Global Action Platform

CUMBERLAND CENTER IS A NONPROFIT UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS ALLIANCE TO TRANSFORM INNOVATION INTO PROSPERITY THROUGH THE GROWTH OF REGIONAL INNOVATION HUBS. THE CENTER EXECUTES ITS MISSION THROUGH THE GLOBAL ACTION PLATFORM, A NEUTRAL PLATFORM TO CREATE ABUNDANCE THROUGH INNOVATION IN FOOD, HEALTH, AND PROSPERITY BY: - ADVANCING A SOCIAL LEADERSHIP MOVEMENT; - INVESTING IN INNOVATION AND NEW BUSINESSES; - DEPLOYING ON-LINE WORK GROUPS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS TO ACCELERATE ACTION; AND - FOCUSING ON THE INTERSECTION OF FOOD, HEALTH AND PROSPERITY

SPECIFIC PROGRAM INITIATIVES INCLUDE: CONVENE: THE ANNUAL GLOBAL ACTION SUMMIT, FORUMS AT THE WORLD BANK, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB AND MERIDIAN INTERNATIONAL CENTER; CHALLENGE: MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR IMPACT INVESTMENTS AND AWARDS; CONNECT: ONLINE SERVICES, A GLOBAL SUMMIT FELLOWS PROGRAM FOR YOUNG LEADERS; COMMUNICATE: PUBLICATIONS AND ANNUAL REPORTS, CONTENT SHARING WITH THE G8, G20, APEC, AND BRIC SUMMITS, AND A GLOBAL CORPORATE AWARD PROGRAM FOR SHARED VALUE.THE GLOBAL ACTION PLATFORM (GAP) IS AN OPEN, NONPARTISAN COLLABORATIVE PLATFORM TO CONVENE LEADERS, MAKE INVESTMENTS, ALIGN COLLABORATIONS, AND SHARE IDEAS AND STRATEGIES THROUGH GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE ABUNDANCE IN FOOD, HEALTH, AND PROSPERITY. THE PLATFORM AIMS TO IDENTIFY AND INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE, SCALABLE INNOVATIONS THAT OFFER THE PROMISE OF TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT IN THE INTERSECTION OF FOOD, HEALTH, AND PROSPERITY. WITH INPUT FROM AN INTERNATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE AND NATIONAL EXPERT ADVISORS, GAP WAS DESIGNED IN 2013 AROUND FOUR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: CONVENE, CHALLENGE, CONNECT, AND COMMUNICATE. THESE INTEGRATED PROGRAMS FACILITATE ACTION THROUGH DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP EVENTS, INVESTMENTS, ONGOING WORKING GROUPS, AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS. IN 2014, A FIVE-YEAR ROADMAP WAS INITIATED TO INFORM DECISION-MAKING AMONG CROSS-SECTOR LEADERS AND SCIENTISTS.ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS FURTHERING THE OVERALL MISSION INCLUDE:HARVARD YOUNG AMERICAN LEADERS PROGRAM (YALP) - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL, GAP DIRECTS A LOCAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN CIVIC AND ECONOMIC STRATEGY AND CROSS SECTOR COLLABORATION. THROUGH YALP, GAP SELECTS AND SENDS AN ANNUAL CLASS OF KEY LEADERS IN THE BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY, INVESTMENT, AND NONPROFIT SECTORS FOR THE WEEKLONG EXECUTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL. IN ADDITION, GAP FACILITATES COLLABORATION ON PROJECTS CREATED BY THESE LEADERS AND AN ALUMNI NETWORK FOR THE REGION.HEALTHIER757 - GAP SERVES AS THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT BACKBONE ORGANIZATION AND TRUSTED CONVENER OF A REGIONAL HEALTH EQUITY AND LITERACY INITIATIVE IN THE TEN COUNTY HAMPTON ROADS REGION OF VIRGINIA. THE INITIATIVE HAS CREATED A SHARED AGENDA AND METRICS TO ENGAGE 8 MAJOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF AN INITIAL 10,000 OF THE MOST UNDERSERVED CITIZENS OF THE REGION.THE CARAGA PROJECT - GAP SERVES AS THE GLOBAL NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR INDIGI, AN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IN SINGAPORE, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING TO ENABLE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE MARKET ECONOMY USING THE ONE TRILLION DOLLARS IN NATURAL ASSETS IN OVER ONE MILLION ACRES OF ANCESTRAL LANDS UNDER THEIR CONTROL.