Tibet Oral History Project, Founder and Executive Director, 2003-present
In response to a direct request from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, founded the Tibet Oral History Project to document the life stories of Tibetan elders living in exile. Organized a 12-member team of interviewers, videographers and translators to videotape interviews of 82 Tibetan elders living in Bylakuppe, the oldest Tibetan settlement in Karnataka, India. The project will present the interviews on the Internet and preserve them in library archives around the world. For more information go to www.tibetoralhistory.org.
United Nations Association-USA East Bay, Advisor to Board of Directors, 2006-present
The UN Association is dedicated to educating, inspiring and mobilizing Americans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations and to achieve the goals of the UN Charter.
Tibet Justice Center, Board of Directors, 2003-2006 (Board President 2004-2005)
Tibet Justice Center advocates self-determination for the Tibetan people. Through legal action and education, Tibet Justice Center promotes human rights, environmental protection and peaceful resolution of the situation in Tibet.
Tibet Child Nutrition and Collaborative Health Project, October 2000
Through the humanitarian relief organization, Airline Ambassadors, helped secure and hand deliver over a ton of vitamins and medications for health clinics in and around Lhasa, Tibet under the auspices of the Tibet Child Nutrition and Collaborative Health Project.
Tibet Justice Center, Psychologist Consultant, 1998-1999
Psychologist Consultant with fact-finding team that investigated women's rights in Tibet. In 1998, traveled to Dharamsala, Northern India, to interview recently arrived female refugees who experienced human rights abuses such as imprisonment, torture, coerced abortions and sterilizations. Analyzed data and presented a report to the United Nations committee reviewing compliance of governments that signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Psychologist Consultant for research mission to investigate conditions of children living in Tibet. In 1999, interviewed 58 youngsters who had fled Tibet and were now living in the Tibetan Children's Village in Dhramsala. Prepared case studies for report to the United Nations committee on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
International Rescue Committee, Group Therapist, 1998
Conducted a year long group therapy project in San Francisco for traumatized Muslim women, brought to the United States from Bosnia, as refugees by the International Rescue Committee. The women experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress caused by assaults and rapes, the death and disappearance of loved ones, and multiple traumas associated with loss of home and livelihood, as well as change of language and culture.
Survivors International , Executive Director, 1994-1996
Opened and directed Survivors International, the first treatment center in San Francisco for survivors of torture from around the world. The organization provided psychological and medical assistance to over 600 torture survivors from 46 countries. Funding came from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, The San Francisco Foundation and from other grants and donations.
The Committee of Responsibility to Save War Injured Vietnamese Children, Philadelphia Chapter Director, 1970-1971
Coordinated medical and social care for Vietnamese children who were brought to the U.S. for treatment of napalm burns, injuries from explosives and amputations from artillery fire. Secured foster homes for children undergoing rehabilitation.
Maryknoll, Media Consultant, South Korea, 1968
Worked with the Mass Communications Committee of South Korea to produce radio programs on health care for rural communities. Developed strategies with non-governmental organizations to address humanitarian needs in Seoul, Korea.