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"Empowerment -Agents of Change" (E -AC)
Americas Internship and Leadership Development program (AILD)

Purpose
    The Americas Foundation (TAF) seeks to expand its successfully proven Americas Internship and Leadership Development (AILD) program bringing to Washington, DC groups of 15 or more selected university students, professionals, government officials and others from  cities throughout the United States, countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond. We plan to bring hundreds and in later years more than a thousand participants annually to Washington. TAF's main goal is to contribute to the economic, educational, social and political empowerment of the people of the Americas; thereby, strengthening democracy, civil society and the rule of law; reducing poverty and injustice; advancing cooperation and human achievement.

    We are living in times of unprecedented technological changes and of great opportunities, yet Hispanic Americans in the United States and the people of Latin America continue to face great challenges in many areas of their daily lives. We seek to contribute to overcoming these challenges to help secure a solid and sustainable economic, educational, social and political growth throughout our hemisphere. Our internship program is designed to help achieve these goals.

    We want to provide our interns and other program participants in Washington, DC an exceptional opportunity. The opportunity to learn, observe, experience how the government of the United States and democracy works, how other supporting entities work, meet with, listen from and exchange with government officials, private sector executives, and establish long lasting relationships.

    When our alumni return to their cities and countries of origin, TAF will continue providing logistic support to help them achieve their personal professional goals. Accordingly, we will encourage them to actively participate in our growing hemispheric and global network through Internet and other technology.

    Our goal is to provide the tools and communications support for our alumni to become what we call the "Empowerment -Agents of Change;" thereby, contributing to the economic, educational, social and political empowerment of the people of the Latin America and the Caribbean.

    "The Americas Foundation (TAF) is becoming an instrument of growth in my life. It is a tool and a vehicle for Latin American countries to enter effectively into the U.S.A. global market…. Mr. Pinzon may describe TAF in terms of its vision, mission, goals and projects. But I say that TAF is just people helping people!"
Daniel Cardona, High School Teacher Intern from Puerto Rico; sponsored by Puerto Rico's Legislature

When. We are ready to launch the program. We seek additional funds, matching funds, to enable selected intern groups to travel to Washington, DC for the experience of their lives. We have been working with interns and volunteers since 1991 and thoroughly know the process. Additionally, for over the last five years we have been planning, designing and testing the program and are ready to successfully implement it.

Agenda Content. TAF will offer a specifically designed agenda / curriculum to each group of participants according to their needs and interests.

Duration. The programs may vary from two weeks to three or more months, depending on the needs and interests of the various groups.

Cost. The cost of the program varies from about $5,000 to $10,000 per participant based on various factors. The cost includes housing, administration of the program and may include an airline round-trip for each participant.

Who are we? TAF is a 501(c)(3) NGO, nonpartisan, think-tank organization based in Washington, DC whose mission is to address and offer solutions to some of the major needs and challenges impacting Hispanics in the United States, and the people of Latin America and Caribbean. Our membership includes highly motivated professionals, community leaders and average individuals. We are proud of and stress Hispanic representation from each and all Latin American countries and other communities. We are in the process to establish chapters in Latin America to serve and implement our program. Furthermore, we plan to develop our internship program in reverse, that is from the United States to Latin America, for a dynamic valuable interrelationship and exchange.

    We work aggressively studying, researching and offering sound solutions and strategic plans on specific unique empowerment programs to strengthen education, economic development, democracy, social justice, civil society, equal opportunities, fairness in the region. Through our intensive work and accomplishments since 1991, our Foundation has achieved substantial recognition and has established strong relationships with members of the US Congress, The White House, Federal agencies, multilaterals and other NGOs, as well as the private sector in the US, Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Team and Experience. TAF has a team of professionals and is ready to hire the additional needed staff as the program begins in earnest. The following are some of the persons currently helping on the program: Victor Pinzon, TAF's President; Dr. Vinton Cerf, MCI -"The Father of Internet"; Louis Barcelo, Investment Banking; German Guajardo, CPA Consultant; Bill Harris, Information Technology Consultant; Jay Rosenberg, Investment Banking; Omar Hafez, Investment Banking; Barbara Serage, NGO Chairwoman; Michael Ray Bridgewater, NGO President; Luis Guerra, Project Coordinator; Ricardo Espitia, IT Consultant; Ana Marie Look, TV Producer; Luis Patino, Journalist; Louis Delgado, Investment Banking; Jorge Hurtarte, IT Consultant; Rafael Roman, Federal Government Official; Jan Du Plain, Public Relations; Madeline Darden, Project Management.

