Dear Friends,
Over the typical year at WorldBoston, we consider all manner of global issues in our various public events. Less publicly, we also engage in diplomacy — citizen diplomacy, that is: We host dozens of international delegations to create connections with local professional resources. As you may know, most of the citizen diplomacy we do is public diplomacy, implementing U.S. State Department initiatives like the International Visitor Leadership Program.
So we have noticed that public diplomacy has been having a moment in America. In recent years, important discussions have emerged on the conduct of digital diplomacy, the role of subnational institutions and actors, and now, of course, the effect of the pandemic on our ability to influence perceptions. Further, many observers are questioning the legitimacy of American public diplomacy at a time of acute domestic challenges.
At the same time, urgent global events are seemingly calling for a public diplomacy response. Since taking office and his 2021 Democracy Summit, President Biden has stressed the need to defend democracy globally, which he has increasingly emphasized since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, citing a global “battle between democracy and autocracy”. The topic also figures prominently in this week’s Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles.
How will, and how should, public diplomacy respond to these dynamics and to these events? This month, our annual signature The State of the State Departmentprogram will address these very questions. We are thrilled to present this timely program live and in-person (and also streamed) at the Boston Public Library once again, and hope you will join us.
We hope to see you soon.
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Mary P. Yntema
President & CEO
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Help WorldBoston bring the world to you!
As a non-profit organization, WorldBoston relies on the generosity and support of members, donors, and sponsors to accomplish our mission: foster engagement in international affairs and cooperation between people of all nations.
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WorldBoston’s annual State of the State Department is an opportunity to consider the U.S. State Department and American diplomacy within the context of U.S. national interests. This year’s program focuses on Public Diplomacy, and its relevance in a time of global challenges to democracy.
We are delighted to feature Stacy White, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and Farah Pandith, Fellow of the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard University’s Belfer Center, former first Special Representative to Muslim Communities at the U.S. Department of State; and bestselling author of How We Win: How Cutting Edge Entrepreneurs, Political Visionaries, Enlightened Business Leaders, and Social Media Mavens Can Defeat the Extremist Threat.
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Tuesday, June 14th, 6-7:30 PM ET
Hybrid Event at the Boston Public Library, Rabb Hall
The issue of migration to the United States from Latin America has overshadowed the war on drugs, which has been underway for decades with little sign of progress. What are the roots of and the bureaucratic logic behind today’s dominant drug policies in Latin America? Is it time to reconsider punitive drug policies that disrupt supply chains and punish drug possession? Join us at the Boston Public Library for a discussion of this complex topic with Dr. Evan Ellis, Research Professor of Latin American Studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute.
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Stay tuned for more information about summer networking events!
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Our What in the World? weekly quiz is a collection of 10 questions designed to test your knowledge of international affairs and current events. Every Monday, a new quiz is posted on our Twitter, Facebook, andInstagram stories. If you would like to receive the quiz by email, please contact Natalie Mase to be added to our What in the World? mailing list. The quiz can also always be found in WorldBoston Recommends, our weekly Friday newsletter.
Trivia Trail-Blazers
Congratulations to the top scorers in May! They got nearly every question right on all quizzes. Our high scorers are:
- Raoul Alcala
- Nancy Graham
- Peter Sharadin
- Leslie Griffin
- Jim Croghan
- Tom Ebling
- Torwon Krua
- Paul McManus
- Francis O’Rourke
- Mary Katherine Reeber
- Matthew Torrey
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Monthly Prize Winner
When you take What in the World?, you are automatically entered into a raffle to win exclusive prizes. The more questions you get right, the better your odds are of winning. This month’s prize winner is:
Mary Katherine Reeber
Miss Something?
If you missed a quiz or would like to retake one, click on the links below.
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Highlight
On June 2nd, WorldBoston, in collaboration with Global Ties U.S., hosted women leaders in law enforcement for a webinar as part of the Law Enforcement Security Exchange Program (LESEP). The goal of LESEP is to create lasting reforms in Mexican law enforcement organizations, leading to sustainable solutions for security challenges in the country. The webinar featured panelists from Hallandale Beach, Florida, and Bloomington, Indiana, as well as Cambridge Police Department Commissioner Christine Elow (top right), for a discussion of their experiences as women leaders in the male dominated field of law enforcement. The audience included officers from Mexican law enforcement agencies.
