Joseph
Brandon Caplan-Szuba is a Litigation Assistant at Lindsay,
Hart, Neil & Weigler in Portland, Oregon and an avid
practitioner of intercultural conflict transformation. Brandon
earned his Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Global Studies from
Earlham College (2008) with a focus in social movement theory. As a
Bonner Scholar Brandon, explored the potential of service learning
for human development. During his sophomore year Brandon traveled
to Capetown, South Africa to participate in the International Human
Rights Exchange. It was here that Brandon truly learned what it
meant to civically engage and endeavor to shape one's society. At
the conclusion of the program Brandon remained in Capetown to work
with Creative Education with Youth at Risk, or CRED, an
organization devoted to providing a forum for self expression to
youth in prison. With CRED Brandon participated in reflexive
workshops, whereby participants developed ways to share their life
stories with their home communities in the hopes of breaking the
cyclical trappings of poverty and the penal system. Profoundly
inspired by the transformative power of servant leadership Brandon
traveled to Ramallah, Palestine to pursue an internship with the
Palestinian Peace Coalition. The Palestinian Peace Coalition works
to develop institutions for civic participation within the
Palestinian community, and then provides a bridge for that
community to engage with their counterpart in Jerusalem. Brandon
spent the summer assisting youth camp participants brainstorm a
year long development goal for their home community, and plan its
implementation. Participants developed a sense of ownership over
their futures absolutely necessary as a foundation for a meaningful
peace process. During his four years at Earlham College Brandon
volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County.
Organizing team sporting events, homework clubs and art room
Brandon learned how important a sense of belonging to one's
community is for an individual's growth. The Boys and Girls Club
demonstrates the necessity of a communal approach to learning for
effective development, and provides a unique space for both members
and volunteers to share in the rewards of service and
companionship.
Elizabeth Haran Caplan most recently served as the director of Educational Support Services at Harding Charter Preparatory High School in Oklahoma City. As a social potential movement scholar, policy analyst and practitioner she has worked in partnership alchemy across the globe to achieve one aim: guarenteed inclusion of all children in the best educational setting their community can provide. In developing her own capacity to promote these aims Elizabeth has earned advanced degrees in special education, policy planning, policy analysis, and public administration. Furthermore she holds several educational certifications in critical areas such as, teacher of the visually and hearing impaired, applied behavior analysis and reading intervention. Grateful to have had the opportunities to develop herself accordingly the letters she is most proud of are those which make up the names of the beautiful family she has counted on for years of inspiration, joy and support. Ms. Caplan brings years of experience in non profit management, board leadership and learning-community development to Volunteer Positive. While living in Oregon, Ms. Caplan served both as board member and President of the Oregon Parent Training and Information Center from 1998-2004. Addtionally she served at large on the Portland Jewish Family and Child Services' Agency board. During her tenure with JFCS she chaired the services-practices committee. In 2003 Elizabeth co-founded The Innovative Inclusion Foundation to document and disseminate empirically tested experimental social innovations which transpire real positive changes. At the request of the U.S. Deparment of Education, the foundation conducted participatory action research throughout the states to identify locally grown family reading initiatives leading to increased reading achievement among students for whom little progress had yet been realized. While experiences and education will undoubtedly prove helpful it is with an open mind and heart that Ms. Caplan brings a renewed sense of purpose, hope and vision to her board service with Volunteer Positive. There are jobs, there are missions and then there is life. Serving Volunteer Positive in any capacity represents the best of what life has to offer; the privilege to witness the growth and far reaching effects of a social potential movement whose time has come. It's our world, let's embrace each other in service so others may live. "Words guide, examples move, but only the giving of oneself transforms." - Santiago Bovisio
