Statement on Racial Equity, Justice and Inclusive Societies

Reputation Dynamics stands by the voices of ensuring racial equality and justice for all. Across our nation and around the world, we are witnessing the tipping point of years of suffering, racial and income inequalities.  

The increasing gap between the rich and the poor is further emphasized by the impacts of COVID-19 and will be for years to come. 

As a small business dedicated to helping organizations develop inclusive partnerships with a focus on underserved communities, Reputation Dynamics will continue to be on the frontlines of advancing change, mobilizing the power of for- and not-for-profit sectors to achieve justice and equity for all.  We will continue to support initiatives and focus on:

• Equity gaps between income and race should no longer ensue, all people deserve an opportunity to thrive; 

• Mobilizing inclusive partnerships to address climate change is essential for improving health outcomes, getting people out of poverty, creating jobs and building resilient neighborhoods;

• Access to education is a key imperative for tomorrow’s workforce, developing 21st century jobs that address global challenges, solutions to real world problems like health;

• Listening to, learning and aligning with people of color owned local and global businesses to advance their missions and impacts in communities.

We stand in solidarity with the black community and the ongoing fight against archaic racist systems, which need to be re-engineered. 

I invite you to join our work to support health equity, economic opportunity, climate justice and resilient communities.

United we will stand.

By: Samantha Taylor - Founder of Reputation Dynamics and Elephant Art Shop

Since 2005, Reputation Dynamics (RD) has committed to addressing social, environmental and human justice issues. RD mobilizes corporations, NGOs/civil society and academia to devise share-valued approaches and develop inclusive partnerships. Sam Taylor celebrates growing up in Kenya, East Africa.

Please contact me at:  

sam@reputation-dynamics

Photo: By Sam Taylor, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Reputation Dynamics and #GivingTuesday

Reputation Dynamics (RD) is proud to support #GivingTuesday by forming inclusive partnerships, mobilizing collective action between the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. 

We are committed to building resilient communities, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) citing no poverty, gender equality, life on land and partnerships among top priorities.  

Public-private sector partnerships will continue to be essential for devising solutions for complex global issues associated with climate change threats. A recent IPCC report has underscored we only have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe and urgent need to cut risk of extreme heat, drought, floods and poverty. 

As we celebrate our national day of giving, it is important to work together collectively to address our pressing world issues. 

Example initiatives to support for the holidays:

American Forests: www.americanforests.org

American Forests inspires and advances the conservation of forests, which are essential to life.  American Forests has been restoring forests for more than 140 years. And, while we may be the oldest national conservation organization, our work today is more important than ever. Since 1990 alone, we have planted nearly 60 million trees in forest restoration projects in all 50 states.  

Help American Forests reach their goal to plant 3 million trees in 2018, expand tree canopy and improve the quality of life for residents in cities. 

Donation: https://www.americanforests.org/ways-to-give/donate-now/

Protect the Endangered Elephant Species - Elephant Art - by Samantha Taylor.

More than 50 elephants die every day from poaching, hunting and other conflicts with people. Purchase a custom designed T-shirt, greetings cards or painting with proceeds benefiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Link: https://www.reputation-dynamics.com/elephantartshop/

We remain an integral member of a global economy and challenges need to be addressed on a united front, continuing to learn from other cultures, political environments and devising new approaches for improving the livelihoods of low-income communities.  

Reputation Dynamics welcomes the opportunity to learn more about your #GivingTuesday initiatives, exchange knowledge and explore opportunities to collaborate.

With gratitude,

Samantha Taylor, Founder and President of Reputation Dynamics

Image Credit: WANAWAKE WATATU - Three Women

Watercolor painting by Samantha Taylor

Enquiries and Inventory: sam@reputation-dynamics.com

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CONCERN WORLDWIDE US: Helps People Living in Extreme Poverty Improve Lives

Reputation Dynamics is excited to work with Concern Worldwide US to support corporate development and marketing.

Concern’s mission is to help people living in extreme poverty achieve major improvements in their lives that last and spread without ongoing support from Concern.

Concern was founded in Ireland in 1968 by a small group of people who joined together to respond to the devastating famine in Biafra. The founders launched a nationwide appeal that raised over a quarter of a million pounds in three months, and “Africa Concern”—a non-governmental, non-denominational, humanitarian aid organization—was born. As their work spread beyond Africa in the succeeding years, the organization was renamed Concern Worldwide to reflect their global reach.

Over the course of nearly half a century, Concern has grown from a localized grassroots movement into a highly respected global organization, now implementing programs in 29 countries reaching 7.4 million people.

Concern’s program areas, with particular focus on helping people recover from disasters, include access to nutritious food and adequate health care, and strengthen their resilience to the effects of climate change.

