2024 UNA-USA Leadership Summit

DIGITAL PROGRAM

THE WORLD NEEDS THE UN; THE UN NEEDS US.

THE WORLD NEEDS THE UN; THE UN NEEDS US.

ABOUT THIS YEAR’S THEME:

Thank You to the Leadership Summit Planning Committee

Aditi Joshi, Summit Planning Committee Chair

Aaron “Tate” Wimberley, Summit Planning Committee Vice Chair

Krystal Cruz

Bettina Hausmann

Melinda Howard-Herrarte

Akash Patel

The Network and Impact Hub

Leadership Summit is a one of a kind event where UNA-USA members and supporters get to convene in person and network with like-minded individuals. The Network and Impact Hub will be the place for individuals to receive advocacy supporting materials and a place to get to know other passionate advocates that are making the world a better place!

Find advocacy and social media resources to share to stand up for the UN!

Get a new headshot taken!

Gather and connect with one another

Visit Monika Chill for office hours on SUNDAY, JUNE, 2, from 10:20 am-11:15 am.

Visit Rae McCave for office hours on SUNDAY, JUNE 2, from 11:25 am-12:20 pm.

Take photos in front of the UNA-USA backdrop and tell us why you LOVE UNA-USA!

SUNDAY, JUNE 2

Hamilton Hotel, 1001 14th St NW, Washington, DC

8:00 am – 9:30 am Registration, Breakfast & Affinity Group Networking

9:30 am – 10:15 am Opening Plenary

Rachel Bowen Pittman, UNA-USA Executive Director

Marielle Ali, UNA-USA National Council Chair

Ose Arheghan, UNA-USA Youth Observer to the UN

Aditi Joshi, Leadership Summit Planning Committee Chair and UNA-USA Regional Representative, South Central Region

“Tate” Wimberley, Leadership Summit Planning Committee Vice Chair and UNA-USA Regional Representative, South East Region

10:15 am – 10:20 am Break

10:20 am – 11:15 am Workshop Breakout Sessions Block A

A1: Pact for the Future: Future of Digital Cooperation, Science, Innovation, and Technology

Zaki Barzinji, Senior Director, Aspen Digital, The Aspen Institute

Kay McGowan, Senior Director for Policy, Digital Impact Alliance

Sueann Tannis, Senior Director, Communications, UN Foundation

A2: Chapter Operations and Management

Ikoie Norman, VP of Membership and Fundraising, UNA Atlanta Chapter

Cristina Martinez, President, UNA Broward County Chapter

Alana Nahabedian, Board Member, UNA Pomona Valley Chapter

Rae McCave, Senior Associate, Youth Engagement, UNA-USA

A3: Integrating UN Initiatives into Communities

Jordan Cruz, Associate, Federal and State Affairs, Girl Scouts USA

Karen Mulhauser, Past UNA-USA National Council Chair, and Principal, Mulhauser and Associates

Erin Tyler, Public Diplomacy Officer, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, U.S Department of State

Bettina Hausmann, UNA-USA Regional Representative, Southern Calirfornia Region

11:15 am – 11:25 am Break

11:25 am – 12:20 pm Workshop Breakout Sessions Block B

B1: Pact for the Future: Promoting Peace, Security & Intergenerational Justice

Andrew Cheatham, Senior Advisor, United States Institute of Peace

Chandrima Das, Director of Multilateral Affairs, National Security Council, White House

Rebecca Shoot, Executive Director, Citizens for Global Solutions

B2: Membership Leads & Needs

Kate Chang, President, UNA Sacramento Chapter

Payal Patel, UNA Greater Chicago

Elma Galaasen Lund, President, UNA University of Hawaii-Manoa Chapter

Monika Chill, Senior Associate, Community Engagement

B3: Stronger Together: Allies & Advocates for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI)

Jakeel Abdullah, UNA-USA member and Black Disability Rights Advocate

Amy Bryant, UNA-USA Regional Representative, Rocky Mountain Region and UNAUSA Pride Affinity Group Chair

Erin Reed, journalist and author, ErinInTheMorning.com

Lady Tee Thompson, UNA Women Affinity Group Chair and Executive Director at AgroBiz org

