>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEXT UP.

ALVIN AND I REALLY HAD THE PLEASURE TO TALK TO A FASCINATING MAN AND A FASCINATING WOMAN AS TOMORROW IS THE 103rd COMMENCEMENT FOR WEBSTER UNIVERSITY THE CLASS OF 2022 WILL BE MOVING ON TO BIGGER THINGS.

MAYBE NOT BETTER THINGS BUT I'LL TELL WHAT YOU THEY WILL HAVE A GREAT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER BECAUSE HE IS THE JABRIL DIALLO WHO IS NOT ONLY WITH US NOW BUT THE CEO OF THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE AND DIASPORA NETWORK.

Dr. DIALLO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS EDITION OF NEXT UP.

NICE TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR THE INVITATION.

>> Charlie: BEFORE WE THROAT QUESTIONS YOUR WAY WE WANT TO WELCOME BETH STROBLE CHANCELLOR OF WESTERN UNIVERSITY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Charlie: MAYBE I COULD ASK YOU WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THE CLASS OF 2022 TOMORROW, Dr. DIALLO?

>> TWO THINGS.

I WILL TELL THEM, ONE, IS HOW DO WE SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR OWN TERMS TO GO ON TO THE NEXT STAGE IN THEIR LIVES.

AND THAT COULD BE TWO LEVELS, ONE, WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE INTERNATIONAL OR WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT DOING THAT.

WHAT MAKE THEM CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE THEIR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITIES.

>> Charlie: AND SO AS YOU COME HERE AND LIKE YOU SAY YOU SPEAK AT WEBSTER AND THERE ARE CAMPUSES ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT YOU KNOW LIKE, SAY, YOU ARE KIND OF -- I WON'T SAY FOCUSED ON AFRICA BUT YOU TOUCH ON ABOUT THIS IS A CONTINENT THAT IS HUGE T HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER.

AND MOST OF YOU ALL OUT HERE GRADUATED TODAY PROBABLY DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT IT.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU DO?

>> WELL, WE HAVE HAD IN CHANCELLOR ELIZABETH STROBLE I WOULD SAY A GLOBAL GOOD REAL AMBASSADOR IN TERMS OF HER CONNECTING THE WORLD AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE UNDERGRADUATES ARE GLOBAL CITIZENS WHEN THEY COME OUT.

SO THAT AN EMPHASIS ON AFRICA AND EMPHASIS ON EUROPE AND ASIA SO THAT TODAY'S WORLD IS A BIG VILLAGE SO THAT WHEN THEY COME OUT IT'S LIKE GOING FROM ONE PART OF St. LOUIS, MISSOURI TO THE OTHER.

OF COURSE I'LL SHARE WITH THEM OUR EXPERIENCE, OUR PERSPECTIVES ON AFRICA BUT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PREPARED THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON EVEN LOCAL ISSUES.

>> Charlie: YOUR SOURCE WHAT THEY CALL AN NGO, A NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, BUT YOU WORK THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS.

YOU WORK IN COUNTRIES TO TRY AND IMPROVE THE WORLD AND ONE OF YOUR BIG GOALS IS TO TRY AND ERADICATE AIDS WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS WAY OFF THE CHARTS ONE MIGHT SAY IN SUBSAHARAN AFRICA.

ONE ESTIMATE IS THAT ABOUT 70% OF THE WORLD'S AIDS CASES ARE IN SUBSAHARAN AFRICA.

IT'S A STORY I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE ALL THAT FAMILIAR WITH.

>> AND WE DO A SYSTEM ON APPROACHING THE ISSUE OF THE STORY ON HIV/AIDS IN AFRICA.

OF COURSE THERE ARE VERY, VERY SERIOUS SITUATIONS IN SOME COUNTRIES MOSTLY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA BUT IN MY OWN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN I COME FROM SENEGAL THE INFECTION RATE IS AT 0.7%.

>> Charlie: WOW.

>> SO IT'S ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE WORLD SO AS WE TALK TO THE MEDIA NOT ONLY DO WE BRING OUT THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION WE WANT TO GO TO A ZERO INFECTION AND TO DO THAT YOU NEED TO DO TWO THINGS.

