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Dear Friends,
This June is a time of momentous events in our lives and internationally. Locally, we may be celebrating graduations, reunions, and unions. (Oh, and NBA playoffs?)
Internationally, we note, for example, giga-elections in India, the EU, and Mexico, the solemn 80th anniversary of D-Day, and the celebration of NATO's 75th birthday.
At WorldBoston, in addition to exceptionally timely events this month on the EU and the Middle East, we host our signature State of the State Department annual program. This year we have a very special opportunity to look at The State of the State Department and National Security with one of the nation's most senior diplomats, Deputy Secretary Richard Verma, in conversation with Fletcher Academic Dean Monica Duffy Toft, co-author of the recent book, Dying By The Sword: The Militarization of US Foreign Policy.
Hyper-locally in our office, we fondly say bon voyage to our outstanding colleague Natalie Mase, as well as board members Jeff Cymrot, Jeff LeClair, and Joe Haynes. Thank you for everything you have done “To foster international engagement and global cooperation.”
We also welcome Harrison Zeiberg to his new role as Manager of Global Engagement programs and Operations, and Gene Fullam, an ESC Fellow, as Interim Operations Manager. Stay tuned next month for an update on our excellent new board members.
We hope to see you soon.
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Mary Yntema
President & CEO
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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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President Biden has often said, “The world is at an inflection point.” Indeed, the United States faces urgent international and transnational challenges. In these dangerous times, how important can diplomacy be? Military intervention has always remained an alternative, and its use has grown in frequency since the nation’s founding.
If the State Department is, “at the end of the day, a national security agency” as Deputy Secretary Verma has said, how well is the department handling our current global inflection point? What are the State Department’s priorities, and how well is it equipped to address them?
Join us for WorldBoston’s annual State of the State Department special event, an opportunity to consider the U.S. State Department and American diplomacy within the context of U.S. national interests. This year’s program will focus on “The State of the State Department & National Security.”
For this discussion, we are honored to host Deputy Secretary Richard Verma, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. Deputy Secretary Verma will be joined in conversation by Dr. Monica Duffy Toft, Academic Dean and Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Fletcher School and Co-Author of Dying by the Sword: The Militarization of US Foreign Policy.
Join us at the Boston Public Library for this timely discussion on Tuesday, June 25th. This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.
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Change is in the air at WorldBoston! This month, we say hello, goodbye, and welcome back to several staff and board members.
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This month we bid a fond farewell to Natalie Mase, Director of Operations and Global Engagement Programs. Natalie joined the WorldBoston team in May 2021 as Manager, and played a key part in our transition back to in-person/hybrid programming. As Director, she significantly expanded our programs, impact, and institutional capacity. We're grateful for Natalie's hard work and dedication to our mission, and we'll miss her as she takes her next steps!
Harrison Zeiberg, who joined the WorldBoston team in February, will transition into a new role as Manager of Global Engagement Programs and Operations. Congrats to Harrison!
We also welcome a new member to our team, Gene Fullam, as Interim Operations Manager for the coming six months. Gene brings vast experience in business and finance and is with WorldBoston as part of Empower Success Core's Encore Fellowship. Welcome, Gene!
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This month, we say goodbye to three members of our Board of Directors, Joseph Haynes, Jeffrey Cymrot, and Jeffrey LeClair. All three were deeply involved with WorldBoston for many years, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.
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The End of Ambition
Tuesday, June 11, 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Hybrid Event at Foley & Lardner
Join us for this installment of our popular Chat & Chowder series, featuring Steven A. Cook, Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies and Director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss his new book The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East.
Chat & Chowder programs are an excellent opportunity to engage with expert speakers and to network with other globally-oriented participants in an informal environment. Each event features a presentation, audience Q&A, dedicated time for networking, and (of course!) a selection of chowders and beverages.
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WorldBoston Event Reporting Opportunity
Interested in international affairs and journalism? Then volunteer to report on WorldBoston's Global Engagement events! The selected reporter will write an event recap for our website blog. For more information and terms please email Harrison Zeiberg, Community Engagement Manager.
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Highlight
Red Sox Nation is international! In late May, we hosted an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) delegation from Morocco. The project focused on protecting soft targets and security infrastructure, so the delegation had the opportunity to visit Fenway Park to learn about the security measures taken to protect players and fans on game days, as well as concerts and events. As a very special treat, our community member Colm Lydon, Director of Red Sox Security, brought the team onto the field and into the dugout!
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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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Custom Visitor Programs
Interested in customizing your international professional exchange experience with WorldBoston? Our extensive local network and expertise, built over half a century, ensures high-quality, tailored programming across Eastern Massachusetts that meets your delegation’s needs, from professional meetings and cultural activities to seamless logistics and accommodations. Please reach out to Director of Citizen Diplomacy Programs Joshua Bruno for more information about Custom Visitor Programs.
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Fulbright Visiting Scholars Enrichment Program
With more than half of our Fulbright roster concluding their programs in the coming weeks, WorldBoston hosted a “Farewell Gathering” at the Museum of Science on May 23rd. The event, hosted on the third floor of the Museum of Science’s D’Arbeloff Suite, featured remarks from President of the Museum of Science, Tim Ritchie; Fulbright Coordinator, Dan O’Connor; WorldBoston President & CEO, Mary Yntema; and two current Fulbrighters, Yevheniia Polischuk from Ukraine and Nikki Bart from Australia. The two scholars reflected on their experience in the United States, and the positive ways in which WorldBoston’s enrichment programming augmented their time here. As it is every year, the Farewell Gathering was a jovial affair that was also a great opportunity for family members of Fulbright Scholars to share in the experience. Over 50 scholars and family members attended.
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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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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.)
We encourage you to contribute to WorldBoston to become a 2024 Community Supporter. Donors will receive this year's special pin to recognize their support!
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Thanks to new Community Supporters in the past month, below! You can make a tax-deductible donation on our website at any time.
Justin Carreiro, Emily Chien, Natasha Dukach, Tonya Hongsermeier, Thomas Mahoney, and Heather O'Brien
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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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Wait, Did You Miss Something?
Don't forget to 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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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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