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Dear Friends,
Welcome to this week's WorldBoston Recommends email, highlighting high-quality programming for the upcoming week, special opportunities, and event recordings, whether our own, from other World Affairs Councils, or other excellent venues.
We hope these recommendations help you stay internationally engaged, wherever you may be.
Best regards,
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Mary P. Yntema
President & CEO
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Chat & Chowder: Boston and the Making of a Global City by James O'Connell
Wednesday, October 15th
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Join us for this installment of our popular Chat & Chowder series, featuring Professor of City Planning & Urban Affairs at Boston University, James O'Connell. O'Connell will discuss his new book, Boston and the Making of a Global City.
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.
Advance registration is required. We cannot accommodate walk-ins for the in-person program.
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The Transatlantic Partnership in a Changing World: A Conversation with Valdis Dombrovskis
Tuesday, October 14th
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET
Europe faces challenges small and large, economic and geopolitical, and new and old. Russia’s war against Ukraine has dragged on for more than three and a half years. The second Trump administration has levied sweeping tariffs and redefined the trade relationship between the U.S. and the EU. And economic and political headwinds across the continent have motivated European policymakers to adopt new strategies to shore up competitiveness and security. With these noteworthy developments in mind, AEI’s Director of Economic Policy Studies, Michael R. Strain, and Senior Fellow, Stan Veuger, welcome Valdis Dombrovskis—the commissioner for economy and productivity and for implementation and simplification of the European Commission—for a conversation about the pressing challenges that Europe faces, the frictions and possibilities in the U.S.-EU relationship, and the future of the transatlantic partnership.
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Wednesday, October 15th
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM ET
In-Person Registration requires a Harvard ID
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. served as director of the Weatherhead Center, then named the Center for International Affairs, from 1989–1993. From his theories of complex interdependence to soft power (and beyond), his legacy is vast and he has influenced many institutions, leaders, and political scholarship at large. We hope to touch on these myriad contributions in our Forum event. The speakers on this panel will include Graham T. Allison, Jr., Faculty Associate of the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at the Harvard Kennedy School, Carla Dirlikov Canales, Fellow of the Social Innovation and Change Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership, Christina L. Davis, Director of the Program on US-Japan Relations at Harvard University, and Jake Sullivan, Kissinger Professor of the Practice of Statecraft and World Order at the Harvard Kennedy School.
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Wednesday, October 15th
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM ET
This event will feature Charles Kupchan, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and professor of international affairs at Georgetown University in the Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of Government. From 2014 to 2017, Kupchan served as special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs on the staff of the National Security Council (NSC) in the Barack Obama administration. He was also director for European affairs on the NSC during the first Bill Clinton administration. Before joining the Clinton NSC, he worked in the U.S. Department of State on the policy planning staff. Previously, he was an assistant professor of politics at Princeton University.
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Thursday, October 16th
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
People living in conflict-affected countries are often hit hardest by climate impacts. Conflict and instability weaken institutions and basic services, making it harder for communities to cope with heat, erratic rainfall, and disasters. Yet they receive far less climate finance per person than more stable countries. Join the Stimson Center for a public discussion on how to close the climate-finance gap in fragile and conflict-affected countries. The speakers will include Stephanie Speck, Head of Special Initiatives for the Green Climate Fund, Ann Vaughan, Associate Vice President of Resilient Futures for CARE, Lindsey Paul Jones, Senior Climate Change Specialist of the Global Crisis Risk Platform for The World Bank, Lauren Risi, Director and Senior Fellow of the Environmental Security Program at the Stimson Center.
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Thursday, October 16th
11:00 AM – 12:00 AM ET
In a shifting international order, how can a compromise peace in Ukraine be beneficial for both U.S. grand strategy and the broader world? Going forward, in what ways will maximalist approaches to term-setting need to give way to compromise — and to more dynamic and flexible relations with a variety of actors? And how should the United States and its allies adjust course in the current negotiations? To discuss these questions and more, join a conversation featuring George Beebe, director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute, Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South program at the Quincy Institute, and Emma Ashford, senior fellow in the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center. Zach Paikin, deputy director of QI’s Better Order project, will moderate.
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Friday, October 17th
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
First published in 2000 and updated every five years, the U.S. Standards Strategy guides how America's private-sector-led, consensus-based standards system advances innovation, competitiveness, and national security in an increasingly complex global landscape. The program will feature ANSI President and CEO, Dr. Laurie E. Locascio, and a panel discussion exploring why a transparent, market-driven, and private-sector-led approach to standards development matters now more than ever. The panelists will include Sujai Shivakumar, Director and Senior Fellow of Renewing American Innovation, Phillip Singerman, Senior Adviser of Renewing American Innovation, Patrick Hughes, Senior Vice President of Operations and Strategy of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Jason Matusow, General Manager of Corporate Standards Group at Microsoft, and Susan Miller, President and CEO of Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS).