    TAF has invested substantial time and resources over the last six years establishing working relationships in Washington with the US Congress, the White House, federal agencies, local government, international community, private sector, academia and other entities. Thus, TAF has positioned itself in an enviable position to place interns with those entities or implement the type of programs we are ready to provide to our participants.

    We have been travelling to Latin America and the Caribbean working and communicating the scope and benefits of our program to universities, associations and others. We are in the phase of establishing the operating relationships with those entities and appointing representatives in countries to start the process of promoting, selecting and sending interns and others to Washington, DC.

Why Washington, DC? The United States is today the prominent world's power, the best (not perfect) operating government, commercially and technologically the best and largest market in the world and, Washington, DC is its capital, the world's capital, the living heart of all of this activity. TAF offers, through its internship and Leadership Development program a unique and valuable opportunity here. The knowledge, experience, and relationships that our alumni will gain and establish in Washington, DC will be with them for the rest of their lives. Our alumni will take back to their cities and countries of origin new concepts, procedures and a vision they may want to adapt or shape to their culture for their benefit, betterment and sustained growth of their communities and countries. The U.S. will gain substantially in many ways as a result.

Alternative programs. There are other excellent intern programs in Washington. Those programs focus primarily on university students or graduates and on U.S. non-Hispanics. The cost of those programs vary from $6,000 to $10,000 per intern, including basically housing and program administration. The interns in those programs are assigned to work 4 to 4 ½ days per week in an office or entity during the duration of the program. TAF offers its program not only to university students but also to professionals, government officials and others, primarily from Latin America, the Caribbean and Hispanics in the U.S. TAF's program requires, in general, a significant more administrative attention and resources to each participant. Additionally, TAF’s logistic support to its alumni will be second to none.

Use of Grants, Sponsorships, Contributions, Donations and other Funds. We encourage your joining us in the successful implementation of this exceptional program, by providing us your grants, sponsorships, contributions, donations and other funds or matching funds. We accept funds in cash and or in-kind. The funds we receive are to be used primarily to sponsor the full or partial Internship Leadership Development program cost to those qualified and highly motivated university students and others unable to pay the program cost.

Contact us

Americas Global Foundation:
930 M Street, NW Suite 609 Washington, DC 20001
202-371-9696   Fax: 202-276-9550   vicpinzon@theamericas.org

    Our Foundation's AILD program provides our interns hands-on real life experience working on our numerous exciting and challenging programs and events of local, national, hemispheric and global impact. 
    We provide valuable experience to our interns in Congress, the White House, federal agencies, multilateral, other nonprofit and public interest organizations, as well as private sector companies. Our curriculum includes a variety of briefings at US Congressional offices, the White House, Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee, State Department, Department of Commerce, US Immigration and Naturalization, other federal agencies and numerous other entities.

    Our interns will also may hear from leading members of Hispanic Latino organizations, Latin American Ambassadors, Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucus Institutes, multilateral organizations, private sector companies and others. The experiences our interns receive and the relationships they establish in Washington, DC -unique local and global culture- through our AILD program will be valued by them for the rest of their lives.

    Our Foundation will engage our interns in a life-long network and provide a synergy of opportunities among themselves, with members, advisors, friends of our Foundation and our growing list of strategic partners worldwide. Our AILD program will prepare and strengthen our alumni interns' private professional and political careers so that they may become our proud, shinning leaders and mentors of our future generations.

    Our Foundation, our Interns and communities would be forever grateful to sponsors, donors and contributors for their support of our Internship and Leadership Development program. Additionally, our successful alumni interns could become available to our sponsors and supporters as potential employees in their countries of origin or in the United States.
    Please refer to the following views of the typical experience obtained by one of our interns, Mr. Daniel Cardona, a high school professor from Puerto Rico.
    Help us replicate and multiply his experience by the thousands helping us thereby to empower the people of the Americas and beyond.

