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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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16th Annual Consuls Reception
Early Bird Tickets
Registration is now open for WorldBoston's 16th Annual Consuls Reception. Purchase your tickets now for the discounted Early Bird rate!
All are welcome to join us in honoring the Consular Corps serving Boston and New England and to support WorldBoston's mission of international engagement and global cooperation. This event will feature remarks from our keynote speaker Kendalle Burlin O'Connell, Chief Executive Officer and President of MassBio.
Early Bird Tickets are limited! Make sure to act soon!
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Monday, September 22nd
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM ET
Multilateralism is facing serious challenges. Great power competition, declining trust in international institutions, and rising nationalism are testing systems that have facilitated global cooperation for decades. As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, critical questions emerge: Can international institutions adapt to address 21st century challenges like climate change, pandemics, migration, and technological disruption? Where is multilateralism working, and where is it breaking down? Join us for a conversation with Ian Hurd, Cécile Shea, Juliet Sorensen, and moderated by Paul Poast as they examine lessons from eight decades of multilateralism and explore pathways for stronger international cooperation.
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Tuesday, September 23rd
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
The global nuclear order is under increasing strain. North Korea has expanded its arsenal, the state of Iran’s programme is unclear even after recent strikes, and the risk of nuclear escalation in the Ukraine-Russia war remains high. At the same time, the P5 have made little progress on disarmament, leaving the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) under mounting pressure ahead of its 2026 Review Conference. This discussion explores the state of the non-proliferation and the urgent need for leadership in a rapidly shifting security environment. Expert speakers will include Dr. Marion Messmer, Senior Research Fellow at the International Security Programme, Alexandra Bell, President & CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Darya Dolzikova, Senior Research Fellow of the Proliferation and Nuclear Policy at RUSI, and Dr. Jamie Kwong, Fellow of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
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Reimagining Cooperation in a Digital Age
Tuesday, September 23rd
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
As breakthroughs in AI and emerging technologies unlock new opportunities, the global tech landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented. Global competition is intensifying, while cooperation is at risk. Amid geopolitical tensions and fragmentation, FP’s Tech and AI Forum will illuminate projects and partnerships that are helping to bridge digital divides and foster growth, peace, and security. The speakers will include Combiz Abdolrahimi, Vice President & Global Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy at ServiceNow, Ravi Agrawal, Editor in Chief at Foreign Policy, Dr. Anthony Aguirre, Executive Director and Board Treasurer at the Future of Life Institute, Dr. Mayesha Alam, Senior Vice President of Research at Foreign Policy, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, Vivek Badrinath, Director General of GSMA, Kweilin Ellingrud, Director of the McKinsey Global Institute, Anne Marie Engtoft Meldgaard, Tech Ambassador of Denmark, John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at GSMA, Rishi Iyengar, Staff Writer at Foreign Policy, Deborah Kaplan, Chief Revenue Officer for Sustainability at SAP, and Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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Atlantic Council Africa Energy Forum
Tuesday, September 23rd
1:30 PM ET
In the United States, President Donald Trump is shifting U.S. foreign policy and pursuing both an “America first” agenda and a major overhaul in the energy space. Meanwhile, Africa still faces the world’s most acute energy access challenge, with over six hundred million people still lacking electricity. At the same time, the continent contributes less than 4 percent of global emissions. This event will discuss Africa’s role as a critical source of critical minerals and energy. The speakers will include Katie Auth, Policy Director at the Energy for Growth Hub, Rebecca Katz, Professor and Director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University, Jeffrey Krilla, Vice President of Global Public Policy and Government Affairs at Kosmos Energy, Guy-Robert Lukama, Chairman of Gecamines, and Reggie Singh, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy and Critical Minerals at the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs for the U.S. Department of State. This discussion will be moderated by Reed Blakemore, Director of Research and Programs for the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council, Aubrey Hruby, Senior Advisor of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council, and Fred Kempe, President and CEO of the Atlantic Council.
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Thursday, September 24th
5:30 PM ET
In-Person attendance requires a Harvard ID
President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, will deliver the Minda de Gunzburg Václav Havel Lecture on Human Rights, Civil Society and Democracy. Following his remarks, the President will be joined in conversation by Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Government, Grzegorz Ekiert, for a discussion on the transatlantic partnership, and will then take questions from audience members.
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Thursday, September 25th
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Global public-debt-to-GDP ratios have climbed in the past two decades as countries have rolled out fiscal stimuli to respond to shocks such as the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, countries are facing pressure to scale up spending on everything from defense to domestic programs, underscoring the necessity of stabilizing debt and imposing strong fiscal rules. To consider these challenges in the global context, AEI will hold a discussion with speakers Julien Acalin, Economist at the International Monetary Fund, Era Dabla-Norris, Deputy Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department at the International Monetary Fund, Raphael Lam, Economist at the International Monetary Fund, Michael R. Strain, Director of Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and Jeromin Zettelmeyer, Director of Bruegel.
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Friday, September 26th
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET
This program will begin with a fireside chat between Kari A. Bingen, Director of the Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow with the Defense and Security Department, and Christian Davenport, staff writer at The Washington Post. They will be joined by Dr. Scott Pace, Director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, and Chirag Parikh, President of Indutara Space LLC, both of whom played pivotal roles in the events chronicled in Davenport's latest book, Rocket Dreams: Musk, Bezos, and the Inside Story of the New, Trillion-Dollar Space Race. Together, the panel will discuss the rivalries and alliances shaping the New Space Age, including lunar exploration, private sector innovation, and the strategic implications of international competition.
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New Opportunity! Apply For a Scholarship to the WACA National Conference
Each year the World Affairs Council of America (WACA) holds its National Conference in Washington DC. Over the course of the conference, attendees will be able to attend lectures with internationally recognized experts, network with globally engaged peers from around the world, hear from think tank researchers, and even visit an embassy!
If you have participated in WorldBoston's Green Room Scholars or EducatorQuest program, you are eligible to apply for the chance to attend this conference! WorldBoston will pay for and coordinate your domestic air travel, hotel room, and conference registration. Attendance to the National Conference is a great way to better develop your professional skills, expand your worldview, and network with people working in global affairs.
The National Conference takes place from November 19th to 21st, and attendees are expected to attend all available sessions.
Contact Harrison Zeiberg at hzeiberg@worldboston.org or Sarah Sibley at ssibley@worldboston.org for more information.
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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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