An Odyssey with Anum Farooq (Odyssey Global Media)

Noor Cornelissen 'Feeling Rooted: Perspectives on belonging and home'

Noor sees mobility as an integral part of the human experience. She also experiences that globalization changes the way in which we understand our sense of belonging. The world has become our home, while this global accessibility has also outgrown our understanding of home. Noor is curious to explore how we, as individuals and societies, can strengthen our embodied sense of belonging to ourselves, our communities, and nature – regardless of the geographical location. How may we come home and feel rooted again?
At the age of 16, Noor moved by herself to New Mexico where she finished the last two years of her high school. After obtaining degrees in political science, history and international development in Germany and Switzerland, Noor moved all over the world to work with communities on matters of migration and displacement. She spoke with hundreds of people on their migratory experience, including in Libya, Chad, Iraq, Uganda, Congo, and Palestine. After more than ten years abroad, she lived through her own sense of uprootedness upon return to the Netherlands. Currently, Noor is integrating her lived experience in her work as policy maker, entrepreneur and speaker. 
Through Rooted, Noor intends to create a space where people can consciously and jointly reflect on their sense of rootedness.

Odyssey Global Media Grassroots Global Autism Conference Snapshots

Odyssey Global Media Global held a Grassroots Global Autism Conference focusing on the theme of lived experiences, and individual perspectives from a local to a global level, to carry forward the human narrative.
 
Thiandi Grooff lives in Amsterdam in her own apartment with 24/7 support because she has no muscle control. She has a masters in International and European Human Rights Law. She is a member of quiet riot, a group of non-verbal poets and activists, campaigning for full inclusion and inclusive education.
 
Juan Cobeñas lives in Argentina, and has a degree in Spanish and Literature and a postgraduate certificate in Cognitive Accessibility.
He uses a wheelchair and communicates using a form of alternative augmentative communication.
 
Sarah-Jane comes from a traditional Fine Art background. She studied for a BA (Hons) Fine Art at Liverpool John Moore's University (UK) and DipCipris (a postgraduate degree) in Fine Art at the Cyprus College of Art (Cyprus).
Continuing her studies, she focused on creative education, completing a PGCE (Art & Design) at the University of Leeds (UK) and a Post-16 Teaching Certificate at Cyprus College of Art (Cyprus).
 
Rachel Winder is an Autistic Autism consultant. She has a lifetime of personal Autistic experiences and knowledge to help bridge the gap between Autistic and non-autistic worlds. She is on the National Autistic Society’s Autism Services Directory, with an MA in Autism. 
 
Rachel is fluent in British Sign Language, and can communicate fluently with Deaf-Blind people who use Deaf-Blind Manual, Block and Visual frame signing. She also has a Qualified Teacher Learning Status (QTLS) allowing her to teach people age 14 years and beyond.
 
 
Ghafaria is a specialist mentor in mental health conditions and Autism.
 
She is a research student (Psychology and Human Development Dept), UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society.
 
Ghafaria is neurodivergent researcher that is interested in Autism and mental health in the South Asian people that live in the United Kingdom. Also, she is passionate about intersectionalities and how these impact the lived experiences of people.
 
Susan Golubock was diagnosed with Autism in her early fifties.
As a now-retired occupational therapist she specialized in sensory processing, executive functioning, and pursued a master's degree in assistive technology.
 
All of these skills, along with her passion for understanding differences in brain functioning, enabled her to develop training modules to help neurotypical individuals to better understand and support the neurological strengths and differences of individuals with Autism.
 
 

Penelope Magoulianiti :Uncompromising Success - Achieving Your Best in Business and Home

Penelope Magoulianiti :Uncompromising Success - Achieving Your Best in Business and Home
Penelope Magoulianiti  is a transformational coach and expert who empowers women around the world to balance their professional and personal lives. 
Born and raised in Cyprus, Penelope ventured into corporate banking for 20 years. At 40, she resigned from a successful career, authored "Women, Motherhood and Independence" 
 
Penelope's philosophy, Balance 360™, emphasizes tailor-made strategies for each client.  She holds a certification from The Life Coaching School and is an approved trainer by the Cyprus Government Body. She is a graduate of Antony Robbins Mastery University, and she has attended, over the last twenty years, many training courses for personal development, leadership, and women's empowerment.   
 
With over seven years of experience in coaching, Penelope has received recognition by being awarded the GIFEW Evolutionary Women Inspiring Solopreneur Award 2023 and a finalist in the Businesswomen Awards 2016

Ami Valdemoro and Illac Diaz: Empowering Communities Through Sustainable and Solar Liter of Light

Ami Valdemoro and Illac Diaz: Empowering Communities Through Sustainable and Solar Liter of Light
 
Liter of Light is a global, grassroots movement committed to providing affordable, sustainable solar light to people with limited or no access to electricity.
Through a network of partnerships around the world, Liter of Light volunteers teach marginalized communities how to use recycled plastic bottles and locally sourced materials to illuminate their homes, businesses, and streets.
Liter of Light has installed more than 350,000 bottle lights in more than 15 countries and taught green skills to empower grassroots entrepreneurs at every stop.
Liter of Light's open source technology has been recognized by the UN and adopted for use in some UNHCR camps. Liter of Light is the proud recipient of the 2016 St. Andrews Prize for the Environment, the 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize, and a winner of the 2014-2015 World Habitat Award.
 
Through social media and community replication, the movement has spread; 145,200 households in the Philippines, and 353,600+ homes in over 15 countries with main offices in Philippines, USA, and Colombia. Women's cooperatives now operate building the Liter of Light @Night lights in the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Colombia.
 