Experiencias de un Intern con AGF

por: Daniel Cardona Robles
Programa Pilar Barbosa Internship
Legislatura de Puerto Rico y The Washington Center
                                                                                                                                                                                      

Interns: Fausto Gortaire & Daniel Cardona
I. EL PROGRAMA

    Un grupo selecto de profesores Puertorriquenos, patrocinados por la Legislatura de Puerto Rico, participaron en un programa de Internship en Washington, DC durante el verano de 1999. Yo fui asignado a The Americas Foundation.
    Durante el programa Internship, todos los miembros que vinimos de Puerto Rico, asistimos a una serie de conferencias y seminarios organizadas por The Washington Center. El proposito de los seminarios fue para informarnos de los temas mas importantes del momento en los Estados Unidos y el proceso de establecer e implementar politicas, especialmente en el area de educacion.

II. The Americas Foundation -El Lugar de mi Internship

    The Americas Foundation (TAF) se ha convertido en un instrumento de crecimiento en mi vida. Es un instrumento y vehiculo para los paises de Latino America entrar al mercado global, especialmente los Estados Unidos. TAF asiste personas de los grupos minoritarios a desarrollarse exitosamente en los E.U., ayudandolos a prepararse adquiriendo las herramientas necesarias para tomar ventaja de las valiosas oportunidades que existen. Esos dos objetivos son criticos en mi vision sobre estos temas, por lo cual agradezco a Dios el haberme dado la oportunidad de ser parte de este esfuerzo.
    Durante los dias que trabaje para TAF, Junio 8 a Julio 30, 1999, adquiri una experiencia totalmente diferente a mi rutina diaria. Algunas de esas experiencias incluyeron mi ayuda en coordinar reuniones, seminarios, conferencias y eventos especiales con importantes personalidades de America Latina, oficiales del gobierno de los E.U, empresas, sector privado, academia y otros en Washington, DC. Tuve la oportunidad de trabajar con computadores, sistemas completamente nuevos para mi. Aprendi a enviar faxes, entrar en Internet, aprender Windows 98, Excel, Power Point y desarrollar Bancos de Datos. Ademas, tuve la oportunidad de desarrollar mi proficiencia del idioma Ingles -estructura y reconocimiento oral/auditivo. Tambien, como resultado de mi trabajo con TAF, ahora reconozco los pasos requeridos para obtener un “grant”, como prepararlo y presentarlo, las necesarias habilidades y proceso, incluyendo el seguimiento para lograr el resultado. Yo ahora entiendo que esos “grants” son mas alcanzables de lo que parece.
    En TAF tambien trabaje en numerosas otras actividades, obteniendo conocimintos en planificacion, logistica e implementacion de ciertos proyectos, programas y eventos, tales como:
    1. Organizar la Serie de Conferencias en el Capitolio, Congreso de los EU.
    2. Organizar las reuniones con los Agregados Comerciales y Culturales de Latino America, Espana y Portugal
    3. Comunicarme y hacer seguimiento con patrocinadores, donantes y participantes para programas y eventos
    4. Comunicarme con miembros potenciales de la Fundacion
    5. Ayudar con propuestas de “Grants”, entregarlos y hacer el seguimiento
    6. Trabajar en el programa de desarrollo con Interns y Voluntarios
    7. Trabajar con Donantes y ayudar a recoger materiales y valores donados
    8. Ayudar a producir Notas y Comunicados de Prensa, enviarlos y hacer seguimiento con los medios
    9. Contribuir en algunos detalles del exitante y ambicioso proyecto de "La Casa de las Americas in Washington"   
    Yo veo a la Fundacion como un instrumento de Dios. Dios toco a Victor Pinzon y puso un proposito en su espiritu aventurero: comunicar y repartir sus conocimientos y experiencia a otros. No buscar predomino personal ni buscar dinero como un fin ni alto prestigio personal, pero ser generoso en la lucha y retos contribuyendo a realzar la imagen y obtener el empoderamiento de los Hispano / Latinos y de Latin America.
    El Senor Pinzon quiza describa a TAF en terminos de su vision, mision, objetivos y metas. Pero yo digo que The Americas Foundation es simplemente una organizacion de personas ayudando a otras personas!