ONE, YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOU NEED TO PROTECT THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE BRING OUT THE EFFORTS OF COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE MANAGED TO EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS TO KEEP THE INFECTION RATES DOWN AT 0.7 A COUNTRY LIKE SENEGAL.

>> Charlie: BETH, GOT HER MASTERS DEGREE AT WEBSTER UNIVERSITY.

>> I THINK IT WAS WEBSTER COLLEGE AT THAT TIME.

SHE WILL SAY HI TO YOU.

>> OKAY.

>> Charlie: THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING ISSUES AWAY GLOBALLY AND MOST PEOPLE GO TO COLLEGE AND THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT ME, ME, ME, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, GET A JOB.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE IS A WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN BE A PART OF?

>> BECAUSE THE WORLD IS MORE CONNECTED THAN WE APPRECIATE.

AND THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY GAVE US A PERCH AND A WINDOW INTO THAT.

WE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THAT WELL, THIS IS AN INFECTION JUST IN CHINA OR IT'S JUST IN EUROPE AND IT WAS REALLY JUST A MATTER OF MONTHS UNTIL IT MOVED RIGHT INTO OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS.

AND YOU CAN'T ERADICATE TALKING ABOUT HIV/AIDS OR TALKING ABOUT COVID-19, YOU CAN'T ERADICATE IT IN ONE PLACE WITHOUT DEALING WITH IT IN EVERY PLACE.

BECAUSE IT HAS THAT SCOPE.

SO CERTAINLY GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUES GIVE US A WINDOW INTO HOW IT MATTERS, WHAT HAPPENS IN ASIA, WHAT HAPPENS IN AFRICA, WHAT HAPPENS IN St. LOUIS AND HOW CONNECTED THEY ARE.

BUT CERTAINLY OUR ECONOMIES ARE TRULY CONNECTED.

LOOK AT THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.

AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE EFFECTS THAT WE HAD WHEN SHIPS WERE YOU KNOW TRAPPED IN THE SUEZ CANAL.

SO I THINK THAT ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL IT'S EASY TO COME UP WITH THE EXAMPLES THAT HELP COMPEL PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE INTEREST, BUT REALLY THE NEXT LEVEL IS YOU CARE ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AROUND THE WORLD THAT YOU BEGIN TO CONNECT AND LEARN MORE.

[ AUDIO INTERRUPTION ] FOCUSED ON NOT JUST MAKING YOUR LIFE BETTER BUT MAKING EVERYONE'S LIFE BETTER.

>> Charlie: WHAT'S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WEBSTER UNIVERSITY AND THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE DIASPORA NETWORK?

>> SO IT STARTED IN 2017 AND WE FIRST WERE INTRODUCED TO EACH OTHER THROUGH MUTUAL FRIENDS AT THE URBAN LEAGUE.

AND BECAUSE WEBSTER IS VERY GROUNDED IN St. LOUIS MANY St. LOUISANS HAVE HAD THEIR DEGREES COME FROM WEBSTER AND WE ARE VERY MUCH A LOCAL COMMUNITY-SERVING ORGANIZATION BUT THEY LEARNED THAT ABOUT WEBSTER AND THEY LEARNED THE FACT THAT WE HAD A CAMPUS AND SO LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE AN INTEREST AND A MISSION THAT ALIGNS VERY CLOSELY WITH HOW DO YOU MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THROUGH BEING ON GROUND IN MULTIPLE LOCATION WHERE YOU ARE MEETING A HUMAN NEED.

>> Charlie: WHEN STUDENTS ACTUALLY COME IN NOW -- I AM GOING WAY BACK TO WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE MY THOUGHT OF STUDYING ABROAD WAS I AM NOT SMART ENOUGH.

NO WAY.

I WOULD BE LUCKY TO GET OUT OF HERE WHOLE ANYWAY.

DO MOST STUDENTS COME TO YOU NOW ARE THEY LOOKING AT NOW I KNOW THERE ARE CAMPUSES OUT THERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND A SEMESTER OR A YEAR STUDYING ABROAD OR IS IT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO INTRODUCE?

>> IT WORK BOTH WAYS.

>> Charlie: OKAY.

>> THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS THAT PICK WEBSTER BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WE GIVE THEM THAT ADVANTAGE.