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16th Annual Consuls Reception
The Consuls Reception is a festive gathering that honors the Consular Corps serving Boston and New England, and celebrates WorldBoston’s mission of international engagement and global cooperation. The Consuls Reception draws distinguished guests from business, government, academia, and the community to mingle with other internationally-minded leaders over delicious light fare and drinks.
This year, the 16th Annual Consuls Reception will take place on October 21st, 2025. We’re honored to host Kendalle Burlin O'Connell, CEO and President of MassBio, who will offer keynote remarks.
Advance registration is required, and this event will likely sell out. We cannot accommodate walk-ins.
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Named for the proverbial “green room” where people wait before going on stage, the new Green Room Scholars initiative is part of WorldBoston's growing NextGen programming, an essential element of our effort to fulfill and expand our mission of “fostering international engagement and global cooperation.”
For each regular WorldBoston event, the selected Green Room Scholar will help greet and orient the speaker, serving as part of the WorldBoston event team.
What benefits do Green Room Scholars receive?
- Networking
- Participation in a well-tuned, professional event team
- Blogging with byline
- Recognition in WorldBoston social media
- Connecting with one of WorldBoston's outstanding speakers, who are leading scholars and practitioners in global affairs
Who is eligible to be a Green Room Scholar?
Students at universities that are currently sponsoring WorldBoston!
For further information contact Director of Global Engagement Programs and Operations Harrison Zeiberg at hzeiberg@worldboston.org
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ENGLISH FOR HERITAGE LANGUAGE SPEAKERS
Native speakers of critical languages are in high demand in the U.S. government. EHLS trains advanced English speakers to be effective communicators and strong candidates for federal jobs. All EHLS participants receive a full scholarship from the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) that includes tuition and a living stipend. As part of the scholarship obligation, participants agree to fulfill the EHLS service requirement, which requires you to work for the federal government in a position with national security responsibilities for one year after you complete the program. The 2026 EHLS Program is open to native speakers of: Chinese Mandarin, Arabic, Russian, Persian Farsi, Korean, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Turkish, and Hausa.
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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL AID PLATFORM
The Boston Network for International Development created a Mutual Aid platform to support individuals in Greater Boston / New England who have been directly impacted by the foreign aid pause and USAID shutdown. This peer-to-peer resource connects community members who need assistance with those who can offer help in areas such as career mentorship, job search support, networking, housing, and more.
How It Works:
If you need assistance, submit a request and your request will be shared (without personal contact details) on a public listing (see list of requests).
If you can offer assistance, submit an offer and your information will be listed publicly for those seeking help (see list of offers).
If you see a specific request you can help with, submit a response and your offer will be forwarded to the requestor.
This platform is a community-driven mutual aid network. BNID does not verify, vet, or endorse any requests, offers, or responses. All interactions are voluntary and at participants’ own risk.
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Join WorldBoston’s Dinner Diplomacy program! Engage with international professionals of visiting delegations for a meal at your home. We often have opportunities to get involved! Hosting in an informal setting allows you to meet distinguished visitors from all over the world and learn more about their country, culture, and professional expertise. Dinner Diplomacy can take various forms, from brunch to afternoon tea to a sit-down dinner with small groups. Reach out to Sarah Sibley, Vice President of Citizen Diplomacy (ssibley@worldboston.org) to learn more about upcoming opportunities!
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The Alumni Resource Center (ARC) is an online career development hub for U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni. ARC provides ExchangeAlumni with courses, trainings, and other resources to develop professional skills and abilities, market themselves, and explore careers in and outside of public service. The Alumni Resource Center is offering a new online course, Seize the Advantage: Understanding Non-Competitive Eligibility. This course will explore non-competitive eligibility and how you can leverage this unique opportunity to apply for federal jobs. You must be a U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni and a member of the Alumni Resource Center.
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Writing Opportunities
Are you interested in writing about international affairs? Below are opportunities for you to submit your pieces to publications nationwide!
- WorldBoston's #BostonPhotoFriday: We want to see your pictures of Boston! As part of our #BostonPhotoFriday series, we would like to feature our community's photos on our social media. For more information, please email Harrison Zeiberg, Manager of Global Engagement and Operations.
- The Journal of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs: This quarterly journal is accepting submissions of features and essays, as well as online exclusive submissions to appear on their website on a rolling basis. Submit your piece here.
- Realist Review Article Submission: This policy publication is accepting submissions from anyone interested in writing a commentary or analysis piece that expresses a perspective on policies or developments in international affairs and diplomacy. Submit your work here.
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