the New Liberia:

Pros and Cons

Mr. Bai M. Gbala

Former Presidential Political Advisor, Liberia

Imperatives for Collective Security

in the New Liberia

Lawrence A. Zumo, MD

Neurologist with sub-specialization in Autonomic Nervous System Disorders, Syncope and HIV Neurology

Reorganization of the Liberian Military

Lt. J. Kessel Tarley, US Military

United States Veteran Hospital, New York

Food, Agriculture, and Peace in Liberia

Cyril E. Broderick, Sr. (Ph.D.)

Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Delaware State University

Government Policies and Update on Current Developments in Liberia

Hon. Charles A. Minor, Liberian Ambassador to the US & Dr. C. William Allen, Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Republic of Liberia

Keynote Speaker: The Reverend Father, Dr. Robert G. Tikpor of the Catholic Diocese of Monrovia would deliver the keynote address on “The Role of Religion in Post-Civil War Liberia.”

Objectives of the Symposium

The key objectives of the symposium are to:

§ Provide a forum for all Liberians of different spheres and backgrounds to come together and find practical solutions to social and economic problems in Liberia

§ Stimulate greater interest among 150-200 sons and daughters of Liberia to make a trip home to Liberia for two–three weeks in 2005 to conduct workshops and seminars aimed at rallying the Liberian people towards national unity and national consciousness.

§ Engage the Liberian government regarding the redevelopment priorities of Liberia

Background Information

The Liberian nation and people suffered great losses in terms of human life, human resources, capital investments, and infrastructural developments during the Liberian civil wars from 1989 to 2003. As a result, Liberia’s social, economic, political, cultural, and educational institutions were severely destroyed and now await urgent rebuilding, repairs, or improvements in order to promote a better quality of life for the Liberian people. But the process of rebuilding the institutions of Liberia involves the collective efforts of all Liberians and friends of Liberia, including careful planning and implementation of appropriate national development programs.

And it is in this light that the NC A& T State University at Greensboro, North Carolina and Bennett College at Greensboro, North Carolina have graciously accepted to sponsor, along with the Liberian History, Education, and Development, Inc. (LIHEDE), a symposium on “Promoting Civil Liberties, Collective Security, and Development in Post-Conflict Liberia,” scheduled for October 29-30, 2004 on the main of the North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, from 8:00 A.M.-4:30 P.M on Friday, and 9:00 A.M.-4:30 P.M on Saturday.

The symposium will serve as a reminder to all Liberians that any nation, in its struggles for national development and political power, must first and foremost draw upon its own past and way of life. For while it is no secret that Liberia played an important role in the independence struggles of many African countries in its capacity as Africa’s oldest independent republic, sadly Liberia did not create the kind of thriving political culture and national development programs befitting of its statute. But even at that, the evolution of Liberia's worldwide political contributions and creativity are well documented and can be further studied as a source of enlightenment. These truisms about Liberia’s contribution to the League of Nations, the Organization of African Unity (now African Union), the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and to the formation of the State of Israel not only exist, but also reflect her potential for self resurrection, self –development and the fight for political unity.

Accordingly, the symposium on “Promoting Civil Liberties, Collective Security, and Development in Post-Conflict Liberia” is intended to emphasize that after 14 years of two devastating civil wars, Liberians unconsciously entered a new era, a new political horizon, where success and progress will begin with the collective showcasing of the talents of all Liberians in finding practical solutions to the many problems facing Liberia today. Liberians need to rally around each other to create a national blueprint for the reconstruction and development of Liberia in areas such as politics, education, economics, agriculture, culture, and so forth

Liberia is in urgent need of the creative talents of all her sons and daughters in the rebuilding of the country. It is no longer enough for those living abroad to waste a lifetime waiting for the right opportunity, the right moment, the right international organizations, or the right man or women to come along to fix and rebuild Liberia. Liberia is currently suffering from a huge brain drain, national leadership, and meaningful socio-economic development, and we need to make whatever contributions we can toward the rebuilding of Liberia, whether or not we become or aspire to be presidential candidates, cabinet ministers, directors, or civil servants. The needs of Liberia are so great right now that every private citizen can make a great difference in rebuilding Liberia, especially those of us abroad. And the symposium on “Promoting Civil Liberties, Collective Security, and Development in Post-Conflict Liberia,” could be a starting point, if not a gateway to launching meaningful development projects in Liberia for the betterment of the Liberian people.

See you all at the symposium in Greensboro on October 29 and 30, 2004.

Symposium Contacts & General Information

Symposium Contacts

North Carolina

Syrulwa Somah

336-334-7586 Cell: 336-324-8235

somah@ncat.edu

Mr. James Hunder

703-96-81

yarncie1@aol.com

Maryland

Mr. Marvin Dickson

302-233-0961

marvindickerson@verizon.net

Maryland

Nat Galarea Gbessagee

240-447-7408

ngg06@yahoo.com

Georgia

Siahyonkron Nyanseor

678-407-2437

snyanseor@aol.com

Symposium Sponsors

North Carolina

NC A&T State University

Department of History

Department of Politics Science

Department of Occupational Safety & Health

School of Technology

1601E Market Street

Greensboro, NC 27411

336- 334-7567

Bennett College for Women

900 E Washington St
Greensboro NC, 27401-3239

336-273-4431

Liberian History, Education & Development, Inc.

2285 Rothwood Acres Drive

Greensboro, NC 27406

lihede@att.net