BUT I WILL SAY FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WE HAVE PURPOSELY CREATED DONOR FUNDED TRIPS THAT HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE LIKELY FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO EVEN GO TO COLLEGE.

IMAGINE THEMSELVES MAKING A TRIP ABROAD.

SO IN 2019 WE PARTICIPATED IN GHANA'S EUROPE RETURN.

THEY WERE ENCOURAGING MANY MEMBERS OF THE DIASPORA TO COME BACK TO GHANA, IDENTIFY WITH THEIR HOMELAND AND THE EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GROW UP AFRICAN.

AND WE SENT TEN OF A CANA STUDY STUDENTS WITH DONOR FUNDED INITIATIVE AND TWO OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE THEY GRADUATE TOMORROW WERE SO ENERGIZED BY THE IDEA OF STUDYING ABROAD THAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR ANOTHER TRIP OVER SPRING BREAK AND WENT TO FLORENCE, ITALY.

AND FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT STUDY ABROAD FOR A SEMESTER A YEAR WE FUND AIR FARES TO AND FROM.

WE ARE THAT COMMITTED TO MAKING IT HAPPEN.

>> CAN I FOLLOW UP ON THAT?

I WANT TO ASK YOU, JABRIL.

BLACK STUDENT '70S EARLY '80S.

I HAD NEVER IN MY MIND THE DESIRE TO GO TO AFRICA WAS NOT THERE.

NOT BECAUSE I HAD ANY PREJUDICE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT JUST WASN'T THERE.

ARE YOU FINDING THAT TO BE TRUE AND DO YOU WISH THAT NOT ONLY BLACK STUDENTS BUT JUST BLACK AMERICANS WOULD SAY LIKE HEY, YOU NEED TO GO TO AFRICA.

>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT WHAT IT TAKES FOR ONE TO SUCCEED IN TODAY'S WORLD.

AND IN OUR EXPERIENCE WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO GIVE ADVICE TO THE STUDENTS AND ADVICE MEANS IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT YOU KNOW YOU LOOK AT THE MENU, YOU HAVE A MENU OF OPTIONS AND YOU NEED THREE THINGS TO SUCCEED.

NUMBER ONE YOU NEED TO HAVE VERY, VERY GOOD TRAINING.

AND NUMBER TWO, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE, AND NUMBER THREE YOU HAVE TO BE CONNECTED.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ADDRESS BOOK.

SO THAT WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK YOU WILL HAVE A LITTLE PLUS THAT WHEN YOU GO FOR A JOB INTERVIEW THAT SOME OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE AND THAT LITTLE PLUS WOULD SAY OKAY THIS PERSON GREW UP IN St. LOUIS, HAS GOT ALL THE EXPERIENCE AND SO ON BUT ALSO HAS GOT A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.

FOR THAT WHEN THE INTERVIEWERS GET TOGETHERRING IN A CONFIDENTIAL ROOM WITHOUT THE CANDIDATES BEING THERE THAT MIGHT GIVE THAT KIND OF EDGE.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT SITUATIONS WHERE STUDENTS ARE PUT IN A CUTTING EDGE KIND OF SITUATION AND AFRICA IS A CONTINENT THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY.

THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE DIASPORA NETWORK IS HEADQUARTERED IN NEW YORK.

IT'S A 5013 C WHICH HAS GOT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND OUR JOB IS TO STRENGTHEN THE TIES BETWEEN AFRICA AND THE PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK WE HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN STRENGTHENING THE TIES BETWEEN THE YOUTH OF AFRICA AND THE YOUTH FROM THE DIASPORA.

AND WHAT COVID-19 TAUGHT US IS THAT YOU CAN DO A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS ONLINE SO THAT YOU DON'T NEED NECESSARILY TO LEAVE St. LOUIS, MISSOURI IN ORDER TO CONNECT WITH THE YOUTH IN GHANA WITH THE YOUTH IN SENEGAL, WITH THE YOUTH IN SOUTH AFRICA AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF THOSE EXAMPLES.

>>> WE HAD THANKS TO CHANCELLOR ELIZABETH STROBLE VERY GOOD MEETING WITH THE MAYOR OF St. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SO IMMEDIATELY SHE GOT US IN TOUCH WITH SOME OTHER PARTNERS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH AND WE SAID TO HER, LOOK, WE CAN DO A LOT OF ZOOM CALLS WITH YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW BUSY YOU ARE AS A MAYOR HERE SO THAT WE ARE USING ANY KIND OF MEANS TO STRENGTHEN THOSE TIES SO THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO TAKE THE AIRCRAFT TO GET THERE.

