Below is a transcript of our conversation with CMU Professor Mike Pisani:
David Nicholas:
I'm David Nicholas and this is Central Focus, a weekly look at research activity and innovative work from Central Michigan University students and faculty. Poverty, war and government corruption have ravaged the countries of Central and South America. CMU management Professor Mike Pisani was raised in rural California and grew up with many of the migrant workers from those nations. He has been awarded the CMU International Impact Award for 2024, recognizing his work in giving back.
Mike Pisani:
So it hasn't gotten much better in some places. It's a little better. In most places it's either the same or (or) worse.
DN:
What was the (the) goal going in and (and) what were you able to accomplish with the people of Nicaragua?
MP:
And it was part of a sister city relationship between a community in western Colorado when we lived in Colorado and northern Nicaragua, and this little community was ravaged by civil war in the 1980s. What I was able to offer was to help small businesses access small loans and create an opportunity path for income earning through small business development. The early 2010s I (I) was involved in another sort of sister city relationship, and this was in rural Haiti and again my focus was on community development within the business development sphere. And this was in the area of mostly market women in rural Haiti. And then for about 10 or 15 years, both my wife and I have been involved in the sister city community in (in) rural El Salvador that actually started its involvement through CMU.
DN:
For all of these initiatives, given the level of, unfortunately, poverty, violence and the conditions that we're all well too familiar with, how sustainable have these efforts been? And are there avenues to continue that and lend the support to making these things as sustainable as possible for long term success and hope for the people in these areas that you serve?
MP:
You know, wonderful perspective. And so the (the) intent is, is not to go in and (and) provide support that they don't need. It's to ask what is needed and then to support the goals of the local community.
DN:
As you have put your stamp on this, are there others that are picking up the flag, picking up the banner of (of) the work? And I say that from either the standpoint of (of) folks you've worked with here at the university, perhaps some of your former students or members of those local communities. What do you see as the legacy of the work that you've done?
MP:
So hopefully the legacy is people who can go to school can start a business and just be healthy and provide for their families. As far as my contributions into the into the future, I see them more in the realm of (of) continuing my (my) research and in the area of small business development and consumer behavior within the region, Latin America and extending the footprint of (of) our teaching environment here at (at) CMU and beyond. So, for example, in 2019 I was a Fulbright Scholar to Paraguay. I spent five months there connecting with local university students, and we still maintain that relationship today. And so, one of the institutions I partnered with was Education USA, which is out of the US embassy. And so, a group of those. Students every semester meets virtually with the students I have here at CMU, and so they dialogue for a whole semester, learning the business practices of one another. From the CMU perspective and the idea is how is business done abroad without having to leave CMU? So, this is all done virtually and for the Education USA students from Paraguay. Their intent is to come to university in the United States and so it gives them an opportunity to explore what university life is like from actual CMU students.
DN:
Well, Doctor Mike Bassani, you are to be commended for the work that has been done and the seeds that have been planted for that work to continue. And certainly well-deserved congratulations for the International impact award for 2024 through Central Michigan University. Thanks very much for spending the time with us sharing these stories and the best of luck as we see that work continue. And thank you very much for taking the time to talk with us.
MP:
David, thank you very much for having me. It's just a reminder that CMU's footprint is a global one. Not only do we impact those at the local, state, regional, national level, (but) we also influence those people outside the country and (and) globally. So, thank you for having me.