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This month, we host seven in-person delegations as part of Citizen Diplomacy Programs at WorldBoston:
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Regional Project for Middle East and North Africa
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Regional Project for the Western Hemisphere
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Regional Project for Europe
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Last week, an IVLP group from Africa on Combating Illegal Fishing met with the Massachusetts Environmental Police on New Bedford Harbor. Each visitor had a chance to drive the boat!
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As we return to in-person delegations, we welcome your thoughts and ideas for in-person programming. If you have any, please contact our Vice President for Citizen Diplomacy, Sarah Sibley.
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In addition to the LESEP webinar featured above, WorldBoston will host three in-person custom programs in June. First, we look forward to welcoming 14 fellows as part of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), a five-week professional fellowship exchange for young entrepreneurs across Latin America and the Caribbean. WorldBoston has arranged for each fellow to work alongside an organization in our community and will offer a variety of additional business-themed programs, including pitch training, networking, and cultural activities.
The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by WorldBoston.
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On June 11th, we welcome twelve leaders from the United Kingdom, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy London and Global Ties U.S. The group consists of experts in government ministries, private industry, academia, and think-tanks, and is focusing on countering hostile state influences. While in Boston, the group will meet with local counterparts to share strategies and best practices for protecting sensitive technologies in the military, scientific and energy sectors.
The Protecting Sensitive Industries Exchange is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by WorldBoston.
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In late June, we will host visitors taking part in a study tour, a component of the Russian Business Leaders (RBL) Program, a U.S. Embassy Moscow sponsored program. The participants will spend their time in Boston learning about the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as take part in cultural activities and opportunities for public diplomacy. This group previously participated in RBL virtually, and now has the opportunity to come to Boston in-person. Likewise, WorldBoston has the opportunity to build people-to-people connections between citizens of the U.S. and Russia.
The Russian Business Leaders program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by WorldBoston.
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Are you considering a virtual or in-person international exchange program? We do Custom Visitor Exchange programming to meet the objectives of various clients — whether government or private. Contact Josh Bruno, Manager of Citizen Diplomacy Programs, to learn more.
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In May, we hosted a closing reception for the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Cultural Enrichment Program, which included a harbor cruise and luncheon at the New England Aquarium. We were delighted to host the Scholars and their families for this great event!
Though many scholars have completed their research and are heading home, a smaller contingent will stay in the U.S. for several more months. In June, we will host our final two programs for the remaining Scholars to wrap up the academic year. First, a virtual visit to the Perkins School for the Blind, where scholars will learn about key aspects of blindness and deafblindness, as well as the Perkins School’s history and extensive international collaboration. And second, a visit to the Arnold Arboretum, where scholars will learn about the park’s experimental botanical research and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
We wish the Scholars the best with completing their work, and we look forward to another year of programming in the fall!
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This Fulbright Enrichment activity is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE), and WorldBoston.
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At the end of May, WorldBoston welcomed Suchi Patel to our team as summer Citizen Diplomacy Intern. Suchi is a rising junior at Suffolk University, where she studies international relations. She will work closely with our Citizen Diplomacy team on the many upcoming Custom Visitor Programs. Welcome, Suchi!
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Next week, we also look forward to welcoming Caroline Callahan as our summer Special Projects Intern. A native of Medfield, MA, Caroline is a rising sophomore at the College of William and Mary, where she studies government and economics. Caroline will help integrate our technological systems. Welcome, Caroline!
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Hybrid programming, where the old meets the new–
As we become more experienced with hybrid programs, we’ve gotten creative with equipment. Last week, we woke our projector from a two year hibernation to use with our new Owl camera during a hybrid meeting.
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Welcome to last month’s new and returning WorldBoston members: Joseph Ash, Michael Charland, Pat Cronin,William Hall, Alisa Lorden, and Shane Pac. Thank you, we appreciate your support!
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Check your inbox every Friday for WorldBoston Recommends – our staff picks for high-quality virtual programs on global topics in the coming week.
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Missed any of our recent events? You can find video recordings of our events on our YouTube channel! Below are links to recent events:
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Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for updates!
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Learn more here about how to join these sponsors in supporting the WorldBoston mission.
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Wait, Did You Miss Something?
Don’t forget to check our News section for announcements and past newsletters.
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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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