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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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Tuesday, June 10th
8:45 – 9:45 AM ET
Americans rely on satellites for everyday needs like banking, communications, and weather assessments. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense uses space assets for command and control, navigation, and missile attack detection. The protection of space-based equipment is therefore imperative for the security of the United States and the American way of life. But Russia and China have been actively developing and deploying weapons to target U.S. and allied assets in space. Join Hudson Senior Fellow Rebeccah L. Heinrichs, the director of Hudson’s Keystone Defense Initiative, and Congressman Jeff Crank (R-CO), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, for a conversation about the threats to American satellites and the policies and programs necessary to defend U.S. interests in space.
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Tuesday, June 10th
12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Why does Iran behave the way it does—and what does the West still misunderstand? Join us for a compelling conversation between Vali Nasr, one of the most influential voices on Middle East geopolitics, and Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, as they unpack Nasr’s provocative new book, Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History. Nasr dismantles the myth of Iran as an irrational, ideologically driven state. Instead, he traces a coldly pragmatic strategy shaped by war, isolation, and existential fear. Drawing on rare interviews with Iranian insiders, Nasr reveals how Tehran’s foreign policy—its pursuit of nuclear capability, its forward defense, its defiance of U.S. power—is animated not by dogma but by the logic of survival and the scars of history. From the Iran-Iraq War to the fallout of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, this book provides a sweeping reinterpretation of Iran’s long game, and what it means for U.S. policy in a region on edge. As tensions rise once again, this conversation is essential for anyone seeking to understand the deeper motivations behind Iran’s moves on the world stage—and how Washington might finally stop misreading them.
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Wednesday, June 11th
9:00 – 10:30 AM ET
International trade is in turmoil following Donald Trump's return to the presidency in January 2025. His renewed policies have already stirred the dynamics of global commerce, echoing the tensions of his first term. This shift significantly impacts relations with key partners like Canada and the European Union. The new U.S. trade directions raise critical questions about the future of trade agreements, the stability of global supply chains, and the balance of international economic relations. In this volatile environment, it's crucial to dissect the varied perspectives and strategies of major players shaping this evolving trade landscape. This trade webinar is your strategic briefing on the policies reshaping global commerce. Get exclusive insights from top experts representing each perspective in this unprecedented trade standoff.
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Wednesday, June 11th
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
The World Affairs Council of Austin and their partners at the Texas Camino Real District Export Council invite you to attend a webinar featuring Ricardo Carnevali, Director of Capital Markets – Foreign Exchange at Comerica Bank. Global Trade Recalibrated: Understanding Today’s Tariff Approach will provide a deeper look at the financial logic behind current U.S. trade policy and explore whether these strategies are moving the U.S. closer to achieving balanced trade.
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Wednesday, June 11th
4:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Agricultural biodiversity, or agrobiodiversity, is the foundation of the agricultural systems that feed our world. As agrobiodiversity loss accelerates and food production faces rising global threats, efforts to strengthen agrifood systems with enhanced crop diversity are more urgent than ever. How does agrobiodiversity loss undermine long-term food security, economic security, and ecological security? And how do these critical assets support sustainable livelihoods in the United States and around the world—now and in the future? Please join the CSIS Global Food and Water Security Program for a panel discussion moderated by Caitlin Welsh, CSIS, Rod Schoonover, Ecological Futures Group, Gustavo Ferreira, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army Reserves, and Stefan Schmitz, The Crop Trust. The conversation will examine the national and global security implications of agrobiodiversity loss and celebrate the launch of our new digital report, The Nature of Strength: Leveraging Agricultural Biodiversity to Safeguard Human Security, led by Zane Swanson, CSIS.
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Thursday, June 12th
2:30 PM ET
The Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center and MITRE will launch a major new research project: the G7-China Economic Radar. As countries increasingly turn to economic levers in strategic competition, it’s critical for policymakers to be able to visualize the on-the-ground impact of their decisions. The new G7-China Economic Radar helps them do just that, by mapping levels of economic exposure to China across thirteen different sectors for each G7 country. This event will introduce the dashboard and unpack how policymakers should be interacting with data when considering economic statecraft tools against China.
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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 Manager of Global Engagement Programs and Operations Harrison Zeiberg at hzeiberg@worldboston.org
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FP4A NEXTGEN APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!
FP4A's NextGen Initiative works to spotlight and support diverse young leaders from across the country. NextGen is a community of action, led by Foreign Policy For America's volunteer co-chairs and organized through issue working groups and city-specific local networks.
Cohort members benefit from four pillars of activities: knowledge building, political engagement, professional development, and social connections. NextGen members also have access to tailored mentorship initiatives and an extraordinary network of members and advisors. In addition, NextGen members have the opportunity to engage across the full range of FP4A efforts including community events, advocacy, and political activities. Foreign Policy for America’s annual Leadership Summit every May also creates a unique opportunity to meet fellow NextGenners, FP4A Leadership Circle members, and foreign policy leaders from across the country.
An info session will be hosted for applicants to learn more about the cohort on Wednesday, June 25th from 6-7 PM ET on Zoom. Register to attend the info session HERE.
To apply for membership, please complete the application form below by Monday, July 7 at 11:59 pm PT. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be a U.S. person and between 21-35 years old as of July 1, 2025. NextGen members are eligible to remain in the cohort until they turn 37.
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Call your friends, coworkers, golf buddies, and family. Ask them to join you for a fun day of golf to benefit the Greater Boston community!
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ATLANTIC COUNCIL 2025 INTERNSHIPS
The Atlantic Council is offering a variety of internships that offer a unique hands-on experience in foreign policy to the next generation of global leaders. Below are their three internship pathways:
- Young Global Professionals (YGP) Program (Spring & Fall)
- Summer Internships
- Institutional Partnerships (Externally funded university collaborations)
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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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The UNAGB Summer Institute in Global Leadership offers week-long leadership development programs for middle and high school students that are designed to cultivate global awareness and leadership skills among students through the core principles of Model UN. Throughout the week, participants engage in dynamic simulations of international diplomacy, participate in meaningful skill-building workshops, and explore complex global issues such as human rights, global health and climate change.
Led by experienced educators and industry professionals, UNAGB’s Summer Institute helps participants develop practical skills in public speaking, research, and consensus-building, preparing them to become effective global citizens and future leaders. By the end of the program, students emerge with a deeper understanding of global challenges and the confidence to contribute positively to their communities and the world at large.
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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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