Media Alert: International Diaspora Alliance Launches Diasporta To Build Sport Infrastructure And Communities Within Developing World

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), Univision, and Project Phoenix announced the launch of Diasporta, an innovative partnership to engage diaspora communities, ethnic sports leagues, and sports companies, foundations, and media outlets in a collaborative process to tackle development challenges using sports in the developing world. The announcement was made at the 2013 Global Diaspora Forum in Washington, D.C. on May 14, 2013.

Diasporta aims to channel the widespread interest and shared passion for sports among diverse diaspora communities to contribute back to countries of origin and affinity. As a bridge for diaspora engagement, Diasporta will promote the role of sports in sustainable community development, particularly to support recovery, reconstruction, and resilience efforts. By leveraging the networks created by ethnic sports leagues and affinity groups, Diasporta will inspire and mobilize global diasporas in an effort to help rebuild communities by supporting infrastructure projects and community programs that engage sports as a platform. Efforts such as mentor linkages, will create enhanced opportunities for youth, as well as skills training and professional development.

Project Phoenix, a non-profit organization established by Haitian sports icon and CNN Hero, Boby Duval, and Delos co-founder, Morad Fareed, to impact desperate communities through creating bold sport projects and partnerships, is the centerpiece example of Diasporta's mission. Launched through a Clinton Global Initiative 2012 commitment, the Phoenix Stadium is a 12,000 seat professional soccer stadium complex to be built in Cite Soleil, Haiti. The stadium, designed by world-renowned architect Carlos Zapata, will also house LADH, a youth development program that provides impoverished children with a safe, clean, and supportive environment where they can learn the discipline of sports and the structure of teamwork—and offer a soccer academy, elementary and middle school dormitories. It will be landscaped with edible gardens, a small lake containing tilapia, a composting and recycling plant, as well as serve as the new centerpiece.

Diasporta seeks to build partnerships in support of Project Phoenix. A media partnership with Univision is also helping to raise awareness of the project. Univision's News and Sports divisions will offer support and coverage of the projects as they grow and develop. Univision is the most-watched Spanish-language television network in the country and one of the top five networks in the United States regardless of language.

"Soccer is one of the passion points for the Caribbean and Hispanic community and the launch of Phoenix Stadium is the perfect centerpiece for Diasporta. When complete, the project will increase access to play and education for Haitian youth, and be a great example of solidarity in the Americas," says Stephen Keppel, Director of Empowerment Initiatives, Univision Network News.

One of the first Diasporta activities will take place on June 8 in Miami, Fla. at the highly anticipated exhibition soccer match between the reigning World Cup Champions, Spain, and the Haitian National Team. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to support Project Phoenix.  

"Diasporta's support and vision is invaluable to the Phoenix Stadium's mission," says Boby Duval, Founder of Project Phoenix. "Diasporta will enhance our effort by bringing the right partner-mentors to the table."

About Diasporta
Diasporta is made possible by a consortium of synergetic private, public, and civil society institutions that are committed to utilize the convening power of sports to tackle global challenges.  The founding members of the Diasporta partnership are International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), Univision, and Delos Living. For more information, please visit www.diasporta.org.

About International diaspora Engagement Alliance
The International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA) promotes and supports diaspora-centered initiatives in entrepreneurship, volunteerism, philanthropy, diplomacy, and social innovation in countries and regions of diaspora origin. IdEA is a non-partisan, non-profit partnership platform that engages global diaspora communities, the private sector, civil society, and public institutions in collaborative efforts to support economic and social development. To learn more about IdEA, please visit www.diasporaalliance.org.

About Univision News
Univision's award-winning News division is committed to informing the country's fastest growing segment across all media platforms, including TV, Radio, and Interactive. Hispanics count on the latest and most relevant content that impacts the community through: "Noticiero Univision," the Network's evening, late evening and weekend national newscast; Sunday public affairs program "Al Punto" (To The Point); newsmagazine shows "Aqui y Ahora" (Here and Now) and "Primer Impacto" (First Impact); as well as morning news segments on "Despierta America" (Wake Up America). In the last year, Univision has strengthened its news team and expanded its news operations by adding Investigative and Documentary Units.

About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching approximately 96% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMas, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching approximately 89% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional suite of six cable offerings - De Película, De Pelicula Clasico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Distrito Comedia; UVideos, the first bilingual digital network serving Hispanic America; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company's platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Interactive, a network of products and offerings including Univision.com, which continues to be the No. 1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Movil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please Univision.net.

About Project Phoenix
Project Phoenix is a non-profit organization that resulted from a commitment made by Morad Fareed of Delos—a Wellness Real Estate™ company—and Boby Duval of L'Athletique D'Haiti (LADH)—a youth development program that provides underprivileged youth with a safe, clean, supportive environment where they can learn the discipline of sports and the structure of teamwork—at the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative to build a 12,000 seat professional soccer stadium in Cite Soleil, one of the poorest areas in Haiti and a designated United Nations red zone. More information on Project Phoenix is available at www.project-phoenix.org.

About Delos LLC®:
A U.S.-based real estate developer, Delos® is the pioneer of Wellness Real Estate™, which incorporates amenities that help sustain both the environment and enhance residents' health and well-being. In 2012, Delos introduced the WELL Building Standard™ with President Clinton, the world's first building standard focused exclusively on enhancing people's health and well-being in direct, evidence-based ways through the built environment. Delos designs include an array of innovative, built-in amenities that research suggests will improve various aspects of individual occupant health including: cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep health, orthopedic health, weight and metabolism management, stress reduction, mood enhancement, cognition and memory enhancement, health literacy and health behavior motivation. More information on Delos is available at www.delosliving.com.

About Fondation L'Athletique D'Haiti
Fondation L'Athletique D'Haiti (LADH) is a nonprofit youth development program that provides underprivileged youth with a safe, clean, supportive environment where they can learn firsthand how the discipline of sports and the structure of teamwork can enhance skills, enrich lives and change futures. More information on FLADH is available at www.lathletiquedhaiti.org.

SOURCE Project Phoenix