 
 
 

HER EXCELLENCY CHIZOBA NZEAKOR: CLIMATE CHANGE & SUSTAINABILITY PERSPECTIVES FROM QUEENS COMMONWEALTH YOUTH TRUST MEMBER, SDGs 4, 7 & 13 ADVOCATE AND ENTREPRENEUR

Climate change and sustainability perspectives from Her Excellency Chizoba Nzeakor, who is a highly accomplished Global Youth Ambassador, Entrepreneur, and SDGs 4, 7, and 13 Advocate, with a strong focus on climate and clean energy.
 
As a member of the Queens Commonwealth Youth Trust Network and the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Youth Executives, Chizoba is part of a global community of over 850 leaders dedicated to creating positive social change in the Commonwealth. She is also an MBA candidate at Quantic Business School, a Fellow at Student Energy, and a UN-SDSN Local pathways Fellow.
 
Her professional experience and expertise in this field have earned her recognition as a future leader, by the Aspen Institute at the Aspen Ideas Climate Summit in Miami Beach 2023
 
Chizoba is the Founder and CEO of Climate Technology Solutions, Zoba Advisory, and Caroline Raphael Events. Her passion for renewable energy, event planning, project management, climate change education, and clean energy advocacy has led her to work with renewable energy firms, climate education organizations, and other institutions to accelerate the Net Zero goals and create access to clean energy, education, and various other opportunities.
 
With her extensive experience in the field, Chizoba has worked as a solar/inverter system developer, accelerating the demand for solar energy by creating relationships that bridge the gap. As an energy and climate finance specialist for PAWAVEST, she led analysis and managed institutional partnerships in clean energy finance. She has also served as the Head of Business Development, Partnerships, and Programs at Zenelgie Global Solutions, an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction renewable energy company. Currently, she is an Energy Project Coordinator at Integrated Africa Power in Bonn, Germany.

PAUL VERNON & KELSEY SMITH : FILM-MAKING, DIRECTING, ACTING, MANAGING & THE WORLD OF AI, ART, BOOKS & MUSEUMS

An incredibly insightful interview with film-maker, director, author and artist Paul Vernon and his fiancée Kelsey Smith who is an optician and a manager at The Eye Place.
 
The conversation centred on film-making, directing, acting, art exhibitions, books, management to artificial intelligence and museums with fascinating perspectives.
 
Paul Vernon is an internationally screened award-winning filmmaker, author and artist whose work has been selected in places such as London Short Film Festival at the ICA, BAFTA, San Diego Comic-Con and LACMA. With press coverage by the BBC and film commissions for the Danish Arts Foundation, as well as collaboration with the Arts Council England.
 
His film '​​Lost In The Nameless City' had its world premiere in competition at the Artists Forum Festival of The Moving Image in New York, was the winner of an Experimental Award in Romania and screened in Mexico in competition among only nine other films ​at the Cinetekton International Film & Architecture Festival. 
 
He has also authored two books, one being 'Strange Space: An inquisitive gaze at ignored architectural splendor, intricate mundanity and the soul of its nuances.
He is currently working on his film 'Spirit' in the Unearth art collective, curating and designing his new museum Vortex as part of his label Captain Cowboy and has started working with AI illustration tools towards virtual exhibitions, exploration, experimentation and fresh narratives. 
Kelsey Smith has a Science background as a qualified dispensing optician educated at Anglia Ruskin university, recently becoming the manager of her own store for company The Eye Place in London. She has a creative streak and has crafted gifts, sewn, acted and helped curate and install art exhibitions.

MICHELLE KIM : GRASSROOTS VOICES OF UNITED NATIONS FCCC YOUTH CONSTITUENTS

Incredibly wonderful to meet fellow United Nations FCCC YOUNGO Youth Constituents at COP28 to hear their insights for the Odyssey Global Media Podcasts. An absolute honour to meet Michelle Kim who is a sustainability educator, youth community leader and advocate working heavily on UN SDGs & Social+Environmental pillars of sustainability. 
She has numerous lived experiences growing up in four different countries- Korea, Philippines, Canada and U.S, and experienced poverty, climate crisis to racism. 
Therefore, all her experiences are rooted from her care and love for people and the planet. I adore her ethos of 'No one gets left behind'.
Michelle is currently completing her Global Development Master’s Degree at Harvard University
Meeting Michelle was a real privilege and this is a beginning of our collaboration, and hopefully more for the future!
Michelle has incredible meaningful work from being involved in current climate education in both global South and North, working at international and local levels. As youth ambassador with UN Association Canada, she worked to promote UN SDGs; and worked with charity organization in Canada for indigenous youth and marginalized youth on developing climate initiative projects for Great Toronto Area, amongst other incredible achievements.

Gabriella Silvagnoli with Anum Farooq

GABRIELLA SILVAGNOLI: INSIGHTS FROM A GLOBAL ART CURATOR
Gabriella Silvagnoli is a Puerto Rican-born people person with a love for video creation, art, and visuals. She studied at Boston University and graduated with a bachelor’s in Film and Television and a minor in Art History.
Gabriella’s passion for art and design led her to the New York and London art world scenes, where she has worked as an art advisor, video producer, and art curator. She has helped curate the artwork for countless residential and hospitality spaces worldwide.
Gabriella now works as a digital art curator at Loupe Art, an art streaming platform focused on bringing art onscreen and transforming spaces, one screen at a time.