Representative Zooey Zephyr, Montana State Representative

12:20 pm – 12:55 pm Lunch

12:55 pm – 1:40 pm UNA-USA Awards Ceremony

UNA-USA Community Chapter of Excellence Award: UNA National Capital Area Chapter

UNA-USA Campus Chapter of Excellence Award: UNA Boston University Chapter

UNA-USA Young Leader of the Year Award: Dom Jones

UNA-USA Advocate of the Year Award: Kate Chang

Arnold Goodman Lifetime Achievement Award: Verena Borton

1:40 pm – 1:50 pm Break

1:50 pm – 2:45 pm Workshop Breakout Sessions Block C

C1: Pact for the Future: Reimagining and Transforming Global Governance

Leslie Archambeault, Managing Director, Humanitarian Policy, Save the Children

George Hampton, Executive Director, Global Policy and Multilateral Initiatives, UN Foundation

Aditi Joshi, Leadership Summit Planning Committee Chair

C2: Planning Your Chapter Year

Avalyn Pace, President, UNA Dallas Chapter

Dave Rice, President, UNA Orange County Chapter

Olivia DiPrinzio, V P , UNA Pennsylvania State University Chapter

Rae McCave, Senior Associate, Youth Engagement, UNA-USA

C3: Storytelling for Success

Nana Ohemaa Asante, UNA-USA Youth Member-at-Large

Natasha Welcome, UNA Northern New Jersey Chapter

Virgil Parker, UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador for SDG#4

Jay Sjerven, UNA-USA Regional Representative, North Central Region

2:45 pm – 2:55 pm Break

2:55 pm – 3:50 pm Workshop Breakout Sessions Block D

D1: Pact for the Future: Advancing Sustainable Development and Financing for Development

Caroline Kleinfox, Director, U.S. SDG Policy Planning, UN Foundation

Sara Netzer, Myanmar Country Director, UNOPS

D2: Chapter Leader Open Discussion

Monika Chill, Senior Associate, Community Engagement

Melinda Howard-Herrarte, Leadership Summit Planning Committee Member and UNA-USA Regional Representative, Mid-Pacific Region

Rae McCave, Senior Associate, Youth Engagement, UNA-USA

D3: Turning Passion into Impactful Plans & Projects

Dr. Eileen Davis-Jerome, UNA-USA Regional Representative, South East Region

Aditi Joshi, Leadership Summit Planning Committee Chair and UNA-USA Regional Representative, South Central Region

Sophia Long, UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador for SDG#3 and Founder, Health Pride International

3:50 pm – 4:00 pm Break

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Sustainable Development Goals Project Pitch Pitch Presenters:

Eesha Ande, UNA-USA Member-at-Large, San Antonio, TX

Iesha Baldwin, Member, UNA Atlanta Chapter

Kat Hoelck, UNA-USA Member-at-Large, New York City, NY

Ashley Parow, Member, UNA University of South Florida, FL

Jackie Schiffer, UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador for SDG#2 and UNA-USA Member-at-Large, Princeton, NJ

Judges

Caroline Kleinfox, Director, U.S. SDG Policy Planning, UN Foundation

Jarrett Lash, Lead UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Pact for the Future Town Hall & Workshop: Shaping an Intergenerational Vision by Empowering Young People and Future Generations

Ose Ehianeta Arheghan, 12th UNA-USA Youth Observer to the UN Sophia Kianni, UNA-USA Advisor and Founder, Climate Cardinals

Rachel Svetanoff, UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador for SDG#17

SUNDAY JUNE 2

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

10:20 am – 11:15 am Workshop Breakout Sessions

A1: Pact for the Future: Future of Digital Cooperation, Science, Innovation, and Technology

This interactive session will take a closer look at the chapter in the Pact for the Future focusing on people’s right to shape and use digital technologies to meet their specific needs and realities. Discussion will also include how new technologies should be shaped to reflect universal human values, protect the planet, and be open, free, secure, inclusive, and human-centered

A2: Chapter Operations and Management

This breakout session will include tips and tricks on how to run a chapter. Potential discussion topics include board management and succession planning, leadership skills, and fundraising.

A3: Integrating UN Initiatives into Communities

During this workshop, various representatives who have successfully implemented UN-oriented and/or UN-supportive initiatives in their communities will share their processes and steps to success This includes how UNA-USA chapters and Girl Scouts can support the SDGs in local communities, hear how to implement the Cities for CEDAW initiative in your city, and to consider the steps to becoming a UNESCO Creative City.

