CARE Power Panel

CARE Power Panel is our talk series about relevant and compelling topics. These panel conversations feature key stakeholders including elected officials, CARE experts, funders, and grassroots organizers. Through these events, CARE looks to highlight expertise from Black and Indigenous communities of color.

In our last conversation, we were grateful for the range of perspectives from our speakers Moushumi Chaudhury and Alessandra Jerolleman and the amazing music provided by DJ Sofa that offered us a chance to relieve some stress! You can view past discussion recordings below.

Join us on October 15 for a discussion on “Digital Solutions in Emergency Response,” as we highlight International Day of the Girl. This conversation will feature some amazing digital solutions impacting women and girls around the world. Register here!

Our speakers

Catalina Vargas

Country Director, CARE Colombia

Catalina Vargas has been with CARE for around 11 years and as Country Director at CARE Colombia for more than three years. She has led the regional humanitarian response to natural disasters and forced migration in South and Central America. She coordinates the CARE’s LAC Regional Gender Network team, ensuring awareness and capacity building.

Dr. Jocelyn Kelly

Director, Harvard Humanitarian Institute

Dr. Jocelyn Kelly is the Director for Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s (HHI) Gender, Rights and Resilience (GR2) program, where she designs and implements projects to examine issues relating to gender, peace, and security in conflict-affected and climate-fragile environments. Dr. Kelly has been conducting health-related research using qualitative and quantitative research methods for over fifteen years in national and international settings. Her work focuses on understanding and preventing gender-based violence complex crises, with an emphasis on strengthening mechanisms for resilience and social cohesion in these settings.

Laura Keen

Sr. Program Manager, GiveDirectly

Laura Keen oversees a range of projects at GiveDirectly in the U.S., including Rx Kids–a universal child and maternal health program, government guaranteed income projects, and emergency relief and disaster response. Previously, she has worked in smallholder agricultural development at Fair Trade USA, on good governance and anti-corruption efforts focused on extractives at Results for Development, and on anti human trafficking initiatives at Not For Sale. Laura holds a Master of Public Policy and a BA in Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics.

Dr. Vandana Sharma

Director, Harvard Humanitarian Institute

Dr. Vandana Sharma is Project Director for the External Evaluation of the Disasters and Emergencies Preparedness Programme at HHI and a Research Associate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She is a public health researcher with expertise in maternal and child health, HIV, and gender issues. She is also conducting mixed methods research in humanitarian settings to understand gender-based violence in these contexts.

Our latest talks

The Power of Partnership: Amplifying Houston Response Efforts

Our in-person Houston panel featured Nicole Milton, Rhonda Sepulveda, Gabrielle Dirden, and Ryan Morgan.

The State of Black Maternal Health

Our May 2024 talk featured three panelists working to improve health outcomes for new and expecting mothers.

Women's Voices, a World of Change in Advocacy

Our April 2024 panel covered the impact of shaping legislation on a global scale.