Michael J. Foster is an Environmental Scientist and Environmental Policy Analyst. Currently he is the Biology Educator with the Youth Initiatives division of the Education department at the American Museum of Natural History. He creates curriculum, designs courses, and teaches in the areas of biodiversity conservation and ecology. Michael has created courses among others about digital media and biodiversity, emerging infectious disease and biodiversity loss, and illegal wildlife trafficking. In addition, Michael helps Museum scientists improve their mentoring skills and develop recruitment methods that reach increasing numbers of traditionally underrepresented students. Michael’s current research is in uncovering the effects museum-based exhibit-focused science learning increases students’ confidence, science content knowledge, and cognitive skills. Previously Michael was a Diversity Specialist working on American Museum of Natural History’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Diversity in Science and Education Initiative. His work focuses on recruiting and retention efforts students from historically underrepresented groups (HUGs) in the conservation biology. He has a M.S. in Environmental Policy from Bard Center for Environmental Policy and he is finishing a M.S. degree in Marine-Estuary-Environmental Science at the Historically Black College, University of Maryland Eastern Shore. His recent scholarly work focused on historically underrepresented groups (HUGs) in the sciences and science education. He has studied pancreatic cancer, high blood pressure, mosquito community ecology, and is interested in the intersection of biodiversity conservation and HIV/AIDS. Michael worked with students all over the world at the World Scholar Athletes Games, writing and performing music he composed for their theater production and facilitating discussions about global issues. He is an avid musician and writes and performs in his spare time. Michael grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Jose R Negron Rivera has been living with HIV for nearly 20 years. A native of Puerto Rico, where he resides today, was diagnosed in San Francisco in 1991. Jose has done outreach and advocacy work with the Latino AIDS Foundation and is currently a member of the global community advisory board (GCAB) of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). The ACTG established and supports the largest Network of expert clinical and translational investigators and therapeutic clinical trials units in the world, including sites in resource-limited countries. These investigators and units serve as the major resource for HIV/AIDS research, treatment, care, and training/education in their communities. Jose holds Bachelors degree in Business administration from the University of Puerto Rico. Jose sees the the Volunteer Positive movement as a way of sharing his personal experiences as a minority living with HIV.
Tim Gaub originally thought it seemed as though the end was near once I learned of my own HIV status, but thankfully I have responded very well to treatment and have expectations to live a long, normal life. It has spurred me on early to help those who are newly diagnosed or long-term survivors as well as myself. Very early on after my diagnosis I sought out ways to participate in HIV clinical trials and have done that through the Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA). Since then, the CPCRA has become a part of the larger AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) and while having always been a Community Advisory Board (CAB) member, I'm now serving as the Global Community Advisory Board representative for the Denver Public Health CPCRA Clinical Research Site (a part of the CPCRA Clinical Trials Unit of the ACTG) as well as the Co-Chair of the CAB. Additionally, I recently became a co-moderator for the Strength in Numbers social networking site (SINMen.net) which is essentially a facebook-like site for HIV+ gay men. Locally, I've joined with a growing group of HIV+ individuals in the Denver metro area called One on One Peer Mentoring to both receive and deliver mentoring services to individuals who seek out the assistance of our mentors to educate and support each other in our own self management of medical and emotional care across a broad range of populations. My interests certainly are anywhere where the need is greatest, although I have particular interest in Latin America.
Lizzy Moore brings twenty-seven years of executive management experience in both distribution and retail operations of the recorded music industry. Her core competencies include the use of ethical guidance practices and conflict resolution principles in employee and change management training. She has been recognized as one of the nation's top performing leaders in an industry continuously challenged with innovation. Thriving concurrently with her own unconventional approach to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis since 1986, she regards voluntarism and all levels of service work as integral to "know thyself" in finding true purpose in life.
Zaidi Moin, an award winning naval officer, specialized in Supply Chain Management for the Royal Malaysian Navy for over 10 years. Zaidi is well versed in the skills necessary to manage programs, meet deadlines, lead teams, produce events and yield results. He is detail oriented, efficient, creative, and appreciates the need for achieving accuracy, measuring growth, and generating feedback for funders, staff, and a variety of stakeholders.
Zaidi Moin has been intentionally focused on finding a way to transfer his finely tuned project management skills to an organization and a community focused on social and civic capacity building and public health. Zaidi has come to realize that the next step in his professional development is one that helps build a healthy future for people struggling with stigma and marginalization. He is well appraised of the HIV and Human Rights movement in Malaysia and wishes to deepen his involvement regionally.
He is currently the Program Manager for the Malaysia Global Fund Program Management team, and as the pioneer for the program, has been able to digest and successfully manage its complicated programmatic and financial elements. Zaidi is passionate about reducing stigma, promoting health, and contributing to something with a greater purpose where he can be accepted as a valuable team member.
