Each year the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center hosts an Executive Briefing and Presidential Reception for Ambassadors Circle members and friends. In April I was lucky was invited to attend the briefing and reception, which marked the 30th anniversary of the Carter Center and the 15th anniversary of the briefing.
The two-day event, featuring firsthand updates from the Center’s peace and health experts, kicked off with an opening evening reception which included the premier of film “Dark Forest Black Fly” which documents the elimination of river blindness from Uganda followed by moderate discussion entitled the “Arab Awakening .” A link to the panel discussion is below:
http://www.cartercenter.org/media_console/Player/player-licensed-59.swf
The second day consisted of two briefings one on health programs and the other on the peace programs, followed by a presentation on the beginnings of the Carter Center and finally a town hall discussion with President and Rosalynn Carter.
Unfortunately I skipped the morning session for a special tour of the Carter Presdiential Library and Archive. I met with David Stanhope, deputy director of the library, whom gave me a behind the scenes tour of the archives. The Carter Center is much like other research facilities, however what sets it apart that it handles materials/documents for living president and first lady. The Carter Center shares many commonalities with other research facilities; the most common of which is the trend to digitize materials.
The afternoon celebrated the accomplishments of the Carter Center and looked forwards the future with excitment as the Carter Center continues efforts to wage peace, fight diesease and build hope. The highlight of the afternoon was townhall discussion with the Carters. We were allowed to asked any questions we wanted and the Carters responded. I think my favorite part of the discussion was just how they filled us in on what type were doing, how they were doing, and their family. Both President and Mrs. Carter down to earth people it was an amazing opporunity to hear them speak and hear how both are working to to help make a difference.
My professional photos with President and Mrs. Carter should in a couple of weeks.
Finding Amy 