Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Back to the Bank: #WorldMoms cover @WorldBank #SMCSO2015



Do you ever think or say "I'm just a mom?" I do that sometimes. While I'm proud that I'm a mother, it's the word "just" that is the problem...it both belittles the title of Mom and suggests that a mom is the only thing that I am when - in fact - I also happen to be a global citizen, a writer, and a child survival activist. I'm not alone in these other roles. In fact, I'm part of a growing community of women like me... World Moms Blog!


Guess what, World Bank? Our dream
is to end poverty, too!
My blogging friends aren't the only ones who value my voice and passion for creating a better world for kids everywhere. The World Bank has invited me and World Moms Blog founder Jennifer Burden to return to their Civil Society meetings representing World Moms Blog in a social media partnership with them to cover their World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. this week. Our mission is to help spread the word about the ongoing dialog between citizens from Civil Society Organizations (CSO). We're going to represent moms around the globe concerned about the futures of ALL children no matter where they were born. We're even going to present a panel with A World at School and RESULTS about how citizens like us can fight for global girls education!

Now, it's time for the pep talk to you. You are more than just a mom. YOU can be a citizen voice to the World Bank as well! Your thoughts can help drive the global conversation about poverty. Please join in by:
  • Following me at @ccylevin and the Twitter hashtag #SM2015 Also, follow the accounts of @World Moms Blog@JenniferBurden . 
  • Tweeting back to us with your thoughts and re-tweeting things you like. Use the hashtag #WorldMoms if you want to identify yourself as a mom. Here's a sample intro tweet to let us know you're out there: "I'm following @WorldMomsBlog at the @WorldBank #SMCSO2015 meetings from #_______ (insert your city here)"
  • Joining live-streamed webcast events (listed below) and leaving your questions/comments on the webcast page for the moderators! Each event has a hashtag so you can engage with the panel and audience through Twitter.
  • Leaving a question for the World Bank in the comment section of this blog. We'll try to ask it in the panel discussions and town hall meetings we attend or ask our contacts at the World Bank about it to get a response to you.
Here is the link to the full schedule of live-streamed webcast events. The list below has some of my favorites I'm most excited about. Pick one or more that interest you and join virtually. You may even see me in the audience!

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m ET.
Location: World Bank Group Headquarters, Preston Auditorium & Online 
Can people of faith help build a movement to end extreme poverty? Can they seize this opportunity at a time of conflict in some regions -- some of it driven by groups claiming religious justification?

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015
Time: 8:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. ET
World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will address the press during the World Bank's 2015 Spring Meetings.

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. ET
Join us for a panel discussion on the importance of investing in nutrition; the challenges countries are facing; and concrete steps towards scaling up high-impact programming for child nutrition.
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Hear from a development banker, a renowned chef, an agricultural expert, a woman farmer, a culinary professional and others about the future of food, and how we can work together to feed the world.

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Water security is emerging as the number one global risk in terms of development impact. An expert panel will share their experiences and solutions for addressing water scarcity challenges with a view of the social, economic, and political implications.

Image: World Bank Group
Ebola: The Road to Recovery
Date: Friday, April 17, 2015
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. ET 
WBG President Jim Yong Kim chairs this high-level roundtable at which the heads of state of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will present their Ebola recovery plans to finance and development ministers and international partners.