4 The HBCU Advocate Editorial Panama: The Epitome of Paradise


Volume 2 Number 9


April/May 2019


Casco Viejo BY ANGELA JONES I recently wrote about traveling to


Trinidad and mentioned that it may be my second favorite place in the world. The most alluring place I have been to thus far is Panama. When I arrived in Panama City, I was surprised to see how metropolitan it is. Panama City is peppered with numerous modern


skyscrapers


including one which, until recently, bore the name of the 45th president of the United States. Last year, JW Marriott took over management of the property. The luxurious building which includes shops, apartments and 1,000 hotel rooms has a sail-shape and is an unmistakable addition to the gorgeous Panama City skyline. Beautiful buildings are not the only claim to fame Panama has. The reason for the city and country’s economic


boom is the Panama


Canal. It is an engineering marvel. Visiting the Panama Canal is a great experience for people of all ages and backgrounds. You do not have to be a geek to appreciate the monumental achievement of being able to join the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans together and save ships precious travel time in doing so. Visitors to the Panama Canal Museum can actually watch ships guided through the canal. The museum also includes a movie about how the canal was built and interactive stations where one can see what it is like to be in the command-and-control center. The viewing deck of the museum is a great place to take selfies, as well. In addition to the beautiful canal and the beautiful buildings, Panama


has an old part of the city called Casco Viejo which means ‘old quarter’ in Spanish. This UNESCO protected district includes old slave dungeons along the waterfront. There are many types of vendors and shops leading up to this area selling everything from handmade jewelry to locally grown coffee.


The Panamanian people encountered were very I helpful and


friendly. I offered one local money for telling some of the best attractions to visit while I was there. He refused. He even offered to lead me to some of the nearby sites like Casco Viejo. When we had to part ways after about 45 minutes because I needed to get a taxi to the canal, I again offered him some money for his assistance since he appeared to be a retired elderly man. This time his reply when he saw the amount I was offering was, “That’s a good start.” I believe I doubled the amount and he seemed to be content. After all, you cannot put a price on having a local show you around. With its metropolitan


vibe,


beautiful beaches, moderate climate and industrious residents, I believe I could live in Panama. Many Americans are retiring there. When I returned to the US, my Uber driver told me he and his wife planned to retire in Panama but he returned to the US when his parents became ill.


I did some research online


and discovered that one could live comfortably there for less than $2,000 per month. For all of its benefits, retiring in Panama is a bargain. If that isn’t Paradise, I do not know what is.


The HBCU Advocate


Angela Jones, Publisher Chris Parks, Editor


Rae Willis, Graphic Designer Ida Davis, Contributing Writer Sales and information info@thehbcuadvocate.com Copyright pertaining to contents of this edition. All rights reserved.


TheHBCUAdvocate.com


Panama Canal Museum


Panama City Waterfront Voorhees College FROM PAGE 1


a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University. Miller is the founder of the David G. Miller Journalism and


Delaware State FROM PAGE 1


opportunities from major funders to transform HBCUs.


The Symposium has been


successful in creating a ‘safe space’ for advancement leaders to share their ideas, learn from peers, and develop solutions to some of the most pressing roadblocks related


Successful fundraising is vital professional


to fundraising. to


the sustainability of all HBCUs. Symposium attendees will participate in


development


workshops related to their areas of expertise. The Symposium also creates a forum to network directly with deci- sion-makers from major foundations and corporations.


The Symposium is committed to


strengthening university advancement team’s role in supporting student success Initiatives.


academic leaders who are directly responsible


Initiatives are encouraged to attend the


Symposium.


for student The


As a result, success is to


idea


have inclusive discussions between Advancement and Academic leaders to create effective solutions to support students through graduation and career placement. Dr. Pickrum said, “you can’t have successful and sustainable student success Initiatives


without


funding. The responsibility of raising those funds is the responsibility of the Advancement teams.


It just makes sense to bring Advancement and Academic is not leaders together in


discussions related to student success.” The value of the Symposium


matched at any University other


conference. In fact, there are no other conferences specifically addressing the philanthropic needs of HBCUs. Delaware State


assisted in offsetting the cost of registration to make the Symposium affordable to all HBCUs.


The HBCU Philanthropy


Symposium is also supported by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and continues to develop its


partnership for with Education (CASE). the Council


Advancement and Support of Several major


funders, including the Kresge, Bill and Melinda Gates, Ascendium (formally Great Lakes),


expected to return for 2019. The HBCU Philanthropy


Symposium is open to private and


public HBCUs. Early bird registration is open at $150 per attendee until April 30th. May 1st registration will be $175 per attendee. More information for the Symposium, including lodging, can be found at www.hbcusymposium. com.


Get a jump on your competition... info@TheHBCUAdvocate.com


Advertise.


Lumina foundations have participated in previous symposiums.


Mellon, Strada and Several are


received


a capacity-building grant from The Kresge Foundation to help expand the Symposium.


The grant has also


Panama City Skyline


Mass Communication at


Scholarship Voorhees, where a mass


communication student with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher can apply for $1,000.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16