74th Annual Fall Conference

Sharing Our Vision--Strengthening Our Society

Global Awareness

November. 2, 2013

How Microfinancing Women to Work Helps
the Community Children and their Education

Sister Caroljean Willie, the NGO representative at the United Nations for the Sisters of Charity Federation, was the keynote speaker for our Fall 2013 Conference. Sister Caroljean has had extensive experience working cross-culturally throughout the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America as a teacher, principal, teacher-trainer, and cultural diversity consultant and retreat director. A frequent speaker at regional and national conferences, she has also given presentations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Sister Caroljean spoke about her work with the UN, focusing mainly on microfinancing initiatives. Microfinance, the provision of financial services such as loans, savings, insurance, and training to people living in poverty, is one of the great success stories in the developing world in the last 30 years; it is widely recognized as a just and sustainable solution in alleviating global poverty. Her presentatioin confirmed how microfinancing can meet the DKG goal of global awareness.

Fine Arts Presentation
Education Through Movement

Peter Braunfield, a music educator in Wallingford, demonstrated the ease with which specific rhythmic and repetitive movements provide learners of all ages with skills and techniques for moving and dancing. More than half of the conference attendees 'put on their dancing shoes' and parlayed to and fro--individually and then with a partner. Several Fall Conference Photos illustrate the joy and pleasure of the group as they followed Peter's clear instructions.

Peter, a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, majored in recorder and music education. An accomplished instrumentalist, he has performed with the Five College Collegium, the Hartt School Collegium, the University of Connecticut Collegium, and the Connecticut Baroque Band. Currently he is a perfoming member of Alta, a Renaissance wind trio.

For over 30 years hundreds of children in various elementary schools have benefited from his musical prowess. Peter has organized recorder clubs, directed the "All Town Chorus," and presented numerous professional development workshops.

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