ESU Graduate David Good Featured Speaker at University City Science Center’s Lunch for Hungry Minds Series

Posted by: admin on May 7, 2014, One Comment

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania graduate David Good will share his story of how he reunited with his mother deep in the Amazon Rain Forest and how that meeting was the inspiration behind him creating, “The Good Project” on Tuesday, May 20, at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia. Pictured here is Good floating down the Amazon River.

David Good, an East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania graduate, will be the featured speaker at the University City Science Center’s Lunch for Hungry Minds Series in Philadelphia. He will speak about “The Good Project” and his inspiring expedition to the Yanomamo tribe where he reunited with his indigenous mother. His presentation will be from noon to 1 p.m. on May 20, 2014, at the University City Science Center, 3711 Market St., Suite 800, in Philadelphia. Prior to his presentation, there will be a lunch and networking session beginning at 11:30 a.m. Admission is free, but registration is required. Call 215-966-6000 or email sgreer@sciencecenter.org for more information or to register.

Good is the president and founder of, “The Good Project,” a nonprofit humanitarian endeavor which serves as a trustworthy bridge between remote indigenous groups and the influences of increasing contact from outsiders. The organization collaborates with existing, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social programs and local government bodies, to provide social services such as humanitarian aid, health care assistance, and access to fair-trade initiatives.

Good’s inspiration came from his roots and his relationship with his mother. Good and his mother, Yarima, are members of the Yanomamo tribe residing in the Amazonas territory of southeastern Venezuela. This tribe has been syndicated internationally and has been the subject of much research among social scientists over the past half-century as it was considered to be one of the remaining groups still living in a society with relatively minimal or no contact with the outside world.

Good, who is of American and Yanomami descent, was born in New Jersey. Good’s father, Dr. Kenneth Good, an anthropologist, met his wife Yarima while living and working with the Yanomamo tribe for 12 years.

Yarima lived in the United States for six years, but her desire to return to the Yanomamo culture was strong, and she decided to return to Venezuela. Her son David was 5 years old at the time she left. David did not see her again until July 2011, when he was 25 years old.

David’s reconnection with his mother in 2011 began an adventure that would not only reconnect him with his indigenous roots, but would also inspire him to create an organization that addresses the challenges and opportunities of indigenous groups around the world. He returned to Venezuela in 2013 and continues to rekindle his relationship with his mother.



One Response to “ESU Graduate David Good Featured Speaker at University City Science Center’s Lunch for Hungry Minds Series”


Diana Sheppard

Posted May 11, 2014 at 10:14 PM

I was impressed by the ‘Sunday Morning’ segment where you stated that your mother’s tribe had no loneliness. For that reason alone I wish you great success in protecting these people’s around the world.