Daniel Pacheco
SSDP Board Application
The Basics
School: Georgetown University
Email: danielpachecosaenz@gmail.com
Major(s) / Minor(s) / Areas of study: Public Relations/Journalism/Philosophy
Current year in school: Finished
Expected graduation year: 2011
What are your tentative plans after college?:
I work as a foreign correspondent
Leadership Experience
Describe your advocacy skills and experience. Include work outside of SSDP.
Co-founder of the first SSDP chapter in Latin America, in the Universidad Nacional of Colombia. Successfully lobbied at the UN before the NGO Branch Committee of ECOSOC to get SSDP approved consultative status, after 5 years of pending application. Other work for SSDP has included support to the international strategy process and support with funders. I’m a permanent columnist for Colombia’s second largest national newspaper, where I’ve written profusely on drug policy and the need for reform. I’ve been involved in drug policy in Colombia, organizing national demonstrations and leading lobby and advocacy efforts in Congress. Besides SSDP, in the US I’ve been involved with the Global Commission on Drug Policy supporting their communications strategy and with DPA with their Latino Outreach plans.
I’m a good speaker and writer. I have a sense of realism and opportunity to push for the changes that are possible, and pave the path for the future changes that are still only desirable.
How do you plan on balancing a busy schedule as a student, an SSDP activist, and a board member?
My role with the SSDP chapter in Colombia is now limited to an advisor position. Although I do have a full time job, the balance with the board member activities will come by with good planning, late nights, and dedication.
SSDP Chapter Experience
What formal positions have you held in your SSDP chapter? When?
Co-founder of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia chapter in Bogota, in 2010. Within SSDP I have worked in a volunteer capability since 2009, in an International Outreach position. In this role I have been SSDP’s representative before the United Nations and OSI.
Describe your leadership style, particularly within your chapter.
Assertive, strategic and executive. Within the Colombia chapter I was the driving force in the decision made by students already involved in drug policy to adopt the SSDP Chapter model and embrace the organizations principles.
Describe one project that you led or are leading. What was/is your role? What has this project accomplished?
SSDP had been waiting to attain consultative status before the UN for 5 years. I worked, first along the SSDP International Outreach Director, and then independently, to craft a strategy of one-on-one lobby encounters with 19 delegates from countries in 5 continents, and secure a positive decision for the application during a two-week meeting held biannually. This included presenting the principles that SSDP defends before hostile audiences, answering questions and clearing doubts in the complicated diplomacy of the United Nation system.
After participating in two two-week sessions, SSDP was approved status unanimously by the 19 country Committee, becoming the first drug policy reform organization in the US to have consultative status.
What fundraising or revenue building experience have you had in the past?
Fund raising through individual donors and small events. Not my strong point, though.
The Board
Why do you want to serve on the SSDP board?
I want to become the first Latin American member of the board to offer a broader insight of how the organization can become integrated to an international movement. As a Latino, I would also want to make SSDP an organization that makes a stronger case before minorities in the US.
What do you believe are the board's most important functions?
Making sure the point of views of the chapters in the US and around the world are represented at the central level.
Watching over the implementation of strategies and objectives set for the Executive Director and staff.
Crafting long term vision of the organization; strategically, financially, and politically.
What are your goals for your board tenure (be as specific as possible)?
To drive the point that SSDP is an international organization that has a certain view of how drug policy should change globally and how students in all countries can be part of an organized movement to lead those changes.
If elected to the board, would you retain a leading role and/or formal position with your chapter?
Yes