B1: Pact for the Future: Promoting Peace, Security & Intergenerational Justice

This breakout session will feature an interactive discussion about how to enhance and make fuller use of the UN toolbox for prevention, mediation, peacebuilding, peace operations and counterterrorism. Guest speaker will also provide background that address root causes, underlying drivers, and enablers of violence to make for a fuller dialogue.

B2: Membership Leads & Needs

This breakout session is focused on how to grow your membership and how to grow our movement! We will discuss member recruitment and retention and how branding and promotion can increase membership! Check out this resource: UNA-USA Framework for Promoting Advocacy Campaigns.

B3: Stronger Together: Allies & Advocates for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI)

During this session, hear from advocates who have pushed past the status quo as it relates to supporting Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI). Learn how you can be an ally to ensure rights for all, while advancing the agenda to ensure the U.S. remains a leader within the United Nations. Check out these resources: United States International Council on Disabilities and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Workshop Breakout Sessions Block C (1:50 pm – 2:45 pm)

C1: Pact for the Future: Reimagining and Transforming Global Governance

This interactive session will leverage the chapter in the Pact for the Future that aims to realize the vision of a multilateral system Discuss how this vision is more effective, more trusted, more inclusive, and better equipped for the challenges, opportunities and capacities of the present and future

C2:

Planning Your Chapter Year

Join chapters leaders for a session that will focus on how to create outstanding programs and implement initiatives that support UN values and principles. Speakers will touch on how to plan programs around key UN holidays, and effectively support UNA-USA campaigns In addition, leaders will share how community and campus chapters can collaborate to create inclusive intergenerational programs Important Resources: National Leadership Call Dates and UNAUSA Key Moments

C3: Storytelling for Success

Participate in this session to learn how storytelling is a key technique for advocacy as it helps people to feel a certain way, drive them to action, and make an impact. Attendees will take away lessons and best practices about the multifaceted art of narrative and apply to their own advocacy via oral storytelling, visual storytelling, written storytelling, and digital storytelling. Check out these videos: International Day of the Girl Child, 45th Anniversary of Education and Sharing, 60th Anniversary of the Equal Pay Act of 1963.

Workshop Breakout Sessions

Block D (2:55 pm – 3:50 pm)

D1: Pact for the Future: Advancing Sustainable Development and Financing for Development

This interactive session will seek to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to leave no one behind. Discussion will focus on the agreements in the Pact, along with financing for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the environmental crises posing threats to sustainability of our planet.

D2: Chapter Leader Open Discussion

This session will be a time for UNA-USA chapter leaders to openly discuss issues, brainstorm ideas, and share best practices Please come with questions and thoughts to share!

D3: Turning Passion into Impactful Plans & Projects

This session will feature speakers who have successfully turned their passion into an impactful plan or project that supports the values and principles espoused by the United Nations. Whether you are an aspiring activist, a seasoned advocate, or simply someone who wants to contribute to a better world, this session is for you. Check our these resources: Chapter Leaders, Spotlighting UNA-USA Chapter Partnerships & Collaborations, During the Time of COVID, 2020 - 2023 and Chapter Leaders, Spotlighting UNA-USA Chapter Partnerships & Collaborations, Post-COVID, 2023Present

Pact for the Future Town Hall: Shaping the Intergenerational 2100 Vision by Empowering Young People and Future Generations

The Intergenerational Town Hall, inspired by the fifth chapter of the Pact for the Future which focuses on empowering young people and future generations, will offer both insights and discussion that will help to shape the intergenerational vision for the future. Panelists who are subject matter experts in their realm will offer a backdrop of the world today and offer insights into the planning for the world tomorrow. Attendees will then participate in facilitated small-group discussions and will share out their Commitment to Action. All Commitments will be aggregated and shared in a final report that UNA-USA will submit on behalf of Americans and U.S. residents.

