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Dear Friends,
At the beginning of this month, 23 World Affairs Councils from across the U.S., from Boston to Orange County and more, came together in Santa Fe for the annual Spring Leadership Meeting. We formed a line around the room in order of year of our councils' foundings, from as long ago as 1923 to as recently as 2011. (WorldBoston's, by the way, is 1949.)
It was a powerful moment in a challenging time. For one thing, we saw that World Affairs Councils have been here a long time, been through some tough times, persisted, and gone on to continued growth. It was also clear that we have to lift up our local expertise, our local access to international experts, and our local participation in international dialogues. Not to mention our local funding and other support. We are, after all, the oldest and biggest grassroots foreign policy network in the country.
In keeping with this local theme, we're so grateful for the warm welcome WorldBoston received in the Massachusetts State House last week for our first “legislative briefing” kindly hosted by Representatives Kathy LaNatra and Michelle Badger. Thanks to all from the State House who came to our standing-room only discussion in which we highlighted Massachusetts' legacy and future as “a beacon of international engagement.” Our friends Canadian Consul General Bernadette Jordan and Mexican Consul General Alberto Fierro Garza also offered inspiring words about our work and the value of their partnerships with Massachusetts.
Now is the very moment to step up to ensure that we keep our WorldBoston mission burning bright. Let your nonpartisan support for this work be heard in Washington. The federal FY 26 budget is being shaped, and your legislators need to know that, whatever party (if any) you support, you know that international engagement is good for you, our community, and our country. (Here at WorldBoston, for example, in 2023 we turned a little over $200,000 in Federal funding for our International Visitor Leadership Program into nearly $2.5 million in revenue in our Massachusetts communities.) You can look here for more information on how to advocate for this funding in the U.S. Congress.
And of course, we need your donations and sponsorships more than ever to keep all our WorldBoston programs going right here at home.
We hope to see you soon.
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Help WorldBoston bring the world to you!
As a non-profit organization, WorldBoston relies on community support to deliver our mission of fostering engagement in international affairs and cooperation between people of all nations.
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For the first time ever WorldBoston held an information session at the Massachusetts State House to discuss WorldBoston's work in international engagement. Joining WorldBoston was Consul General Bernadette Jordan of Canada and Consul General Alberto Fierro Garza of Mexico. Thank you to all who attended and thank you Chair Kathy LaNatra and Representative Michelle Badger for hosting us.
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WorldBoston is happy to announce that Harrison Zeiberg has been promoted to Director of Global Engagement Programs and Operations! Harrison joined WorldBoston in February of 2024 as Community Engagement Manager and became the Manager of Global Engagement Programs and Operations in May 2024. Congratulations Harrison!
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This month WorldBoston welcomes to the Board of Directors Kady Bruce, Director, Lead Infectious Disease IP at BioNTech. We greatly look forward to working with Kady.
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WorldBoston President & CEO Mary Yntema to Step Down in Early 2026
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President and Chief Executive Officer of WorldBoston Mary Yntema will step down in January 2026 to pursue other opportunities. Mary joined WorldBoston in 2014 and has since steadily grown the organization's impact and capacity. WorldBoston was founded in 1949.
Mary expressed profound gratitude for her experience at WorldBoston: “The mission of WorldBoston has never been more important. I look forward to working on a smooth transition for my successor.”
“The Board of Directors is deeply grateful to Mary for the quality and depth of leadership that she provides to WorldBoston. While we will all miss Mary tremendously, the Board of Directors respects her decision to step down. We wish her well, and look forward to keeping in touch with Mary, our valued friend,” said James De Vellis, WorldBoston Board Chair.
You can read the full announcement about this transition here.
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Highlight
In May, WorldBoston was honored to welcome an International Visitor Leadership Program delegation of Members of Parliament and national government officials from Botswana on a project titled “Promoting Economic Growth: Diversification and Public-Private Partnerships.”
The group kicked off their visit to Massachusetts exploring Harvard Square and then meeting with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Boston Office to discuss community and economic development. The visitors were particularly interested in how the office evaluates the effectiveness of economic incentives and state-level financing programs which drive job and business growth across Massachusetts.
The delegation also met with Wendy Duan, Program Director for the Asia Pacific Energy Partnership Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative (MITEI). Wendy shared about MITEI’s groundbreaking research and technologies in renewable energy systems, including innovations in solar, wind, and energy storage for accelerating the global energy transition, while the visitors highlighted Botswana as a resource rich nation seeking to advance its renewable energy output through public private partnerships. Wendy also welcomed some members of the delegation for a tour at MIT the next day, and Jeff Leclair of Bernstein hosted the delegation in their office for a networking session that evening.
