Promoting Understanding, Tolerance, And Unity
Delegata participates in, and sponsors, many charitable activities as part of our overall company values and belief in reaching out and building unity in our community. From the Closing the Gap non-profit organization to the 100 year anniversary celebration of the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento, we are actively involved in positive organizations that bring people from different walks of life together. Our mutual mission is simple, to build, to live in, and to share in a harmonious community environment.
Working Towards a Future of Collaboration and Peace
Building Bridges was founded to re-establish the great relationships between the East and the West that rapidly deteriorated, after 9/11 and subsequent turbulent events in the Middle East. We are utilizing the existing infrastructures between American and International organizations, establishing new relationships between the United States and other countries, as well as creating opportunities locally for people living in the same region to celebrate each others culture.
Delegata has sponsored multiple local events and groups whose goals and mission align with Building Bridges. Such groups include the Interfaith Service Bureau, the Japanese American Citizens League, Habitat for Humanity, and more. Larger projects that Delegata has been involved with include the Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival whose mission is to showcase the cultural diversity of the Sacramento Region through the presentation of an ethnic dance and music festival. Songs of Hope brings together musicians from Israel, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, and the U.S. based on the premise that music can build bridges and create understanding between people in conflict; and Call for Unity, a concert event that brings together diverse cultures and backgrounds through one night of music for all to enjoy.
The Building Bridges Summit in 2009 took place in California’s capitol city of Sacramento. Seven esteemed leaders from four Egyptian Universities represent the delegation attending the Egypt Summit. The delegation consisted of professors, deans and heads of departments from Alexandria University, Beni Sweif University, Cairo University, and Zagazig University. They participated in progressive discussions with leaders from University of California, Davis and UC Davis School of Medicine on seven key areas: telemedicine, health informatics, continuing medical education, technology based learning, public health, distance education, and faculty development and technology (including faculty and student exchanges), in an effort to form an actionable plan for future collaborations.
2009 included many international Building Bridges activities in partnership with esteemed organizations such as:
- California State Senate
- World Affairs Council
- University of the Pacific/McGeorge School of Law
- University of California, Davis
- California International Relations Foundation
His Excellency Minister Amin Abaza, Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation visited with several leaders in Food Science and Technology to share advancements and discuss collaborative opportunities in horticulture, entomology, biotechnology, and more. The Honorable Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Senior Political Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt engaged in conversations with Senator Darrell Steinberg as well as Dean Elizabeth Parker of McGeorge School of Law on several key topics including:
- S. and Egypt relationships
- Peace progress
- Strategy in the Middle East
- Business opportunities
In 2008, Kais Menoufy partnered with Dean Elizabeth Parker from the University Of Pacific McGeorge School Of Law to lead a second delegation to Egypt. The Building Bridges II trip to Egypt focused on building stronger relationships between the people of California and Egypt which will reinforce the structural components for peaceful collaboration.
In 2007, UC Davis Chancellor, Larry Vanderhoef and Delegata CEO, Kais Menoufy, led a delegation from UC Davis to Egypt to expand existing exchange programs and create new initiatives where none are currently in place. Since returning from Egypt, exchange programs have taken place between professors of Middle Eastern Universities and United States Universities, and training programs have been provided for Egyptian farm managers. Another delegation traveled to Egypt in 2008 to continue the work of 2007’s Building Bridges trip to Egypt.
With Building Bridges in 2006, Delegata was successful in creating a partnership with University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law and the American University in Cairo (AUC). This partnership promoted the unifying power of education. Students from the AUC attended UOP McGeorge School of Law serving as the first participants of an exchange program resulting from the Building Bridges partnership.
The first Building Bridges Summit took place in March 2007. UC Davis Chancellor, Larry Vanderhoef and Delegata CEO, Kais Menoufy, traveled with a delegation from UC Davis to Egypt to meet with 12 other universities, government officials and business leaders. The 2007 Delegation expanded existing exchange programs and created new initiatives where none were previously. Larry is a true leader with a mission to make UCD a leading university in the US and to build bridges worldwide between cultures, countries, schools, and more importantly – People.
In the 5 days spent at the Building Bridges I summit, the accomplishments included:
- Met with the heads and delegations of 12 universities from Egypt, Lebanon, and Palestine.
