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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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Monday, October 27th
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
As Chinese investments flow increasingly toward its southern neighbors and new American tariffs hit both China and several ASEAN economies, the region finds itself grappling with a more volatile economic and geopolitical environment. Domestic transitions across Southeast Asia and shifting power dynamics in the broader Indo-Pacific have added new layers of uncertainty and complexity. Join us for a timely conversation with leading experts Gita Wirjawan, former Minister of Trade for Indonesia (2011-2014), Bert Hofman, Professor at the National University of Singapore and Honorary Senior Fellow on Chinese Economy for the Asia Society, and Brian Wong, Assistant Professor in Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong and Honorary Fellow for the Asia Society. The discussion will be moderated by Kevin Zongzhe Li, Affiliated Researcher at the Asia Society.
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Tuesday, October 28th
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly shaping the future of the US energy sector, with implications for grid reliability, energy security, economic competitiveness, and energy policy. AI tools are being deployed to manage demand, optimize renewable integration, enhance grid resilience, and strengthen cybersecurity across critical infrastructure. As Congress and federal agencies consider how to responsibly govern emerging technologies, it is essential to understand how AI is transforming energy systems and what policy frameworks are needed to ensure that innovation aligns with national priorities. This event will feature Senator Mike Rounds (R‑SD), United States Senator, Jennifer Huddleston, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, Travis Fisher, Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, and Maria Sofia, Manager of Government Affairs at the Cato Institute.
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Africa’s Role in Addressing America’s Critical Minerals Refining Vulnerability
Tuesday, October 28th
10:30 PM – 12:00 PM ET
Refining capacity is the greatest vulnerability in the United States’ critical minerals supply chain. After a decades-long campaign to price out competitors, China now dominates the refining sectors for many minerals and metals that are central to the global economy and to the US defense sector. Washington needs to engage in a strategic and sustained effort to escape this predicament—and African nations will play a critical role. Hudson Senior Fellow, Joshua Meservey, will host a discussion to cover the scale of the challenge, how the U.S. government can better support domestic and allied refining, and how African nations can climb the critical minerals supply chains. The speakers for this event will include Dr. J. Peter Pham, Non-Executive Director of Rainbow Rare Earths, Michael Hollomon II, Commercial Director of US Strategic Metals, and Ben Kincaid, CEO of ReElement Africa.
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Wednesday, October 29th
9:30 AM – 3:20 PM ET
Pride. Reckoning. Aspiration. As an American, you can experience all of these feelings at the same time: hold pride in our progress, reckon with our problematic past, and aspire for a better future. That is at the heart of New America’s Us@250 initiative: an effort to deepen our understanding of our national identity by expanding the American narrative to include the rich, complex histories of all of us. Ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, join New America this fall for robust conversations on these themes with policymakers, visual artists, community organizers, and more. Together, we’ll explore the truths and contradictions about ourselves and our country through poetry, film, comedy, story, and music. We’ll also ask big questions: Given the nation’s history, who might we become if we truly live up to its founding ideals? Who belongs here, and who will be welcome? And how can we make the “promise” of America available to all?
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Wednesday, October 29th
4:00 PM ET
The pandemic showed how a generation’s worth of globalization and outsourcing in aerospace and defense supply chains had compounded operational risk. The production of commercial airliners and nuclear-powered submarines alike are suffering from cost increases and schedule delays. Yet, industry and government lack clear visibility into the root causes of supply chain instability and an understanding of how corporate strategies and public policy should adapt. Join us to hear about these challenges and dive into the complexities of supply chain management in the aerospace and defense ecosystem in a post-pandemic world. Speakers will include Tressa Guenov, Director of Programs and Operations for the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, Cordell Hull, Executive Vice President and Head of US Public Affairs for Samsung Electronics America, Ian Pain, Chief Executive Officer of RENK America, and Elisabeth Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acutec Precision Aerospace. This discussion will be moderated by Steven Grundman, Senior Fellow of Forward Defense for the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council.
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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!
- 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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