THAT'S THE BEST WAY.

BUT NOW WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH COVID-19 IS THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO CONNECT TO BE ONLINE WITHOUT NECESSARILY BEING PHYSICALLY IN AFRICA AND THAT GIVES THAT YOU SMALL PLUS THAT SMALL EDGE THAT CAN PUT NEW A POSITION WHERE COULD YOU GET THE [indiscernible] THAT YOU NEED.

>> Charlie: DO YOU FIND A NUMBER OF STUDENTS SPENDING THEIR SO-CALLED GAP YEARS IN AFRICA OR ARE YOU ENCOURAGING THAT?

THE TIME BETWEEN THE UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AND MAYBE MEDICAL SCHOOL OR -- [ AUDIO INTERRUPTION ] >> BECAUSE TWO THINGS THAT I LOOKED AT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

ONE, THE YOUTH ARE GOING MUCH MORE TOWARDS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AREAS.

THEY WANT TO DEAL WITH HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND THEN THEY CARE ABOUT ISSUES ON CLIMATE CHANGE, THE ENVIRONMENT, ISSUES OF THAT NATURE.

THEY WANT TO BE ENGAGED.

AND WEBSTER UNIVERSITY IS GIVING THEM THAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY ONLINE OR IN PERSON TO ENCOURAGE THEM.

OUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUTH WHO ARE INTERESTED RIGHT NOW IN PARTICIPATING IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IN AFRICA AND WE HAVE THE CAPACITY BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED NATIONS OF GIVING THEM THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE.

>> Charlie: OKAY.

HAS THAT DEVELOPED NOT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BUT IS THAT INCREASED OVER THE LAST LIKE DECADE?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST NOW OCCURRING OR HAS THIS GONE BACK THREE YEARS, 20 YEARS?

BECAUSE I AM TELLING MYSELF RIGHT HERE LIKE NO INTEREST.

>> I GREW UP IN THE UNITED NATIONS.

I JOINED THE UNITED NATIONS WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.

I CAME IN WITH DOCTOR DEGREE.

I'VE SEEN PROGRESS GROWN SO MUCH BECAUSE EVEN AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE YOU SIGH THE YOUTH PUSHING THEIR PARENTS SAYING BUT THIS IS GOING ON IN AFRICA.

WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO BUT THEY HAVE ALL THESE SORTS OF PRESSURE GROUPS AND WE COME IN AND USE THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER MEANS MEET THEM IN THEIR OWN NEEDS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW MUCH MORE THAN I DO THE ATTENTION SPAN OF THE YOUTH IS VERY LIMITED.

SO THAT YOU NEED TO REALLY MEET THEM THERE AND THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST AND IT'S INCREASED A LOT OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS AND WEBSTER UNIVERSITY IS REALLY AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THAT AT THE GLOBAL UNIVERSITY MEETING THE NEEDS OF DIFFERENT STUDENTS IN THEIR OWN TERMS.

>> Charlie: SO MUCH FOR YOUTH.

WHAT ABOUT OLDER AMERICANS BECOMING GLOBAL CITIZENS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT WE ARE EAGER TO SAY WHAT MIGHT FUTURE TRIPS LOOK LIKE THAT WOULD HAVE WEBSTER STUDENTS ATTACHED TO THEM BUT SOME OF THE REST OF US MIGHT GO ALONG ON THOSE TRIPS.

AND I THINK THERE IS A GROWING INTEREST AND AN APPETITE FOR THAT AND CERTAINLY AFRICA IS A CONTINENT THAT'S LARGELY YOUTHFUL AND HAS SO MUCH GOING FOR IT AND MOST OF WHAT WE HEAR IN THE MEDIA ABOUT AFRICA ARE THE STORIES OF DESPAIR OR COUPS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS BUT TO BE THERE AND [ INAUDIBLE ] CAMPUS IS ENCOURAGING.

IT'S UPLIFTING.

>> I AM SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

WE HAVE FACILITATED VISITS BY JOURNALISTS TO GO TO WHERE THE STORIES ARE.