For more information: http://www.concernusa.org/our-approach/

Sam Taylor, Founder of Reputation Dynamics

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"The Uncondemned": Lessons to be Learned from Genocide: Field Report from Rwanda

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Last  month, I was fortunate to be part of a delegation in support of the private filmmakers' screening of "The Uncondemned" documentary in Kigali, Rwanda including the opportunity to meet the incredible women who made the case possible: witnesses JJ, NN, and OO, and Godelieve Mukasarasi, Chairwoman of the SEVOTA Association. The trip included genocide memorial site visits and opportunities to be further informed about the atrocities that took place during the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

In 1997, a mismatched group of underdog lawyers went after rape as an international war crime for the first time. The film recounts their fight for the first conviction and follows the story of the heroic Rwandan women who risked a wave of witness assassinations to testify. The documentary is directed by former investigative correspondent to Bill Moyers (PBS) and political anchor at CNN, Michele Mitchell, and co-director, Nick Louvel. 

Rape continues to be used as a tactic of war in conflicts around the world and the perpetrators of this violence are not being held accountable. "The Uncondemned" is inspirational and educational in addressing these challenges - it underscores the value of "seeing is believing" as we tackle our humanitarian and social justice issues.

I invite you to read more about my trip, highlights from a robust itinerary, and personal reflections about the impact of genocide on society.

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Wars, conflict, and persecution have forced more people than at any other time to flee their homes, seek refuge and safety elsewhere, according to a new report from the UN refugee agency. UNHCR's annual Global Trends Report: World at War, released on June 18, reported that worldwide displacement was at the highest level ever recorded. The number of people forcibly displaced at the end of 2014 had risen to a staggering 59.5 million compared to 51.2 million a year earlier and 37.5 million a decade ago.

When the genocide in Rwanda ended in 1994, 800,000 people had been murdered – 300,000 of these victims were children. In addition, 95,000 children had been orphaned. Thousands of children were victims of brutality and rape, and thousands of children – some as young as seven – were coerced into military operations and forced to commit violent acts against their will.

The lingering trauma of the 1994 genocide still leaves many women and youth with little hope for a prosperous future and rebuilding models can take years to restore communities and economies.

Ntarama and Nyamata Genocide Memorial Sites

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Leading up to the screening, we visited two churches 25-30 km south of Kigali that are evidence to some of the most brutal killings during the 1994 genocide. These churches are two of the most moving memorials, having on display the bones, skulls and bloodied rags of those brutally murdered.  During the genocide, the Tutsis (persecuted minority of the population), sought sanctuary in the Catholic churches in the hopes that they would be a safe haven. People smuggled food and other essentials into the churches. It is thought that some of the clergy informed the Hutus of the secret mass of Tutsis that had taken refuge in the churches. Ultimately, the Hutus stormed the churches and massacred all the people.

At Nyamata, the Nyamata Parish Catholic Church is the larger church. Here, grenades, rockets and automatic weapons were all used to massacre the people imprisoned inside the church. It is believed that 10,000 were killed inside the church with a further 35,000 killed around the church compound in April of 1994. The church houses the bloodied clothing of the victims piled up on the benches. A set of stairs leads down to a crypt where a shelf of skulls lie above a coffin of a woman who was repeatedly raped. The walls of the church show where the grenades blew holes in the walls, doors and windows were blown open.

Next to the church is a large underground crypt. It is filled with thousands of skulls, femurs, and other bones belonging to the 55,000 people that were brutally murdered. There are crude, wooden coffins filled with bones of whole families, neatly stacked and all draped in purple covers.

Ntarama is a small church and school where about 5,000 people, many of whom were women and children, were massacred.  People hiding in the separate kitchen building were burned to death. The children were taken into the one room school and killed by smashing their skulls against a wall.  There is a blood-stained wall where these massacres were carried out. The blood-stained clothes of the dead are draped over the church pews and the instruments used in the executions are grouped at the front of the church. At the rear of the church are all the skulls, other bones of the victims, pots and pans demonstrating community life.

Private Filmmakers' Screening of "The Uncondemned" – June 17

At 11 p.m. on the night before the screening, Michele summoned the core members of her team to advise us that not only had President Kagame agreed to attend the screening, but the entire logistics and location were also to be changed.  

"The Uncondemned" is a feature-length documentary that traces the legal chase to a historic verdict—which included the first-ever conviction for genocide and for rape as a form of genocide. Shot in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Netherlands, and the U.S., the film includes interviews with the first women to testify about rape as a war crime, as well as the genocidaires-turned-militia that committed the crimes. It has been a crime of war since 1919, but was not prosecuted until 1997, when a group of young prosecutors, activists and investigators went after that first conviction. Thanks to the extraordinary courage of the women of rural Rwanda, Witnesses JJ, NN, and OO, and their fearless leader Godelieve Mukasarasi, they changed history and formed a community to empower women and improve livelihoods. 

More than 300 representatives from the government, private and civil society sectors attended the screening including his Excellency President Kagame, her Excellency, the First Lady, Jeanette Kagame and Ms. Barks-Ruggles, the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda. The documentary and its critical story was well received and publicized locally and internationally.

Post-screening - A Visit to SEVOTA

After the screening, we visited the ladies in Taba (home of the convicted Jean-Paul Akayesu) and were greeted by celebration, dance, and presentations made by the Deputy Mayor and principals. We were then each handed a gift with a hand-written card of thanks and appreciation.

