Dear Friends,
It’s September, and the moving trucks are once again rolling through our neighborhoods. WorldBoston is once again kicking off our fall programming.
Yet it’s a September like no other. So many victims of the pandemic. Such dramatic and urgent challenges to our future. Among them, how will our communities — great and small, near and far — persist and flourish?
We’ve been thinking a lot about community at WorldBoston. We have always tried to go beyond just programming, to include engagement and connection. So now we are finding ways to enhance our virtual programming, whether with groups of international citizen diplomats or with distinguished speakers.
Take, for example, next week’s Chat & Chowder on the hailed Superpower Showdown on the U.S. -China conflict. After the Chat with the authors, we’ll move on to an engaging informal post-Chat Chat facilitated by longtime WorldBoston member Raoul Alcala.
Connections? Dive in. Mid-month we bring you the 2020 edition of our beloved Global Engagement networking event, reconfigured for virtual networking — and some fun, too.
Near and Far? This month we’ll bring you perspectives all the way from the President of Brookings at our September Great Decisions talk to an educator on space entrepreneurship — live from Israel.
Finally, we’ll soon announce several special events that will highlight key topics and the WorldBoston community — including, of course (of course!) a new digital, and delightful, WorldBoston Consuls Reception.
We really 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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Global Engagement events are back and we are kicking off our fall season with a dynamic schedule in September!
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Tuesday, September 8th
6:00-7:00 PM ET
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Even virtually, the spirit of Chat & Chowder persists! We encourage everyone to BYOCB (Bring Your Own Chow(der) & Beverages), and also to join us for the informal post-Chat Chat with WorldBoston member Raoul Alcala and other friends(separate Zoom link will be provided). Longtime and first-time chatters alike are welcome!
Bob Davis is a senior editor at The Wall Street Journal who covers economic issues out of the Washington D.C. bureau. Lingling Wei is an award-winning journalist in The Wall Street Journal’s Beijing bureau.
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How and why have U.S.-China relations sunk so low? And where are they headed? In SUPERPOWER SHOWDOWN, Wall Street Journal reporters Bob Davis and Lingling Wei trace the route of the trade war from the early 1990s to the January 2020 signing of the phase one deal that signaled a temporary halt to economic hostilities.
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Monday, September 14th
7:00-8:00 PM ET
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Join us for a night of virtual networking with fellow professionals and students in the Boston international development community!
Through a series of breakout rooms and guided questions, you will engage with others who share your interests and passions, meet new people, and find opportunities for further connection. And, yes, we’ll have time for some fun too!
RSVP required. Suggested donation of $5-$10 when registering and donations will go to BNID, UNAGB, and WorldBoston. This is an interactive event: Both audio and video participation needed.
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Tuesday, September 22nd
6:00-7:00 PM ET
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Policymakers in many countries are developing plans and funding research in artificial intelligence (AI). Global growth is slowing, and not surprisingly, many policymakers hope that AI will provide a magic solution. The EU, Brazil, and other Western countries have adopted regulations that grant users greater control over their data and require that firms using AI be transparent about how they use it. Will the U.S. follow suit?
General John Allen is president of the Brookings Institution and Dr. Darrell West is vice president and director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution.
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Gen. Allen and Dr. West, authors of the recently published book Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence, which discusses both the opportunities and risks posed by artificial intelligence, will speak on this complex topic.
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One World Marathon kicks off September 7th
We are very proud to support one of our local citizen diplomat stars, Dave Fortier, who won the annual award for citizen diplomacy in our national network this year. Dave and his foundation, One World Strong, are implementing the second iteration of One World Marathon with exchange alumni we hosted in Boston. The virtual race starts on September 7th, the rescheduled date of the Boston Marathon, and spans 66 days, ending on November 1st. Everyone is welcome to participate in a global community of solidarity against terrorism, no matter the activity: walking your dog, hiking, swimming, cycling, yoga, karate, or … running a marathon. Up to you!
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Wednesday, September 30th
1:00-2:00 PM ET
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Join WorldBoston and International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumna Vered Cohen Barzilay for an informative discussion about her new initiative, “Out of the Box,” a NASA-designed Space Entrepreneurship learning program for Israeli and American students
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Vered Cohen-Barzilay is an Israeli-born social entrepreneur and tenacious advocate for aviation, space and science education. The IVLP inspired Cohen-Barzilay, a journalist and women’s rights activist, to change career paths and focus on building bridges through innovation and education. Upon her return to Israel, she founded the nonprofit “Out of the Box” to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), space education, and entrepreneurship for youth in Israel.
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A new kind of IVLP — on Zoom!
Since State put in-person programming for IVLP on hold through the remainder of 2020, we have welcomed delegations from Luxembourg, Estonia and Jordan (including simultaneous interpreters) to connect with our community’s citizen diplomats. See below for upcoming virtual visitors.
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An IVLP group from Canada met virtually with Professor Thomas Kochan from MIT Sloan School of Management to discuss the impact of AI on workforce development.
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This month, we look forward to welcoming visitors virtually from Canada and Pakistan as well as our first regional group (Western Hemisphere).
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Impact of AI on Workforce Development
Canada
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Transparency and Accountability in Government
Multi-regional Project
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Improving the Regulatory Environment for Tech and Start-Up Investment
Pakistan
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This month we welcome Stefan Hendley to the WorldBoston team as Program Associate of Citizen Diplomacy & Global Engagement Programs through Northeastern University’s Cooperative Education Program. Hailing from California, Stefan is currently earning a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and brings with him international academic, personal, and professional experience. Welcome, Stefan!
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You are able to contribute to WorldBoston at no additional cost to you! If you shop at Amazon through this link or the AmazonSmile logo to the right, a portion of your purchase will be donated to WorldBoston. Bookmark our page today.
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Missed any of our recent virtual events? You can find video recordings of our events on our Youtube channel! Below are links to the most recent events:
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Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for updates!
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Membership
Welcome to last month’s new and returning WorldBoston members: Robert Bench, Thomas Kennelly, George King,Paul McManus, and Maggie Morrio. Thank you, we appreciate your support!
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Check your inbox every Friday for “WorldBoston Recommends” — our staff picks international virtual programs in the coming week.
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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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