TWO GROUPS OF JOURNALISTS.

BEING A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS SINCE THE 1980s AND THE TED TORS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS TO GET THERE AND WE LEAVE THEM -- LEAD THEM WHERE THE STORIES ARE AND THEY DO THEIR JOBS SO THAT HAVING THAT COMBINATION OF PERIODIC VISITS OF MEMBERS OF THE SNAE OR NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION TO GO AND LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS ARE DOING INSIDE THE CONTINENT BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROJECT ANOTHER AFRICA.

AN AFRICA WHICH IS STRUGGLING WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN ADDITION TO THE AFRICA OF THE DISEASES, THE AFRICA OF THE CORRUPTION.

BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO GIVE THEIR MONEY INTO A BOTTOMLESS PIT WHERE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENCES IN AFRICA AND THE MAIN THING IS THAT WE LOOK AT THE ISLANDS OF [indiscernible] AS STROBLE MENTIONED.

>> I AM NOT LOOKING FOR A FREE TRIP HERE BUT THAT'S HOW I GOT TO SEE YOU.

I WAS TOLD THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I CAME AWAY WITH AN UNDERSTANDING.

YOU KNOW WHAT I REALLY KIND OF UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO THERE AND YOU HAVE TO SEE IT AND IT'S LIKE ALL RIGHT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MYSELF OR YOU, WHATEVER, CAN'T SOLVE BUT AT THE SAME TIME BOY, I HAVE A SURE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN MY LIFE AND THIS WAS THROUGH THE NAE, AMERICAN IS A MEMBER OF.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, SUPPORTING US AND BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

BEING JUST LIKE A LITTLE BIT OLDER AS I SAY, I SEE IT.

AND WHATEVER I MISSED WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE REALLY INVOLVED.

>> GETTING OUT THERE.

>> AND THAT'S A COOL THING.

>> AND THE PRESENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF MEDIA WORLDWIDE FUELS THAT.

A GREATER INTEREST, A GREATER AWARENESS AND THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ASKING US QUESTIONS JUST CAUSES US TO SAY, OKAY, AFTER THIS VISIT AND WE START THINKING ABOUT WHAT FORM THIS PARTNERSHIP TAKES ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE ASKED US POTENTIAL FOR A TRIP THAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE CAUSING US TO THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE ON THE DOCKET SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.

[LAUGHTER] >> Dr. DIALLO, I KNOW YOU'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME IN YOUR CAREER WORKING WITH UNITED NATIONSES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW LOOKING AT THE UNITED NATIONS ESPECIALLY WITH UKRAINE AND THE SITUATION THERE AND HOW RUSSIA OF ALL NATIONS IS ON THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL.

IS THE U.N.

STILL A FORM THAT WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH OR IS IT KIND OF SOUNDS GOOD ON PAPER BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T DO MUCH IN REALITY MILLION?

>> IF THE UNITED NATIONS DIDN'T EXIST WE WILL HAVE TO BE REINVENT IT.

WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS DOES IS TO SAY THAT AS WE ARE DISCUSSING AROUND THIS TABLE THERE IS NO ISSUE THAT CANNOT BE RESOLVED THROUGH CONVERSATION, THROUGH DISCUSSIONS.

AND NOT THROUGH THE BARREL OF THE GUN.

SO THAT IT'S MOST UNFORTUNATE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA BECAUSE THE CIVILIANS AND OTHERS ARE THE HARDEST HIT AND THEY ARE AGENCIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS WHICH ARE GETTING IN THERE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING OUT THERE BUT THE UNITED NATIONS SUFFERS FROM ONE THING.

THE PUBLIC TENDS TO LOOK AT THE UNITED NATIONS AS A POLITICAL BODY.

SO THE PUBLIC TENDS TO LOOK AT MORE THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAN THE WORK OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AREA.

YOU KNOW I WORKED FOR TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE IN UNICEF AND I AM SURE THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN TRICK OR TREAT PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE DONE CAMPAIGNS TO IMMUNIZE CHILDREN.

I WAS INVOLVED IN IMMUNIZING CHILDREN THROUGH A GREAT AMERICANS CALLED JIM GRANT LO WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNICEF.

