Wallace Kaufman

Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Russia | Economics, Science, Environment
Wallace Kaufman

INFORMATION THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

"Too many 'non-governmental organizations in the former Soviet Union are not NGOs but FGOs, foreign government organizations, because they have become dependent on foreign funding. To become credible independent voices, they need to develop their own resources."

Wallace Kaufman knows the world of non-profit citizen groups and political organizations from the ground up. His first award in journalism was for editorials in his school paper against segregation. He went on to participate in the civil rights movement. He helped integrate political parties in the American South, has run campaigns for local and state offices, and served as president of three statewide non-profits. He taught small business seminars in Belize for the NC Episcopal diocese and served on the church's task forces concerned with environment and with Latin American development. He continues to work with non-profit groups and with students, young professionals and business start-ups.

In Latin America he worked with the Latin American Indigenous Literature Association (LAILA) to bring into its meetings and work more indigenous writers. In the former Soviet Union he has helped form and train professional organizations and has participated in small business lending and microfinance program training.

CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Private Consulting: Since 1974 has worked with local and state government task forces and committees on development, environment and economic questions; consulting on business development and property issues for banks, law firms, and businesses. Special focus on local govt. development policy, NGO participation, and real estate economics.

2006. Coordinator and lead trainer for a group from the Republic of Georgia touring West Virginia and Washington, DC to study the operations of American non-profits.

1995 - 2003 Editing and writing for newspapers, magazines and publishing houses in Kazakhstan. He has also trained editors and reporters covering business, politics and environmental issues.

Jan –Feb. 2003. Gave four Fulbright lectures on media and public policy at Kazakh National Univ. and Ablai Khan Univ. in Almaty, Kazakhstan and worked with editors and reporters at Kazakhstan Monitor.

September-October 2002. Evaluator of information program component of Gobi Economic and Regional Growth Initiative in Mongolia. Conducted extensive interviews with project staff and stakeholders, traveled widely in southern Mongolia, composed comprehensive analysis of past strategy and tactics and made recommendations for creation of self-sustaining program; helped others on 9 person team write reports; reviewed and participated in drafting of overall report. Continuing work with client on planning program's future. Also helped publication staff with editing and writing fundamentals. Employer, Pact, Washington, DC.

April 2002. Proposal writing and consulting for University Research on anti-corruption bid. Research and writing on basic issues and public information strategy and tactics.

February 2002. Proposal writing work on Slovak privatization project.

Spring-summer 2000. Research work for World Bank funded contractor on approaches to financing infrastructure and equity building for pueblos jovenes in Peru, including designing questionnaire to evaluate obstacles and opportunities.

March 2000. Coordinator and lead trainer for USIS funded study tour of Armenians interested in tourism and ecotourism.

February 2000. Lead trainer and coordinator for study tour for Georgian officials, NGO activists, and journalists funded by USIA and focused on Freedom of Information Act law at national and state levels; also open meetings laws and procedures. Contracted to Center for International Understanding.

October-November 1999. Work with Kazakhstani publisher IPA House on proposals for journalism career development, and on training staff of its publications--The Globe (newspaper) and Energy of Kazakhstan (magazine).

April 1997. Election observer on State Department short term observer team, Croatian elections. Observed polling place set up, operation, vote counting and reporting.

December 1997- 2001. Consultant to Kazakhstan bilingual paper, All Over The Globe and author of occasional articles for the paper. Work with journalists has emphasized fairness and accuracy in reporting. Oct-Nov. 1999 conducted a variety of workshops and coaching sessions with young journalists and translators; wrote ethics guidelines for the paper and editorial procedure workbook.

Journalism. As a journalist, wrote many articles on politics in Latin America and the former Soviet Union as well as America. Covered the 1982 presidential elections in Guatemala (including being arrested for covering the beating of civilians by police). NC Press Association Award for best weekly columns in 1982. For UNC Alumni Association asked to cover sensitive topics involving race relations and animal rights. As correspondent for American Forests chosen for ability to cover fairly controversial topics—acid rain, property rights, endangered species.

Political Campaigns. Involved in writing position papers and doing voter recruitment for several state level campaigns, including managing a campaign for the attorney general's office. Also ran for NC General Assembly.

Party Chairman, 1976-78. Served as Democratic Party Chairman for Chatham County, appointing the first minority members to the Elections Board. Oversaw the melding of new young activists with old line traditionalists.

National Convention Delegate. Chosen by NC State Convention to serve as a delegate to the 1976 Democratic Party Convention.

1972: Precinct leader. Actively recruited minorities at a time when they were almost absent from political organizations in North Carolina. Helped elect first minority leadership in the area.

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