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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com International
Washington, DC - Nicole Avant was sworn in as the 13th U.S. Ambassador to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, D.C., on September 9, 2009. Ms. Avant is expected to present her letters of credence to the Governor General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas in October. In her swearing in remarks Ms. Avant thanked President Obama for his continued faith and confidence in her. She said that she is honored to have the opportunity to serve in The Bahamas and advance the existing close and mutually beneficial partnership. She noted that beyond the geographic proximity, the United States and The Bahamas share a commitment to democratic ideals, the rule of law and strategic interests that span issues of regional security, economic and social progress, energy security and stewardship of the environment. She noted, that this strong relationship has been described by the leaders of both our nations as “excellent.” Her mission, she said, is to keep it that way. “In the area of regional security, The Bahamas plays a critical role in working together with us to monitor and protect our third border. There is no better example of multi-agency, multi-national cooperation than the success of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos – OPBAT -- which has for twenty-five years significantly reduced the deadly flow of illegal drugs through The Bahamas and ultimately to our children in the United States,” said Ms. Avant. Ms. Avant said that from an early age she has benefited from the wonderful influence of her parents, entertainment industry legend Clarence Avant and philanthropist, Jacqueline Avant. Their passion for philanthropy, politics and culture left an indelible mark upon her. Her parents, she said, have instilled in her and her brother, Alex, the importance of using their talents to learn, to mentor, to uplift and to serve--in any way possible. Ms. Avant said that she has strived to follow in their footsteps and eagerly awaits the opportunity to apply the lessons she has learned; service to ideals and principles; service on behalf of the economically disadvantaged and children in need. Ms. Avant has worked tirelessly to mobilize and engage the younger generation towards greater charitable and political involvement. She is committed to and passionate about children and ensuring that the less fortunate and disabled are given every opportunity for education and equal access to meaningful employment. Most recently, Ms. Avant served as Vice President of Interior Music Publishing and Avant Garde Music Publishing (1998-2009) and was the Southern California Finance Co-Chairwoman of the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign. In her professional capacity, Ms. Avant served as an Academic Counselor at the Neighborhood Academic Initiative, a University of Southern California mentorship program for high school students that provided full academic scholarships as well as daily guidance and direction in social behavior and responsibility. For a number of years, Ms. Avant actively served as a Board Member for the following organizations: Best Buddies International, a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; The Bogart Pediatric Research Program, which raises vital funds to support early stage pediatric cancer research at the Bogart laboratories located at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The Bogart Program is dedicated to supporting “bench to bedside” research to find cures and treatments for these diseases and to enhancing the quality of life of the children who survive them. In 2007, Ms. Avant was named one of the American Cancer Society’s Next Generation Leaders. Ms. Avant is married to Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix Corporation. They have two children, Sarah and Tony.
Read her complete remarks HERE
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