WE WENT -- IN FACT THE IMMUNIZATION OF RATE OF CHILDREN OF AFRICA WENT FROM 13% TO 70% WHICH MEANT THAT 10,000 AFRICAN CHILDREN WHO WERE DYING EVERY 24 HOURS WERE SAVED THAT WAY.

SO THAT THEN WE DECLARED THE DECADE OF THE AFRICAN CHILD.

>>> WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF POLIO ERADICATION.

FIGHTING POVERTY.

FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ALL OF THOSE.

BUT THOSE ITEMS IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT NECESSARILY FORGIVE ME FOR USING THE WORD "SEXY" SO THAT YOU LOOK AT MORE THE POLITICAL SIDE BUT THERE IS A LOT THAT COULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH HAVING ANY KIND OF DIFFERENCE TO BE RESOLVED THROUGH NEGOTIATION BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR SO THAT UNITED NATIONS IS THERE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT NEW YORK IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU HAVE 193 COUNTRIES PRESENT, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS.

AND CAN YOU IMAGINE -- [ AUDIO INTERRUPTION ] THAT MEETING IN NEW YORK WHERE THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL SEM LITTLE BIT.

THE NEW YORKERS MAY NOT LIKE IT.

IT'S GRIDLOCK.

[LAUGHTER] >> INSIDE JOKE WITH MYSELF BASE SIT IN YOUR CHAIR WHEN I DO THIS SHOW BUT I SIT BACK HERE TO FACE AFRICA BECAUSE I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE I SAY EVERY MAP YOU SEE IS NOT TRUE TO THE SIZE OF AFRICA BECAUSE IT TAKES UP SUCH AMOUNT OF THE MAP.

I THINK THAT MOST PERSONS DON'T REALIZE A HUGE [ INAUDIBLE ] A LOT OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

AFRICA LIKE AMERICA.

IT'S ONE COUNTRY.

>> IT'S A LOT.

SO IF YOU COULD TALK NOT JUST TO GOVERNMENT OR WHATEVER BUT JUST TO AMERICA AND SAY YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS ABOUT AFRICA AND YOU NEED TO DO THIS FOR AFRICA WHAT WOULD THOSE TWO THINGS?

>> FIRST OF ALL THAT AFRICA IS ONE OF THE MOST WELCOMING CONTINENTS THAT YOU CAN HAVE AND THEN, SECONDLY, THAT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR BUSINESS IT IS THE CONTINENT OF THE FUTURE.

THE WORLD RESOURCES ARE MORE IN AFRICA RIGHT NOW THAN ANYWHERE ELSE AROUND THE WORLD AND THAT COULD BE YOU KNOW OUTSIDE THIS CONVERSATION THAT COULD BE DOCUMENTED.

AND THE THIRD ELEMENT IS THAT IN TERMS OF HUMANITY WE ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE -- MAKING SURE THAT WHERE THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN ONE PART OF THE VILLAGE WHICH IS THE GLOBAL VILLAGE THERE SHOULD BE RESOLVED IN THE OTHER PART.

BEYOND AFRICA ITSELF WE WENT TO UNIVERSITY, WE TACKLED SOME ISSUES WHICH ARE IN AFRICA BUT WHICH ARE GLOBAL.

THE ISSUE OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIGHT ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS IS AN ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY THE TOP MOST OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.

>> YOU'VE GOT A RED CARD THAT I THINK HAS SOME SIGNIFICANCE HERE, Dr. STROBLE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH US?

ALVIN, WE HAVE ONE FOR YOU, TOO.

OKAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT IS BEHIND THE RED CARD?

>> IT'S A SYMBOLIC WAY TO STAY JUST AS YOU WOULD IN THE GAME OF SOCCER OR FOOTBALL TO USE THE EUROPEAN TERM THAT WE ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE AN INDIVIDUAL STAND BY RAISING THE RED CARD AND SIGNING THE PLEDGE THAT VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GIRLS AND WOMEN IS NOT OKAY.

IT'S AGAINST THE RULES OF FAIR PLAY AND IT'S AGAINST THE RULES OF SOCIETY.

NOW WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS IN TERMS OF ACTION IS AS VISUAL AS THE INDIVIDUALS WHO RAISE THE RED CARD.

THIS IS VERY MUCH AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AT THIS LEVEL.

HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS CAN WE GET TO SAY I'LL TAKE A STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION IN ALL ITS FORMS AGAINST GIRLS AND WOMEN AND I'LL TAKE THIS FIRST STEP BY SIGNING THE PLEDGE OR RAISING THE RED CARD AND FROM THERE WITH OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FACULTY AND STAFF WE PLAN IN THE NEXT YEAR TO START FORMING ACTION TEAMS TO SAY WHAT ACTIONS MUST WE TAKE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY ASSURE THAT GENDER EQUALITY HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

>> DO YOU ALLOW FOR RELIGIOUS EXCEPTIONS?

>> I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS GREAT VARIETY OF OPINION ON EVERY UNIVERSITY CAMPUS WEBSTER IS IT NO EXCEPTION.

>> Charlie: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, THIS IS GOING TO SOUND KIND OF LIKE STUPID, OKAY, BUT I'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS THOUGHT AND I HEARD ANOTHER GRADUATION SPEAKER EARLIER AND THEY SAID WE HAVE A THOUGHT PUT IT OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, ALL RIGHT.

I WILL ASK YOU THIS, OKAY.

HUNGER IS A PROBLEM IN AFRICA TODAY, OKAY.

AND OIL IS A PROBLEM WEAVER IN THE UNITED STATES.

-- WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IS THERE SOME WAY THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN SAY, LIKE, OKAY, IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING TO GET THE RESOURCE OF PETROLEUM, OIL, AND WE WOULD FEED YOUR PEOPLE, OKAY, IS THAT A KIND OF THING THAT COULD HAPPEN OR IS THAT NONSENSE OR I MEAN AND I AM LITERALLY I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE ANSWER TO THIS IS BUT I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT -- >> SOURCES FROM WHERE THEY ARE TO WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

>> COULD THAT WORK?

>> WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT I THINK THAT'S A VERY -- IT'S NOT A STUPID QUESTION.

IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT YOU ARE ASKING.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY WHAT THE CHINESE SAY THAT IF YOU GIVE FISH TO SOMEONE YOU CAN FEED THEM FOR ONE DAY.

BUT IF YOU TEACH THEM HOW TO FISH THEN THEY ARE GOING TO LIVE FOR THE REST OF THEIR TIME.

SO WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS TO BRING ABOUT SUSTAINABLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

AND AMERICANS ARE PEOPLE WHO CARE FIRST AND FOREMOST.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THOSE COVER DIFFERENT ASPECTS WHERE YOU HAVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT SO WE CAN FACILITATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF THOSE PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS IN THE MISSOURI, St. LOUIS AREA TO SEE HOW THEY CAN INVEST IN AFRICA BUT THEN SINCE THERE ARE 17 GOALS AS I SAID WE CAN HAVE A NUMBER OF ENTRY POINTS OF THE ONE, WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE ARE CREATIVE AND WE NEED TO USE THIS AS AN ENTRY POINT.

NUMBER TWO WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH WOMEN'S MOVEMENTS.

WOMEN, THE DIASPORA AND OTHER TYPES OF WOMEN.

AND THEN UNIVERSITIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION SO THAT WHEN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ARE SPENT IN THE EDUCATION OF THE YOUTH IN AFRICA WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHEREBY THOSE DEGREES WILL LEAD TO US CLOSE TO PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS POSSIBLE WHICH IS NOT HAPPENING IN MANY DEGREES RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN THE FOURTH ELEMENT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE IS REALLY TO ENGAGE PEG.

FOR US THE MAYOR IS A LEADER THAT THE POPULATION GOES TO FIRST AND FOREMOST BEFORE THE POPULATION GOES UP TO THE MINISTER OR TO THE PRESIDENT.

SO THAT WE HAVE BEEN FACILITATING THE SISTER CITY RELATIONS MAYOR TO MAYOR BETWEEN THE MAYORS SO THAT WILL PROVIDE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM.

>> Charlie: I AM AFRAID WE ARE OUT OF TIME AND THOSE MIGHT BE OUR LAST WORDS.

THANK YOU, DOCTORS FOR JOINING US.

HOPE THEY HAVE A GREAT GRADUATION TOMORROW 103rd COMMENCEMENT AT WEBSTER UNIVERSITY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON NEXT UP.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

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