Dear Friends,
This month’s Newsletter is hefty, so I’ll try to be brief. Even as events at home and abroad cause such acute distress, we must also acknowledge that the buzz in Boston is back. From annual Storrow Drive U-Haul catastrophes to bushels of fresh event announcements, you can tell it’s a new season.
Same here. WorldBoston has big news as we focus on sponsorships prior to the annual Consuls Reception. This year we’ll consider the local-international sustainability connection as we welcome Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Kathleen Theoharides: See below for more on this annual can’t-miss event.
There’s big news in Citizen Diplomacy, too, with an exciting in-person delegation and a new WorldBoston colleague. Global Engagement returns in full force with highly relevant events on cybersecurity and the WHO. And for my fellow nonprofit capacity nerds (we know who we are), WorldBoston has made some upgrades to enhance our ability to program in the “new normal”.
We hope to see you soon.
|
Mary P. Yntema
President & CEO
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Sponsorship is a year-round project at WorldBoston, but focuses on the Consuls Reception, our annual event honoring the Consular Corps serving Boston and New England in October. You can see some of the sponsors who have already pledged their support highlighted on our Donor Days social media campaign (#WBDonorDays).
What does it mean to sponsor WorldBoston?
Sponsorship provides critical support our 72-year-old nonpartisan organization which embodies the slogan, “The World in Boston and Boston in the World.” Your support directly impacts WorldBoston’s programming, allowing our Citizen Diplomacy programs to host over 800 international leaders annually, and allowing our Global Engagement programs to offer over 40 events in the greater Boston area each year.
What are the benefits of being a sponsor?
Sponsoring WorldBoston provides exceptional visibility for internationally-minded individuals and organizations, and the benefits last all year. Sponsorships at the Diplomat Level and above translate into WorldBoston institutional membership for a full year, including special access to WorldBoston events, gift memberships, deep discounts on tickets, and more. You may notice that at the bottom of this email and our weekly WorldBoston Recommends newsletter, our sponsors are always featured.
How can I find out more?
|
|
This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends is the untold history of the cyber arms trade, an invisible, classified market, spawned by the United States that has altered the balance of global politics and rendered Americans vulnerable. Starting in the 1990s, American defense contractors and intelligence agencies began paying hackers six figure sums to turn over holes in software and hardware that could be used for espionage and the increasing likelihood of cyberwar. This government-sponsored market ensured that gaping holes were left open— leaving Americans vastly more vulnerable than other nations. This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends reveals the urgent threat of the global cyber arms race.
|
|
Nicole Perlroth is an award-winning cybersecurity journalist for The New York Times, where her work has been optioned for both film and television. She has covered Russian hacks of nuclear plants, airports, and elections, North Korea’s cyberattacks against movie studios, banks and hospitals, Iranian attacks on oil companies, banks and the Trump campaign and hundreds of Chinese cyberattacks, including a months-long hack of The Times.
|
|
The Covid-19 pandemic has thrust the World Health Organization (WHO) into the limelight, and its response to the early stages of the pandemic left many experts wanting more from the WHO. What is the WHO’s role in responding to international pandemics? What can be done to improve the WHO’s response to future global health crises?
|
|
Dr. Kelley Lee Co-established the WHO Collaborating Centre on Global Change and Health, and chaired the WHO Resource Group on Globalization, Trade and Health. Her research focuses on the impacts of globalization on population health, and the ways collective action and global governance can mitigate these impacts. Her current research, leading the Pandemics and Borders Project research group, focuses on the use of cross-border measures (travel and trade) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implications for global responses governed by the WHO International Health Regulations.
|
|
|
In August, WorldBoston inaugurated our What in the World? weekly quiz. This quiz is a collection of 10 questions designed to test your knowledge of international affairs and current events. Every week on Monday, a new quiz is posted on ourTwitter, Facebook, and Instagram 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 for this month! They got nearly every question right on all quizzes. Our high scorers are:
- Peter Sharadin
- Nancy Graham
- Mary Yntema
- Laura Dziorny
- Irv Kempner
- Richard Madden
- Arta Snipe
To learn more about What?, visit our website here.
|
|
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:
Rebecca Tayler
Miss Something?
If you missed a quiz or would like to retake one, click on the links below.
|
|
The World Affairs Councils of America is excited to welcome you to the WACA 2021 National Conference this November 16-19 in Washington, DC, where WACA will celebrate its 35th Anniversary as a national association!
For nearly four decades, the WACA National Conference has brought World Affairs Council leaders, members, and friends to engage with top government officials, diplomats, business executives, innovators, journalists, educators, and students on the most pressing global issues and policy choices that impact our lives.
|
|
As an attendee, you will benefit from:
- Expert opinions, timely insights, and audience dialogue about the United States’ role in the world
- Access to extraordinary speakers, thought leaders, and ambassadors
- Bipartisan, diverse, and inclusive perspectives on key international issues
- Professional development, leadership training, mentoring, and peer-to-peer networking
Get your tickets now! Early bird pricing ends on September 10th.
|
|
September will be an exciting month, with multiple projects in both the IVLP and Custom Visitor Programs.
