Carlos Vives, named 2024 Person of the Year by Latin Grammys, to Perform at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum!Congratulations to Carlos Vives for being named the 2024 Person of the Year by the Latin Grammys! Thanks to the generous support of The Reynolds Foundation and Demo Lab, the Grammy Award-winning Colombian singer-songwriter, Carlos Vives, and his band, “La Provincia,” are set to rock the stage at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum! With over twenty million records sold worldwide, Vives is a true icon of Colombian music and a beloved figure across Latin America. We couldn't be more thrilled to have him join us for this unforgettable event.

Empowering Youth: Achievements of Our First Cohorts!

Our pioneer cohorts of graduates from The FWD Tech and Freedom Academies, our first pilot in collaboration with Phil Garnier, have achieved outstanding success in securing employment opportunities. Here are the highlights:Out of the 65 students who embarked on the technology program last year, 44 completed the front-end development program, while 21 finished the full-stack development course.

Notably, 52% of these graduates have already secured positions with leading technology firms such as Wink Financial, Avon, Moovin, and Porceramica.We're immensely proud of our students' hard work and dedication. Their accomplishments underscore the effectiveness of our program and the dedication of our team. Now, we're laser-focused on refining and expanding our efforts to break cycles of limited opportunities.

Testimonials

“I participated in a 6-month intensive boot camp that transformed my life. I learned HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, and SQL. The community stood out the most: the instructors were experts committed to our success, and my classmates became essential friends and collaborators. We often worked late into the night, always supporting each other.By the end, I had gained valuable technical skills and a professional and personal support network. Thanks to DemoLab and CREndurance, I quickly landed my first job as a developer. I am deeply grateful for this transformative experience and the lessons of collaboration and perseverance it taught me”.

“Joining Forward and participating in the programming Bootcamp was an incredible experience. Combining study and work was challenging, but it allowed me to learn and apply knowledge in the tech field.Thanks to the support of my mentors and peers, I grew tremendously, both professionally and personally. Today, I work full-time and can share my knowledge with the next generation. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity Forward provided. It has been fundamental to my development, and I am excited about what the future holds”.

Newest additions to our Board of Directors

Tim Reynolds

Tim Reynolds, co-founder of Jane Street Capital, is a pioneering figure in finance, education, and philanthropy. With a remarkable track record of success and innovation, he spearheaded one of the finance industry's most successful quantitative trading firms. Tim is now dedicated to various philanthropic efforts across Medical Research, Art, Education and Defending and Promoting Democracy and Freedom; he founded the ÁNI Art Academies which span the globe and provide comprehensive art courses to vulnerable individuals, and has established

The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory and The Reynolds Foundation.Regardless of the venture or project, Tim Reynolds continually distinguishes himself as a true leader, driven by a relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence. As Tim Reynolds joins DemoLab, his visionary leadership, commitment to innovation, and passion for empowering individuals will undoubtedly propel the organization to new heights. We are honored to have Tim on our team and look forward to the positive impact he brings to our mission of promoting citizen engagement and strengthening democracy.

Steph Lips

Stephanie Giuvanetti Lips currently serves as a Philanthropy Advisor and Board Member of Demo Lab, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her roles. In 2018, Stephanie joined DonorsTrust as a philanthropy advisor with a focus on planned giving. Prior to her tenure at DonorsTrust, she played a pivotal role in the international expansion of the events department at the Atlas Network, organizing annual events across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

Stephanie also assumed major gift officer responsibilities and spearheaded the planned giving program at Atlas Network.Her extensive background includes consulting on events and fundraising for notable organizations such as The American Spectator, the Future of Freedom Foundation, National Association of Chemical Distributors, and Johnson and Johnson. Beyond her professional commitments, Stephanie actively volunteers at her local hospital and her children's schools. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Marymount University.

Céline Assaf Boustani

Céline Assaf Boustani is the president of the Human Rights Foundation and leads the programs and campaigns for the organization. In her time with the Human Rights Foundation, she has focused much of her time and efforts on legal and advocacy work to protect freedom of expression in Arabic and French-speaking countries. Céline holds two master’s in law and has been a speaker at many high-caliber events, such as the Oslo Freedom Forum. She has also had her writing featured in several international media outlets. We are honored to have her part of our BLISS Advisory Board as well as part of our Board Members at Demo Lab.

Dr. Thomas O’Toole

Dr. Thomas O’Toole is the Executive Director of Public Affairs Programming at Cornell University's Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. Dr. O’Toole oversees the strategic direction and educational mission of the MPA and EMPA Programs, managing student professional development, maintaining key industry relationships, and organizing job and internship placements. It’s an honor to have him part of our BLISS Advisory Board as well as part of our Board Members at Demo Lab. Dr. O’Toole’s subject expertise in comparative public administration enriches DemoLab’s strategic perspective on research and educational programs, particularly in understanding global perspectives on infrastructure development and citizen engagement.

Andrés Bruna

Andrés Bruna, is a Co-founder of Demo Lab and a young entrepreneur associated with the Bruna Group, a family company specializing in the international distribution of chemicals, packaging, and sourcing in Latin America. Passionate about sales, he actively advocates for family businesses, participating as a speaker at international conferences and being a founding member of the Family Business Network in Central America. Bruna holds a degree in MIS Information Systems from FIU Florida Int. U. in Miami, FL, and an MBA from Sawyer School of Management in Boston, MA.

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