The group also had a guided tour of the Massachusetts State House and met with the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Senator Barry Finegold and Representative Carole Fiola covered legislative efforts to develop Massachusetts’ economy as well as anti-corruption safeguards. Visitors were keen to learn more about the role of the Massachusetts legislature in promoting economic growth and managing energy policy, which drew comparisons to Botswana’s Parliament. Before leaving the State House, saw the Senate budget debate in real-time from the Senate Gallery. At the final stop, representatives from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center hosted the group for a wide-ranging discussion on public-private partnerships to advance energy supply chains, workforce development, and new energy technology deployment.
WorldBoston is grateful to all those involved with ensuring these high-level visitors formed long-lasting connections and can bring back meaningful knowledge to their leadership of Botswana. You can read more about their visit to the United States in this press release from the U.S. Embassy in Botswana.
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Custom Visitor Programs
Interested in customizing an international professional exchange with WorldBoston? Our expansive local network and expertise, built over half a century of hosting, ensure high-quality, tailored programming across Eastern Massachusetts that meets your delegation’s needs, from professional meetings and cultural activities to seamless logistics and accommodations. Contact our Manager of Citizen Diplomacy Programs, Justin Dynia (jdynia@worldboston.org), for more information.
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A Regional Project for the Western Hemisphere and Spain
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Health Cooperation
A Multi-Regional Project
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We welcome your thoughts and ideas for in-person visitors programming. If you have suggestions, please contact Vice President for Citizen Diplomacy, Sarah Sibley.
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Great Decisions with Dr. Kori Schake | The Future of NATO and European Security
Tuesday, June 17th
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Hybrid Event at Rabb Hall, Boston Public Library
Europe is frightened and frightening for the first time really since the 1980s, when nuclear sabers were rattling as the Soviet Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) both deployed contending intermediate range missiles along the dividing line of the military alliances. With Russia’s continued barbarity in Ukraine there is no escaping that Vladimir Putin intends not to be “European.”
Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with Dr. Kori Schake, leader of the foreign and defense policy team at the American Enterprise Institute. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants in the Newsfeed Café.
This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.
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Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 11th, for our signature Diplomacy Now program. WorldBoston is pleased to welcome back former Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns as our expert speaker. We look forward to hosting you in-person at the Boston Public Library or virtually on Zoom.
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Now more than ever, WorldBoston relies on the support of our community to fulfill our mission. Donors who contribute $25 – $999 are proudly recognized on our website as Community Supporters. (Donors of $1,000 and above are Sponsors and enjoy year-round benefits; learn more here!)
You can also donate to WorldBoston through a Donor Advised Fund!
We encourage you to contribute to WorldBoston to become a 2025 Community Supporter. Donors will receive this year's special pin to recognize their support!
Thank you to WorldBoston's newest Community Supporters: Margaret Holland, Reuel Liebert, Ross Hurlock, and Stephen Monk.
Thank you all for donating to WorldBoston and helping make our mission possible!
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Call your friends, coworkers, golf buddies, and family. Ask them to join you for a fun day of golf to benefit organizations in the Greater Boston community, including WorldBoston!
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Asterisks indicate first-time sponsors to WorldBoston.
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Check your inbox every Friday for WorldBoston Recommends – our staff picks for high-quality programs and opportunities on global topics in the coming week.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for updates!
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Wait, Did You Miss Something?
Check our News section for announcements and past newsletters.
And for the latest, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram!
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WorldBoston is now on Bluesky!
@worldboston.bsky.social
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The International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State's premier professional exchange program and WorldBoston's main citizen diplomacy partner. Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. These visits reflect the International Visitors' professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.
The U.S. Department of State's bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the IVLP. In doing so, the bureau enters cooperative agreements with National Program Agencies, a group of private, not-for-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C., that design and implement national IVLP itineraries. In addition to the National Program Agencies, the IVLP relies on the commitment and skills of local community organizations across the U.S., known as Community Based Members (CBMs). Under the professional association of Global Ties U.S., local CBM members develop professional programs, arrange cultural activities, and provide home hospitality for international visitors.
WorldBoston is part of the Global Ties Network of more than 90 CBMs in 45 states.
WorldBoston is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America,
a network of more than 90 independent Councils in more than 40 states.
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