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PORTLAND, Maine

World Affairs Council of Maine and UNE partner for summit on citizen diplomacy

The World Affairs Council of Maine, in partnership with the University of New England, presents the 2011 Maine Summit on Citizen Diplomacy: "Mainers Engaged in Health Care Development Abroad," Friday, April 1, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. 

The keynote speaker will be Mary Jean Eisenhower, president of People to People International, an organization dedicated to enhancing international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures.

This event brings together members of the health care, nonprofit, business, academic, local government, civic, religious, and international exchange communities to promote citizen diplomacy and its importance in our global interdependent world.  College/university students interested in health care and international development are particularly encouraged to attend.

In addition to the keynote address, the event features two educational sessions: "Working Globally, Building Capacity Locally" and "Profiles of Maine's Global Health Care Leadership."  Also, the summit's expo will highlight Maine health care organizations that currently work abroad to include volunteer opportunities.  

Specific goals of the summit are to increase public awareness in Maine of the citizen diplomacy movement within the health care sector; to build the capacity of Maine's international health care organizations to become more globally engaged; and to strengthen cooperation among these organizations.

The Summit on Citizen Diplomacy was made possible through a seed grant from the National Council for International Visitors as part of its 50th Anniversary celebration.

This event is open to the public.  To register for the summit, go to www.wacmaine.org.  For more information, contact Amy Holland at World Affairs Council of Maine at 207-221-4386 or aholland@wacmaine.org, or Trisha Mason at UNE at 207-602-2451 or tmason2@une.edu.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.