Big news: WorldBoston is delighted to finally welcome our first in-person group since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020! We are assisting in a 10-day visit of a group of 41 prominent professionals through the Doha-based Qatar Leadership Center. WorldBoston has arranged various logistics in the complex pandemic environment, including transportation, conference meeting spaces, business-style meals, and several cultural activities to make sure the visitors get the best of Boston — even in a pandemic. We are inspired by community members who are engaging with this group with the aim of strengthening international ties and demonstrating the economic and innovative significance of Boston. We’re very excited to be welcoming this delegation to our city! مرحبا بكم في بوسطن!
|
|
While the U.S. Department of State maintains its pause on in-person exchange programming for the IVLP through December 2021, we remain committed to welcoming virtual delegations. A warm thank you to all our local citizen diplomats for joining us in this endeavor. Here’s who is “visiting” in September:
|
|
Regional Project for South and Central Asia
|
|
Regional Project for Europe
|
|
Project for the Philippines
|
|
Sub-regional Project for Africa
|
|
|
|
Regional Project for the Western Hemisphere and the Americas
|
|
We are looking for new ideas for virtual cultural activities, especially seasonal options. If you have any, please contact our VP for Citizen Diplomacy, Sarah Sibley.
|
|
For a second-straight year, WorldBoston has been named a “Cohort Ambassador” for the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI). The 2022 program is developed by IREX in coordination with the Department of State, in collaboration with host institutions, city Cohort Ambassadors (including WorldBoston), and other partners.
YLAI empowers entrepreneurs and innovative civil society leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada to strengthen capacity and advance their entrepreneurial ideas to contribute to social and economic development in their communities and region.
Cohort Ambassadors are approximately 20 organizations, academic institutions, and individuals based in cities across the United States who support YLAI Fellows’ professional development and foster cross-cultural understanding through local community connections.
|
|
WorldBoston has a new Fulbright Visiting Scholar Cultural Enrichment Program Coordinator! Read more about Dan in Updates From the Office below.
|
|
|
Contact Josh Bruno, Manager of Citizen Diplomacy Programs, to learn more.
|
|
This month we say a fond farewell to our summer interns, Lauren Walker and Yasmine Tebib. And we offer a cheery welcome our new Fulbright Anchor City Cultural Enrichment Program Coordinator, Dan O’Connor.
We’re also delighted to announce that our Vice President for Citizen Diplomacy, Sarah Sibley, has been accepted into the Institute of Nonprofit Practice’s Core Certificate Program! Sarah will join a cohort of 35 Greater Boston nonprofit executives and directors who have been recognized as changemakers in their fields. Sessions will run from October through May 2022. Congratulations, Sarah!
And this month we are also looking forward to some office and equipment upgradesaimed at improving our ability to program in virtual and hybrid formats.
|
|
Dan joins WorldBoston in September 2021 as Fulbright Cultural Enrichment Coordinator, planning local cultural events for visiting Fulbright Scholars in Massachusetts.
A Boston native, Dan joins us after several years as a foreign policy professional in nonprofit organizations and government in Washington D.C. Previously, Dan managed experiential education trips for high school students in Thailand, Laos, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam. A soccer player and fan, Dan is a longstanding volunteer with Soccer Without Borders Boston, and also can be found playing chess outside on Beacon Hill.
Dan holds B.A.s from Skidmore College in Economics and German, and a M.A. from the Fletcher School in International Law and Asia-Pacific Studies. He speaks German and intermediate Burmese.
|
|
|
Dan will work with Josh Bruno, Manager of Citizen Diplomacy Programs, to plan and implement approximately 8-10 cultural enrichment events in the 2021-2022 academic year. These events further the Fulbright Program’s goal of increasing mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries.
|
|
Working hard, or hardly working?
Say hello to our newest team member, Rocky (short for Rockville Audio, of course). Rocky is great at amplification, but not so much at answering emails!
We may not know when we will return to in-person events, but we aim to be ready to introduce hybrid programming with the help of our new additions.
|
|
|
Missed any of our recent events? You can find video recordings of our events on our YouTube channel! Below are links to recent events:
|
|
Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for updates!
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
WorldBoston celebrates the persistent work of Boston’s local diplomatic and representative corps. In the “Corner” we note recent arrivals and departures of senior members. Colleagues in the Corps – please contact Natalie Mase if you have a recent item to report!
|
|
Welcome to last month’s new and returning WorldBoston members: Robert R. Bench, Frank Casey, Thomas Kennelly, George King, Robert McBride, and Paula Moats. Thank you, we appreciate your support!
|
|
|
Check your inbox every Friday for WorldBoston Recommends – our staff picks for high-quality virtual programs on global topics in the coming week.
|
|
Your name here?
Learn more here about how to join these sponsors in supporting the WorldBoston mission.
|
|
Wait, Did You Miss Something?
Don’t forget to check our News section for announcements and past newsletters.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
