Latest Contributions by WilliamTarpai

@cheta21   Welcome to ESRI COMMUNITY.   Know any local schools or universities or both that have stable access to electricity and the internet, but are not using ESRI software and tools?   If so, contact them and encourage them to help students and professors to begin learning and honing their mapping and GIS skill sets.... ... View more

As Professor Dangermond noted when he spoke of his heros - they are people who go beyond words and do things without waiting.  OK, that is tough, especially in some countries  where leadership may not share your optimism, but @PJAndrews as you will see from outcomes at the ESRI UC, there are lots of ways to support people who are doing good things. ... View more

Amazing, and very timely.   Keep up your good works @StevenAustin    As Professor Dangermond noted in opening of the ESRI UC - "... Today GIS is promising to expand our abilities to reason together.  Collective knowledge being used as a tool.  Geography and spatial thinking are building blocks to help us organize and integrate.  GIS is helping us to create a more intelligent world." ... View more

@PadamPaudel @EllaFitzpatrick1 Thank you once again @NicoMora for launching this string.      I wanted to provide some input on the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development that just took place in New York.   https://sdgs.un.org/HESI/2026GlobalForum?fbclid=IwY2xjawS_7CJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe2LxTWXUfnd39INEfSW0dQMqxdbQYlW8eUB8MynddlA41ls66jSkmreVJlzk_aem_YzSP2gjSGb_2oCkOjWqMcA   Ws it all about GIS and mapping?   No but improving data everywhere was being discusse.  It was all about how better to involve higher education in sustainable development.  I'm sure many GIS pros will find this link of interest, especfially those who are able to collaborate with higher education “Reimagining Higher Education for Global Transformation toward a Sustainable Future.” ... View more

@PJAndrews Welcome to ESRI Community - Your post was quite timely, as the ESRI User Conference 2026 is almost ready to being in San Diego.   I drove by the convention center yesterday and was quite pleased about the level of preparations that have already been done.   Over the last few days, I have had contact with GIS professionals in Ukraine and Kenya about introducing GIS to students.  Lots of work to be done.  I wanted to provide some input on the HLPF on Sustainable Development that just took place In New Yoirk at the UN.    https://sdgs.un.org/HESI/2026GlobalForum?fbclid=IwY2xjawS_7CJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe2LxTWXUfnd39INEfSW0dQMqxdbQYlW8eUB8MynddlA41ls66jSkmreVJlzk_aem_YzSP2gjSGb_2oCkOjWqMcA   It was all about how better to involve higher education in sustainable development.  I'm sure you find this link of interest.  “Reimagining Higher Education for Global Transformation toward a Sustainable Future.” ... View more

Leeann Martinez | ESRI Nonprofit Account Manager urged Non-Profits attending UC this year Visit the GIS for Good area in the Expo to connect with the Esri teams and users across the conservation, humanitarian, education, and nonprofit spaces. Join the Nonprofit Special Interest Group (SIG) to meet your peers and engage in a conversation around Nonprofits and GIS. Lunch will be provided! You must RSVP in advance Unwind at the GIS for Good Social on Tuesday at 6PM   The custom agenda includes a breakdown of activities specific to conservation, humanitarian, sustainable development, education, and climate – take a look. If you have any questions about the agenda or the UC in general, please contact her     ... View more

Leeann Martinez | Nonprofit Account Manager   sent me this message to Nonprofit Organizations that have registered for the upcoming Esri User Conference.   There will be a plethora of events, socials, and activities for you to attend. To help narrow down your options and strategically plan your week, I highly recommend that you review our custom GIS for Good Agenda. In particular, I encourage you to:  Visit the GIS for Good area in the Expo to connect with the Esri teams and users across the conservation, humanitarian, education, and nonprofit spaces. Join the Nonprofit Special Interest Group (SIG) to meet your peers and engage in a conversation around Nonprofits and GIS. Lunch will be provided! You must RSVP in advance, and you can do so here. Unwind at the GIS for Good Social on Tuesday at 6PM The custom agenda includes a breakdown of activities specific to conservation, humanitarian, sustainable development, education, and climate      ... View more

@ChuncuiFan Sharing this post with young people, who are highly motivated to achieve would be great. ... View more

@KiaraJacobs   Thanks for this incredible posting and there are many of us, in every corner of this world, who will look forward to the training and support ESRI provides.  My Kenyan colleagues and I are hoping to set up a special interest group related to speeding up achieving all 17 SDGs in East Africa during the rest of this decade related to the 15 year SDG challenge.    @EzraCheruiyot   As we have prepared for this year's UC, we have been pleased by responses made to posts in the run-up to the opening day....  This post is exceedingly helpful. ... View more

Definitely hope you will share about how to help young people move forward during times of conflict.   ... View more

@JRosalesGIS   Reviewing the Training Service Guide for 2026 UC this morning.  Trying to notify as many colleagues in Mexico-US sister city pairings as possible about the July 12th event.  I'll probably not make it to the convention center, but wish you good tidings for your efforts. ... View more

I haven't really felt comfortable declaring a solution reached, but UNDP Mexico's Data Platform for Analysis for Development is certainly heading in the direction I was hoping to travel.   Thanks for liking the idea.... ... View more

Thanks for posting.  Close to what I was seeking but not yet there.   MAP AFRICA INITIATIVE is what I am seeking, but haven't been able to find it.   Can anyone point me in the right direction?   I have been advocating for a Kenya based NGO working in rural development who have been looking for ways to overcome some basic challenges, (like lack of dependable electricity and poor infrastructure in general; lack of computer equipment, and especially able to run some of the mapping software currently on the markets of the world; and inability to attract funding needed to super charge the speed of development improvement).   Thank you to all GIS leaders and educators who will be coming to UC2026, as there is lots to be done. ... View more

I wonder how many of the 191 World Changing Ideas for 2026 that fastcompany recently published will find their way into upcoming higher education research???  Of importance to me was seeing that ESRI was a winner for its Map Africa Initiative.    Having been stationed for long periods in Mozambique, Angola and Somalia, AND currently promoting rural development in Kenya, I can attest that lots of GIS mentors are in need, and the one project at a time way of handing development needs to be super charged.   But after so many years of conflict between Ukraine and Russia, or Israel and Palestine (as well as most neighbors)  these may seem hallow words. ... View more

@JRosalesGIS  Thanks for posting.   Between the GIS Leadership and Education summits, there is lots of amazing people coming together.  How is it possible to meet so many in that giant San Diego convention center?  I just learned a University of California Riverside librarian, who is about to retire, will be attending an ESRI EC for the first time.  She is a super hero of the University of California GIS Week for many years.... @EzraCheruiyot Amazingly this year's ESRI UC is going to be so incredible!!!!   I urge. you to inform all of your colleagues to consider the importance of ESRI Certificates to improve workforce readiness.... ... View more