Chair and President's Letter

The 400 international leaders who gathered at the United Nations on May 27 answered a powerful challenge: to confront global poverty by distilling clear, concrete actions they could bring home to their governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations and communities.

In more than a decade of combating poverty in nine countries, Synergos soon recognized that the chasm between rich and poor is caused by far more than mere economics. University for a Night was founded as a way of transcending the barriers between groups that block the vital transfer of information, communication and trust. We are convinced that, by working together, these groups can generate solutions to some of the world's most intractable problems.

Now in its third year, University for a Night earned its name this May, as our influential and committed representatives from all different sectors educated one another over dinner. In the hum of conversation that filled the Delegates' Dining Room at the United Nations, the notes of change could be heard: individuals were stirred to socially conscious investment; business leaders shared new strategies for corporate citizenship; a government minister pledged specific economic reforms for his country. What follows are their collective recommendations; we hope they will inspire you, too, to action.

We wish to extend our deepest thanks to the generous sponsors of this event - particularly the Chase Manhattan Bank, which has served as Founding Sponsor for all three years - for their support and participation. We also wish to thank our distinguished Plenary Speakers - Michel Camdessus, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Minister of Social Development of Mexico; and Sithembiso Nyoni, Minister of Economic Development of Zimbabwe - and our UN host, the Permanent Mission of Mozambique to the United Nations. And thanks, too, to the Distinguished Faculty, table moderators and guests, all of whom gave generously of their time and energy in forging these recommendations.

In this report, we have attempted to capture the essence of University for a Night's 32 table discussions in the form of specific suggestions for how different groups can collaborate to fight poverty. Many of these ideas are wholly new; others have particular force and relevance, and have emerged repeatedly in previous discussions. Synergos invites you to join in a continuing dialogue on these topics as we host events throughout the year at our new building, at 9 East 69th Street in New York.

We hope, too, that you will join us on May 9, 2000, for the next University for a Night. Ruth Cardoso, First Lady of Brazil; Charles Heimbold, Chairman and CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme; and Richard McGinn, Chairman and CEO of Lucent Technologies have already agreed to act as our Plenary Speakers. Beyond a stimulating evening, we can offer you a more active role to play in creating a world with greater shared prosperity for all.

Peggy Dulany
Chair

S. Bruce Schearer
President