International Career Advancement Program (ICAP)

In 2014, ICAP Alumni Association featured the Honorable Susan Rice, Chair of the National Security Agency, and select speakers such as Maya Ajmera, Founder of The Global Fund for Children, Sang Lee, CEO and Founder of Return on Change, Haroon Mokhtarzada, VP of Vistaprint, Ven Neralla, Director of Congressional Affairs-Research Bureau at USDA, Saafir Rabb II, Director of Interculture Inc., Abigail Golden-Vasquez, VP at The Aspen Institute, Aaron Snipe, Foreign Service Officer at State, and Lauri Fitz-Pegado, Partner at The Livingston Group. We also hosted a number of private dinners with High-Level UN Officials and former Assistant Secretaries, networking events, discussions with Ambassadors, educational workshops, and volunteer opportunities.

This year the ICAP Alumni Association has moved full steam ahead to organize programming to support ICAP Alum and to fundraise for the next class of ICAP fellows.

This quarter featured the Work-Life Balance Fatherhood Forum:

Synopsis:

It takes a relatively short period to become a father, however it takes a lifetime to aspire, meet, and fulfill the role of a Dad. In a period where children often lack important father figures or when there is only a single mother who has to play the role of both mother and father, how do we as ICAP fellows discuss the issue of fatherhood in today’s contemporary culture? What issues does this topic raise? More importantly as fathers what legacy do we aspire to leave with the next generation? Whether you are a male or female, aspiring father or have several children or no kids, please join us for a great discussion. It is important remember that "students with highly involved fathers were 42% more likely to earn A's and 33% less likely to be held back a year in school. And students who have father involvement through high school are 98% more likely to graduate on time." - American Enterprise Institute 

Speakers Earl Carr and Curtis Valentine highlighted the notion of reengaging and reaffirming the role of parents and particularly fathers in the successful trajectory of a child’s life. Latanya Mapp Frett moderated the forum.  

Earl Carr was 2004 ICAP Fellow and currently works as a Managing Director for Momentum Advisors, an International Wealth Management firm, where his mandate is to develop cross-border business development. He is a Term Member at The Council on Foreign Relations and a Member of The National Committee for US-China Relations. Mr. Carr is married and has two children Francis age 6 and Mia age 3. 

Curtis Valentine is a member of the 2009 ICAP Class. A graduate of Morehouse College and the Harvard Kennedy School, Curtis is a Term Member with the Council on Foreign (CFR) and a recent International Affairs Fellow with CFR. A father of two, Curtis is an At-Large Member of the Prince George's County Board of Education where he began the #FatherhoodForum to promote increased engagement of fathers in public education.  

Latanya Mapp Frett is Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Global and Vice President - Global of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She previously worked for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). She lived and worked in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, South Africa, Mali, Nigeria, and other African countries. She is a member of the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations.  Ms. Frett was one of 30 Foreign Service Officers honored with the Colin Powell Fellowship by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She serves on the ICAP Alumni Association Executive Committee. She resides in New York with her husband and two children.

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The purpose of the ICAP Alumni Association is to provide a professional network for mid-career professionals from historically underrepresented groups to advance to more senior positions in international affairs. The Association offers its members opportunities to network, mentor, build skills, and engage in community outreach.

Links:

• For more information on ICAP AA