The day after Barack Obama's historic inauguration as president of the United States we'll look at how much has changed in the United States and what still needs to change in the days, months and years ahead. Locus Focus host Barbara Bernstein is joined by guests John Cavanagh, director of the Institute for Policy Studies, and Ajamu Barakaexecutive director of the US Human Rights Network.
John Cavanagh has been Director of the Institute for Policy Studies since 1998. The Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) is the nation’s oldest multi-issue progressive think tank. Since 1963, the Institute has worked with social movements to forge viable and sustainable policies to promote democracy, justice, human rights, and diversity. John oversees IPS’s programs, outreach, and organizational development. John holds a BA from Dartmouth College and a MA from Princeton University. He worked as an international economist for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (1978-1981) and the World Health Organization (1981-1982). He directed IPS’s Global Economy Project from 1983-1997. John is the co-author of 10 books and numerous articles on the global economy. His recent publications include: Global Dreams: Imperial Corporations and the New World Order (with Richard J. Barnet), Simon & Schuster, 1994, and A Field Guide to the Global Economy (with Sarah Anderson and Thea Lee), New Press, 2000.
An experienced grassroots organizer, activist, and educator, Ajamu Baraka currently serves as Executive Director of the US Human Rights Network, a US based network of over 250 human rights and social justice organizations committed to ending US Global impunity and "exceptionalism." Ajamu's human rights work, teaching and activism spans more than three decades with a number of national and international organizations and academic institutions. Ajamu has taught political science at several universities including Clark Atlanta University. In 1998, Ajamu was honored by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as one of the 300 human rights defenders from around the world.