SEVOTA is a Rwandan organization that hosts forums for women who became pregnant because of rape during the genocide. The organization’s mission: Solidarity for the Development of Widows and Orphans to Promote Self-Sufficiency and Livelihoods.

Lessons to be Learned

Surely, the consequences of genocide are suffered not only by the targeted society, but also by humanity at large. Genocide has devastating consequences at all levels of society and a society cannot rebuild or manage its development in isolation.  It must include participation from the solidarity of other people and survivors who have suffered similar experiences in other communities around the world.

Rwanda, now considered one of the safest countries in Africa, is a model for future learning as a society that underwent genocide and post-conflict resolution. To that end, Rwandan survivors' associations are advancing by establishing relationships with other survivors, creating organizations to learn from their experiences, and building resilient communities for women and orphaned children, including the provision of basic needs, health services, and education.  However, this level of work and advocacy has to be further advanced to help mitigate and prevent further acts of crimes against humanity. 

We all need to think critically and understand what human beings are capable of, especially in the context of war and genocide. As such, we must cultivate transparency and open dialogue about common problems such as intolerance, bullying, domestic violence, rape, prejudice, hatred, abuse, gender inequality, and more. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to learn from these lessons.

By Sam Taylor, Founder of Reputation Dynamics.

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"The Uncondemned" is currently in post-production and we welcome exploring opportunities to support this critical documentary including  sponsorship, hosting educational screenings, and/or alignment with SEVOTA Association's mission to help widows and orphans to promote self-sufficiency and livelihoods. "The Uncondemned" is a 501c3 through fiscal sponsor, Filmmakers Collaborative. We invite you to review the trailer: www.filmat11.tv/theuncondemned.

About SEVOTA: A Rwandan organization that hosts forums for women who became pregnant because of rape during the genocide. Website: www.sevota.org 

Featured Article: http://af.reuters.com/article/rwandaNews/idAFL5N0YQ2X620150616

Please contact sam@reputation-dynamics.com to explore opportunities for partnership.

"The Uncondemned": Filmmakers’ Screening and Educational Campaign to End Violence in Conflict, Rwanda, Africa

In 1997, a mismatched group of underdog lawyers went after rape as an international war crime for the first time. This is the story of their fight for the first conviction - and the story of the heroic Rwandan women who risked a wave of witness assassinations to testify.

"The Uncondemned" is a feature length documentary that traces the legal chase to a historic verdict, which included the first-ever conviction for genocide and for rape as a form of genocide. Shot in Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, The Netherlands, and the U.S., the film includes interviews with the first women to testify about rape as a war crime, as well as the genocidaires-turned-militia that committed the crimes. It has been a crime of war since 1919, but was not prosecuted until 1997, when a group of young prosecutors, activists, and investigators went after that first conviction. Thanks to the extraordinary courage of the women of rural Rwanda, witnesses JJ, NN and OO (and their fearless leader Godelieve Mukasarasi), they changed history and formed a community to empower women and improve livelihoods. The documentary is directed by former investigative correspondent to Bill Moyers (PBS) and political anchor at CNN, Michele Mitchell, and co-director, Nick Louvel.  Their debut film, "Haiti: Where did the Money Go?," won the national Edward R. Murrow 2013 for Best TV Documentary as well as a Gracie Award for Best Investigative Feature.   

There will be a private filmmakers' screening of "The Uncondemned” in Kigali, Rwanda on June 17 including the opportunity to meet the incredible people who made the case possible: witnesses JJ, NN, and OO, and Godelieve Mukasarasi, Chairwoman of the SEVOTA Association.  A number of influential representatives from local and international development communities, government, and the private sector will be attending.

The team is in the final stretch to finish "The Uncondemned" and there are several opportunities to help support this groundbreaking film on the trial that made rape a war crime.  Despite this precedent-setting trial, rape continues to be used as a tactic of war in conflicts around the world and the perpetrators of this violence not being held accountable.

"The Uncondemned" is currently in post-production and we welcome exploring opportunities to help support this critical film to include sponsorship, host educational screenings, including alignment with the SEVOTA Association’s mission to help widows and orphans to promote self-sufficiency and livelihoods. "The Uncondemned" is a 501c3 through fiscal sponsor Filmmakers Collaborative.

We invite you to review the trailer (www.filmat11.tv/theuncondemned) and link to their Kickstarter campaign (http://kck.st/1zWIwJP).  

About the SEVOTA Association:

"Out of Rwanda’s total population of 11.5 million people, 25% are orphaned and vulnerable children. The lingering trauma of the 1994 genocide, which took nearly 1 million lives, still leaves many youth with little hope for a prosperous future."

SEVOTA is a Rwandan organization that hosts forums for women who became pregnant because of rape during the genocide. The organization’s mission: Solidarity for the Development of Widows and Orphans to Promote Self-Sufficiency and Livelihoods.  

Website: http://www.sevota.org

Please contact sam@reputation-dynamics.com to support this critically important documentary and explore opportunities for alignment.

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Sam Taylor, Founder of Reputation Dynamics