New York, N.Y. I have traveled extensively over the years searching for worthwhile initiatives and like-minded individuals dedicated to the promotion of positive social change. I have been exposed to a number of organizations promising great things (some have, others haven’t), yet my conviction to find noteworthy causes and people of similar interests remains uncompromised. [...]
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Japanese-American Doctor’s First Visit to Cuba
By Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura Hillyer. Havana, Cuba. I consider myself such a lucky person. At almost 75, I have visited over 140 countries on all continents, and I have lived in the U.S. for over 50 years. My impresario and cultural exchange work took me to many countries in the world. During the Cold War, [...]
In China: On the World We Want to Build
By Trevor H. Paul. Tianjin, China. I came to China just over eight months ago to provide an American education experience for Chinese students in Tianjin. Since then I have had the opportunity to become the director of U-Excel International Academy and to develop a program that assists Chinese students in attending universities and high [...]
First Person: A Japanese Dinner with Raul Castro’s Daughter
New York, N.Y. Taking my shoes off in the private alcove of the exclusive Japanese dining room, I open the shoji screen to reveal a beautiful 12-tatami mat room complete with alcove, ikebana, foot-tall table with sunken floor – complete with emergency lighting and modern ventilation. An auspicious opening to a dinner with Mariela Castro [...]
Kalachakra: Dalai Lama’s 10-Day Teaching in Bodhgaya
By Dr. Kazuko Hillyer. New York, N.Y. After unbelievable trips to five countries this fall – Argentina, Japan, Peru, Mexico, and Israel – I was ready looking forward to taking 36 international friends to Bodhgaya, India for the Dalai Lama’s teaching and initiation of Kalachakra. The rumor was going around that this might be the [...]
My Mother: “God Damn It James, I Raised You Better Than That!”
New York, N.Y. My mother’s words still ring out in my head, year after year. It was Thanksgiving 1998, Boston. I was continuing to complain about how traumatized I felt having experienced the Dicksonian conditions of the orphanage where I found my infant son Mathew in Indonesia. The warehouse institution was crib-to-worn-out-crib of children dressed [...]
Zombie Banks: A New York Story in Three Parts
New York, N.Y. Scene One: I meet an interesting Turkish-American professional at my college alumni reception and we chat about my foundation’s interest in opening a Turkish Fund for women and children’s social issues in Turkey. He volunteers to advise me — great! Scene Two: I notice an intelligent New Yorker on the subway reading [...]
Helping Form Gay & Lesbian Support Group in Ohio in 1980
Wooster, Ohio. In May 1980 I joined with a group of friends and associates to form the first gay and lesbian support group on the campus of my school, the College of Wooster in Ohio. The group was formed in response to a gay student getting mugged off campus – we wanted to organize to [...]
