Founded in 1981, GEM's mission of promoting a global perspective in all aspects of learning has never been more important. Our interdependent global community demands it. GEM was one of the first educational organizations to focus on developing global education programs for both schools and the local community. Established as an educational non-profit organization, GEM was born as a 501(c)3 private non-profit corporation out of a need to help teachers and students deal with their interdependent world, looking at both its promise and its problems. GEM, now operating as a public foundation, was one of the first

organizations to "bring the world into the classroom" and drew the interest and support of many people such as: television's Fred Rogers; Paul Simon, former US Senator from Illinois; Dr. Robert Muller, former UN Assistant Secretary-General and now Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Peace in Costa Rica; Dr. Jane Goodall; Dr. Frank Withrow, creator of Sesame Street, and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. GEM was founded by educators and is directed today by educators, servicing schools and communities throughout the United States and abroad.

GEM has always maintained a close association with the United Nations. GEM became an NGO (a non-governmental organization) in association with the UN Department of Public Information in 1986 an received the UN Peace Messenger Award in 1989 for its work on behalf of the UN and world peace. Since 1989, all of the above has been done out of GEM's main office at Chestnut Hill College where college and university level programming have also been developed.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sandra de Rivero Borrell Director-General, Carol Baur Foundation Mexico City, MX Ian Cross, President I-Site Philadelphia Reno Domenico, President Sterling Educational Institutes Pine Hill, NJ Wayne Jacoby President GEM Philadelphia, PA Dr. Sara Kitchen Associate Professor Chestnut Hill College Philadelphia, PA Peg Lippincott, Director We the Peoples Haverford, PA

Dr. Paul Messier President National Learning Foundation Falling Waters, WV Alice Muludiang, Director Southern Sudanese Refugee Relief Foundation Philadelphia, PA Lt. Col Gary Reinhart USAF Alexandria, VA Dr. David Schwerin Director Social Responsibility in Business Ambler, PA Izabell Stich, BARTHCO, Inc. Barthco Inc. Prospect Park, PA Rob Teeple, President Forego Communications Conway, SC

Message from the President As GEM enters its 24th year, I am reminded of our beginning: teachers concerned about educating children to the realities of living in a global society. That was in 1981, but that concern remains constant. Another constant is that with global education comes more global responsibility. If we teach in the setting of an empowered civil society, all will see that they can have an affect towards positive change in our world, regardless of their age. -Wayne Jacoby