ND: Tamara Doi

Tamara Doi

Winter 1999, v.15-1

Tamara Doi was first introduced to EPIIC as a sophomore recipient of a scholarship to conduct original research the following summer. EPIIC secured an internship for her at the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities in Geneva. Following that summer abroad, Tamara returned to participate in EPIIC during her junior year. Having graduated in 1998, EPIIC helped Tamara secure a position with CERES (Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies), where she will be focusing on corporate responsibility and environment and minority issues.

"My career goals in public service are to promote community empowerment, protect human rights, and contribute to civil-society-building activities in the United States and around the world. Specifically, I hope to focus on accountability and social justice issues in societies that are deeply divided by communal difference (e.g., ethnic, linguistic, or religious). My commitment to social justice and human rights is rooted in my personal background.

My family, community, and education have tremendously influenced my public service goals. My father is a Zen-Buddhist-Japanese American with a reserved personality, and my mother is an outgoing, Norwegian Lutheran from the Midwest. Growing up in the midst of this cultural interchange has fostered my fascination with mediation and international relations. Also, until I was seventeen years old, I lived on a street with drug dealers, gang members, and a crack house across the street. I believe that my first-hand experience of living with the threat of drive-by shootings has instilled in me a deep commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, inter-communal dialogue, and public service.

I believe that my first-hand experience of living with the threat of drive-by shootings has instilled in me a deep commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, inter-communal dialogue, and public service.

"In the spring of 1996. I received a university-wide scholarship as a sophomore to conduct an independent project on human rights issues in Geneva. EPIIC quickly orchestrated a summer internship for me with David Weissbrodt, member of the United Nations Sub-Commission of Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. The exposure to the United Nations and the "hands-on" experience I gained there taught me many lessons. Not only did my knowledge of the U.N. and advocacy skills increase, but my confidence and passion for minority rights propelled me into my next year at Tufts.

"During my junior year, I assisted with the organization of EPIIC's international symposium, "The Future of Democracy," and contributed to the design and text of a CD-ROM entitled "Justice in Transitional Societies." The latter project focused on pertinent issues related to post-settlement peacebuilding by presenting case studies of tribunals, trials, amnesty laws, lustration, and truth commissions. This project is one of many where EPIIC students are given an unusual amount of responsibility with unlimited access to information, experts, and "hands-on" opportunities to deepen our learning. Put simply, EPIIC's innovative approach promotes meaningful dialogue and shared learning while creating tomorrow's leaders."

NEW DESIGNS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT © 1999



		Tamara Doi
Winter 1999, v.15-1
	Tamara Doi was first introduced to EPIIC as a sophomore recipient of a scholarship to conduct original research the following summer. EPIIC secured an internship for her at the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities in Geneva. Following that summer abroad, Tamara returned to participate in EPIIC during her junior year. Having graduated in 1998, EPIIC helped Tamara secure a position with CERES (Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies), where she will be focusing on corporate responsibility and environment and minority issues. "My career goals in public service are to promote community empowerment, protect human rights, and contribute to civil-society-building activities in the United States and around the world. Specifically, I hope to focus on accountability and social justice issues in societies that are deeply divided by communal difference (e.g., ethnic, linguistic, or religious). My commitment to social justice and human rights is rooted in my personal background. My family, community, and education have tremendously influenced my public service goals. My father is a Zen-Buddhist-Japanese American with a reserved personality, and my mother is an outgoing, Norwegian Lutheran from the Midwest. Growing up in the midst of this cultural interchange has fostered my fascination with mediation and international relations. Also, until I was seventeen years old, I lived on a street with drug dealers, gang members, and a crack house across the street. I believe that my first-hand experience of living with the threat of drive-by shootings has instilled in me a deep commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, inter-communal dialogue, and public service. I believe that my first-hand experience of living with the threat of drive-by shootings has instilled in me a deep commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, inter-communal dialogue, and public service. "In the spring of 1996. I received a university-wide scholarship as a sophomore to conduct an independent project on human rights issues in Geneva. EPIIC quickly orchestrated a summer internship for me with David Weissbrodt, member of the United Nations Sub-Commission of Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. The exposure to the United Nations and the "hands-on" experience I gained there taught me many lessons. Not only did my knowledge of the U.N. and advocacy skills increase, but my confidence and passion for minority rights propelled me into my next year at Tufts. "During my junior year, I assisted with the organization of EPIIC's international symposium, "The Future of Democracy," and contributed to the design and text of a CD-ROM entitled "Justice in Transitional Societies." The latter project focused on pertinent issues related to post-settlement peacebuilding by presenting case studies of tribunals, trials, amnesty laws, lustration, and truth commissions. This project is one of many where EPIIC students are given an unusual amount of responsibility with unlimited access to information, experts, and "hands-on" opportunities to deepen our learning. Put simply, EPIIC's innovative approach promotes meaningful dialogue and shared learning while creating tomorrow's leaders."
	NEW DESIGNS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT © 1999