- Met with 4 Ministers, 3 senior executives of the government with Minister status, 3 CEO’s, and the US ambassador to name a few
- Communicated with over 250 people, most of which are very senior in their roles
- Signed 6 agreements for collaboration
- Identified initiatives with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), Agriculture Research Center, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Library of Alexandria, and the BCBCB (a faculty/grad student exchange network across Lebanon, Cairo, Palestine and the US)
- Visited historical sites, ate the local food, experienced some of the past, present, and future of Egypt and more importantly met with Egyptians and experienced the true culture
- Provided training for Egyptian Farm Managers
- Created exchange programs between professors from United States Universities and Middle Eastern Universities
In 2008 , Delegata CEO, Kais Menoufy, partnered with Dean Elizabeth Parker from University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law to lead a delegation to Egypt. Building Bridges II focused on the Business, Government, Education, Culture and Technology aspects of law and policy structures.
The delegation traveling from UOP McGeorge School of Law brought with them the University’s prestigious reputation. McGeorge School of Law is named in nation’s Top 100 Law Schools. As featured in “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” McGeorge’s International Law Program is consistently listed among the Top 20 law programs, most recently being ranked 19th nationally and 4th in the western region. McGeorge’s Advocacy program is also highly regarded as it has recently been ranked 17th nationally and 2nd in the western region according to “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” UOP McGeorge Law School is recognized one of the United States’ most diverse schools, is ranked amongst the Nation’s top schools with International programs, and is committed to building relationships and programs with the international community.
2008 Building Bridges II Workshops and discussions included:
- High Tech Business Development
- Dispute Resolution in Natural & International Business
- International Business Law
- Water & Sustainable Development
- Islamic Law & Culture
- Academic Exchanges with Egyptian Universities
- Foreign Policy Discussions
- Cultural Exchanges
Since returning from Egypt in March 2007, Professor Dick Walters has accepted a request by the Chancellor and is supported by Delegata Corporation to take on a leadership position with UC Davis’ International Relations office to continue the work that was started during Building Bridges I by coordinating projects involving Egypt and UC Davis.
Moving forward with Building Bridges I, Professor Dick Walters and Dr. James Marcin traveled to Egypt in mid-March 2008 to coordinate various workshops covering the topics of distance learning and direction learning centers, implementing online accredited courses, the development of Medical Informatics training, as well as participating in planning sessions for continued medical education and telemedicine between the two regions.
2008 Delegation Bios
Click here to download the .PDF version of the Delegation Bios
Building Bridges Accomplishments
Click here to download the .PDF version of the Building Bridges Accomplishments
Bringing Together Different Faiths and Breaking Bread
The Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM) prides itself in being a multi-ethnic place of worship It is also open for people of all faiths to come and visit and use SALAM educational facilities and services. Since its inception in 1987, the founders of SALAM have had the unique vision for the center to be a model of an American Islamic Center
SALAM has been a pioneer in reaching out to the interfaith, civic, and larger community, and joining with the interfaith community leadership to confront and dispel post 9-11 fears and backlash. In this regard, Delegata is a proud sponsor of SALAM’S annual Interfaith Iftar. Each year, Salam invites the community at large to share an evening meal, during the fasting month of Ramadan. Each year, hundreds of community members share a delicious Middle Eastern meal at the Salam Community Center, observing the sunset prayer and concluding with an interfaith prayer.
SALAM has established itself as a respected community organization, available to the media and public officials whenever they have a question about Islam or Muslims. Further information about Salam and its community activities is available at: http://www.salamcenter.org
One World, One Family
The Art of Living Foundation is an international nonprofit educational, charitable, and humanitarian organization offering programs in more than 142 countries around the world. As a Non-Governmental Organization, Art of Living Foundation works in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Delegata partners with employees as well as community in outreach efforts, and when one of our employees brought to our attention the impact this organization has on so many people of different faiths, cultures and backgrounds, we quickly supported the annual Art of Living conference in their publication which reaches 2 million people in the US alone.
The values and goals of the Art of Living Foundation are very much in line with our corporate values and the kinds of efforts we support. “We are not living in isolated compartments – the world has become one family…we need to globalize wisdom…All religions and traditions have a common value system. These shared values have to reach every corner of the world.”
Art of Living Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Event, the Silver Jubilee, was a major initiative towards globalizing wisdom and fostering human. On February 17th, 18th and 19th 2006, the world watched in wonder as 2.5 million people from over 150 countries gathered together in Bangalore, India to celebrate and meditate for global peace and harmony. 20,000 volunteers helped put together the three day event, more than 3,800 musicians from South India were brought together, and 1,000 leaders from ten major religions attended in solidarity for non-violence and brotherhood.
For more information on The Art of Living Foundation, please visit the The Art of Living Foundation Website.