III. FUTUROS PROYECTOS

a. Computadores
    Despues de mi experiencia como intern en The Americas Foundation me siento suficientemente capaz de preparar y pedir un “grant” para obtener el equipo y materiales necesarios para ofrecer un programa de capacitacion del uso de computadores e Internet a estudiantes de Isabel Flores Community High School de Puerto Rico.

b. Excursiones Educacionales
    Quiero ayudar a ofrecer oportunidades a nuestros estudiantes a desarrollar su proficiencia del idioma Ingles. Planeo seleccionar un grupo de estudiantes para un curso de immersion de Ingles conversacional en Washington, DC. En este proyecto TAF es critica en el exito del mismo, porque TAF coordinara y facilitara todos los aspectos y logistica del programa. TAF ayudara al desarrollo de liderazgo y otras actividades de los estudiantes durante la estadia en Washington, DC, como tambien y muy importante ofrecerles y darles el respaldo y network, despues de regresar a Puerto Rico.

Experience of an Intern with TAF

A group of selected school teachers from Puerto Rico, sponsored by the Puerto Rico Legislature, participated in a unique Internship program in Washington, DC during the summer of 1999. I was assigned to The Americas Foundation.

1) Eugene J. Alpert, Ph.D., Vice president for academic affairs; The Washington Center.
The Washington Center as a source of experiential learning

Some of the afternoons we attended a formal course in leadership with Dr. Kyle Farmbry. We had to develop different home works including the study of an important issue to create the proper public policy for its eventual solution and other theme papers. One of the most significant assignments was to visit the Holocaust Museum. It certainly makes you think of the incredible potential of the human beings for the violence and how far we (the humanity) can reach when our values are not stronger than our prejudices. That precisely inspired us when we chose the theme for our "Policy Paper". My group did a study on death penalty. The controversy level of such theme was so big, that we divided ourselves into two groups. While two of us were in opposition to death penalty, the other two were in favor. That allowed us to re-evaluate our personal conclusions and to express that the most adequate consensus in this case was a serious compromise to achieve some responsible actions with respect to death penalty.

II. The Americas Foundation –The Place of My Internship

The Americas Foundation (TAF) is becoming an instrument of growth in my life. It is a tool and a vehicle for the Latin American countries to enter effectively into the U.S.A. global market. On the other hand TAF works to help individuals from any minority background to succeed in the U.S.A.; given them the opportunity to be better prepared to take advantage of the many opportunities available to us all. Those two goals are consonants with my points of view on those themes for which I thank God to have given me the opportunity to be part of this effort.

During the days I worked at TAF (June 8 to July 30, 1999) I had experiences totally different from my daily duties. Some of those experiences included my help to coordinate meetings, seminars, conferences and special events with important personalities from Latin America, U.S. government officials, the business and academia community in Washington DC. I had the opportunity to work with computer systems completely new to me. I learned to send faxes, to get into Internet, and practice Windows 98, Exel, Power Point, and to develop Data Bases. In addition, I had the opportunity to develop my oral construction and oral recognition of the English language. Also, now as a result of my work with TAF, I am aware of the required steps to request a grant, to submit a proposal, the needed skills and procedures, including the follow up. And, I understand that those grants are more available than they look.

1. Organized the Monthly Speakers Series on Capitol Hill
2. Meetings with Commercial and Cultural Attaches of the Americas
3. Communicate and follow up with or on issues involving sponsors, donors:
    corporate, other entities and individuals
4. Communicate with potential Foundation's members
5. Grants proposals, submitting and follow up
6. Interns and volunteers program
7. Donors and to pick up certain donated items
8. Press Releases, issuing and follow up
9. The development of "La Casa de las Americas in Washington", LACAW, numerous components

I see the Foundation as an instrument of God. God touched Victor Pinzon and put in his adventurer spirit one purpose, to share his knowledge with others. Not to be selfish trying to gain money and high rank for himself, but to be generous in the struggle to contribute to raise up the Latino- Hispanic American and Latin American image and to contribute to their empowerment.

I am looking forward to widening the opportunities of our students to develop their language skills in English. Therefore, I am planning to bring High School average students from the Conversational English course to the United States so they could have a valuable immersion experience. In that project TAF is the critical key for its success because TAF will coordinate and facilitate the community service program, helping the students to develop and increase their leadership skills, as well as to help coordinate the other educational activities and housing needs.

Anyone interested in working with Americas Global Foundation as an Intern or Volunteer, help us establish Internship programs throughout the Americas or to contribute donate resources for this or any of the other TAF's projects or programs, please contact us.