MONDAY, JUNE 3

Hamilton Hotel, 1001 14th St NW, Washington, DC

8:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast

9:00 am – 9:50 am Opening Plenary: The U.S. and UN Partnership

Rachel Bowen Pittman, UNA-USA Executive Director

Ambassador Chris Lu, Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations for Management and Reform

Peter Yeo, President of the Better World Campaign and Senior Vice President, UN Foundation

9:50 am – 10:00 am Break

10:00 am – 10:55 am Breakout Sessions Block 1

1A: Washington and the United Nations

Jocelyn Brown Hall, Director, Washington Liaison Office at FAO

Sarah Craven, Chief, United Nations Population Fund, North American Representation Office

Rafael Peralta, Regional Director and Representative, Regional Office for North America, UNEP

Vinay Saldanha, Director of the U S Liaison Office, UNAIDS

1B: The U.S. Department of State & the UN: Purpose, Portfolios & Progress

Michelle DaPra, Response Manager, USAID, Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance

Nathan Doyel, Multilateral Affairs Officer, Office of UN Political Affairs (UNP), International Organizations Bureau

Alejandro Garcia, Multilateral Anti-Corruption Advisor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Virgil Parker, UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador for SDG#4

10:55 am – 11:05 am Break

11:05 am – 12:00 pm Breakout Sessions Block 2

2A: US-UN Networks Coalition: Coming Together for Shared Interests

Sandra Black, Communications Officer, USA for IOM

Laura Brazee, Senior Director, Youth Engagement, UNICEF USA

Farah Salim Eck, Senior Director, Programs & Policies, UNA-USA

Ryan Quinn, Senior Director of Advocacy & Engagement, WFP USA

2B: Advocacy Across Campaigns: Coming Together for Refugee Health

Cara Ciullo, Director, Shot@Life Campaign, UN Foundation

Mandi Lindner, Communications Officer, UNHCR

Rebecca Maxie, Director, Grassroots Advocacy, UN Foundation

Mawda Boulad, Refugee and UNA-USA Member

12:00 pm – 12:05 pm Break

12:05 pm – 12:45 pm Lunch

12:45 pm – 1:30 pm US & UN = Appropriations & Action

Maria Amalla, Grassroots Advocacy Manager, UNA-USA

Jordie Hannum, Executive Director, Better World Campaign, UN Foundation

Micah Spangler, Senior Director of Advocacy and External Relations, Better World Campaign, UN Foundation

1:30 pm – 1:40 pm Break

1:40 pm – 2:00 pm The UN’s Humanitarian Support in Crisis

Mara Kronenfeld, Executive Director, UNRWA USA

2:00 pm - 3:50 pm State Group Practice: Mobilizing to Make a Difference

3:50 pm - 4:00 pm pm Closing Plenary

Aditi Joshi, Leadership Summit Planning Committee Chair and UNA-USA Regional Representative, South Central Region

“Tate” Wimberley, Leadership Summit Planning Committee Vice Chair and UNA-USA Regional Representative, South East Region

Farah Salim Eck, Senior Director, Programs & Policies, UNA-USA 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

5:30pm–7:30 pm Congressional Reception:

Address:

Kennedy Caucus Room (SR-325), Russell Senate Office Building 1 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20004

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol St NE, Washington, DC 20003

Scheduled Meetings in Congressional Offices on Capitol Hill

7:00 am – 8:35 am Breakfast and Pep Rally

8:35 am – 8:50 am Walk to Capitol Hill and Group Photo on Capitol Steps

9:00 am – 5:00 pm Participate in Scheduled Meetings with Members of Congress

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm Summit Celebration – 212 East Capitol St NE

Vote for superlative winners here!

RESOURCES & WAYS TO ENGAGE AFTER THE SUMMIT

Sign the Declaration of Human Rights by American Youth. Show your support on World Refugee Day on June 20th. Check out UNA-USA’s toolkit here.

Tell Congress you support vaccines for all and sign Shot@Life’s FY’25 petition.

Get involved with Shot@Life’s cross-issue advocacy. Fill out this interest form.

Tell Congress to invest in the UN in FY’25. Sign petition here. Support UNRWA and sign the petition here.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental outreach. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, it is celebrated by millions of people across the world. In 2024, the focus is on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. Land restoration is a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, which is critical to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This World Environment Day, unite with us to restore our planet by taking action in your own community.

Restore freshwater ecosystems by planting native vegetation and creating wildlife habitats. Combat land degradation by growing urban green spaces and supporting sustainable land use policies. Build drought resilience by harvesting rainwater and adopting soil-friendly gardening and agricultural practices. Engage locally by becoming a restoration leader - collaborate with schools and organizations close to you to raise awareness and implement meaningful projects.

Every small effort counts, so embrace the spirit of #GenerationRestoration and visit the official World Environment Day website to register your event and to learn more about you can get involved. Together, we can make a significant impact and restore our planet, one community at a time.

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THANK YOU FOR THE WORLD NEEDS THE UN; THE UN NEEDS US.