Report from the Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS) July 2019 Workshop

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Vision • Empowerment • Perseverance • Unity

A Workshop

for New Ideas

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of American Foreign Policy

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

A Workshop for New Ideas Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of American Foreign Policy A Report

Monday, July 22, 2019 9–3:30 p.m.

Carnegie Endowment for Peace Conference Center 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.

Photo Credit: Elliot Banks (@_echo_bravo_) on Unsplash

Table of Contents Message from the Ambassador................................................................ 7 Executive Summary .................................................................................... 8 About WCAPS ..........................................................................................10 About the Workshop .................................................................................11 Participants ................................................................................................ 12 Agenda ...................................................................................................... 14 Panel I: 2020 Voices for Women of Color............................................. 21 Art and Policy: Storytelling & Song ......................................................... 31 Mentee Video Compilation .....................................................................32 Panel II: Encouraging Campaign Conversations on Foreign Policy .....35 Biographies of Speakers ..........................................................................47

“Through our programming, our goal is to widen the process of inclusion and engagement from traditional structures to more inclusive communities.”

—Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Ph.D.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Message from the Ambassador hosting panels on redefining national security, discussing future threats stemming from developing technologies, as well as developing our arts and policy initiative to include visits to art exhibitions.

We hosted our own exhibit to increase our understanding of the unique link between security, humanity and expression. We also built upon our podcast series “VIVE” and launched a mentorship program, bringing together young professionals with leading experts in their field.

Executive Director, Bonnie Jenkins

DEAR READER,

I started WCAPS in 2017 for one simple reason: to advance the leadership and professional development of women of color in the fields of peace, security and conflict transformation. Even though the challenges facing the world today are far more complex and wide-reaching than they’ve ever been before, women of color are often maligned in conversations about the issue and strategic development to build solutions, despite often being the most vulnerable and being leaders themselves within their communities and families. WCAPS seeks to change — that. Through our programming, our goal is to widen the processes of inclusion and engagement from traditional structures to more inclusive communities.

During 2019, we hosted or collaborated with like-minded partners in a number of events to hone skills and broaden voices: on issues of peace and security, providing media skills trainings,

One of our key event for 2019, however, was our workshop, under the title, “Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of American Foreign Policy,” the summary of which you hold in your hands or are viewing online currently. Over 100 participants attended, most of whom were women of color.

The purpose over the six-hour event was to bring together practitioners, thought leaders, and policymakers to discuss the need, challenges, and potential of increasing women of color to the national conversation on peace, security, conflict transformation, foreign policy and national security.

The discussions held during this workshop also provided the basis for a WCAPS Policy Platform, which we intend to circulate among the 2020 Presidential candidates.

In 2020, we intend to build on what we’ve accomplished this year and continue growing with our community. While we’ve done a lot and made significant impacts in 2019, there is still so much to do. We’re excited for the next year and the next adventure, and we hope those of you reading this document will join us.

Before closing, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to review our workshop event and for your interest in the organization. WCAPS wouldn’t exist and we couldn’t develop the programming we have without the support of its members and allies.

Thank you!

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Ph.D. Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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Photo Credit: Anthony Delanoix (@anthonydelanoix) on Unsplash

Executive Summary ON JULY 22, 2019 WOMEN OF COLOR ADVANCING PEACE, SECURITY AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION (WCAPS) ORGANIZED AND HOSTED ITS FIRST WORKSHOP FOR ITS MEMBERS, UNDER THE AGENDA TITLE, DIVERSE CONTRIBUTIONS: A STRONG FEATURE OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY.

The event was attended by over 100 participants, 95% of whom were women of color. Most panelists were women—84%—and Panel 1 consisted of all women of color. WCAPS hosted this event at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace Conference Center in Washington, D.C. The workshop consisted of two panels, followed by five breakout sessions. It opened with remarks

by WCAPS Founder and Executive Director Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins. Her remarks were followed by a “Town Hall” to set the stage for the day’s discussions, consisting of participants voting by mobile phone responding to questions asked

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by Ambassador Jenkins. The questions focused on the status of women of color in the fields of peace, security, conflict transformation and foreign policy, how they define security, what issues the 2020 candidates should address, and the degree to which issues of foreign policy are reflected in current Presidential debates and discussions.

The first panel featured a speaker lineup comprised entirely of women of color, describing their experiences in their fields, how they came about their interest in their respective fields, and how their work specifically affects women of color.

Questions from the audience touched on the level of engagement of immigrant communities in the American political system, dealing in personal and professional atmospheres the knowledge that women of color have to work harder than their white female and male counterparts, and navigating the current hostile environment, making racism more overt than it has been in recent memory.

The second panel was a more mixed panel focused on specific foreign policy issues these experts

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

wanted to see addressed by the 2020 presidential candidates. Questions from the audience prompted panelists to think about ways to remain employed in the current administration while still voicing critiques and concerns, maintaining humility and tackling Imposter’s Syndrome, confronting the root causes of refugees fleeing to the United States (visa-vis Donald Trump’s declaration to “send her”— Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar—“back” during a July 2019 rally in Greenville, North Carolina) and finally bringing health security into the foreign policy discourse.

Between the two panel sessions, a video compilation was shown, in which seven mentees in the WCAPS mentorship program discussed aspects of their interest, either advocating for diverse voices in their fields or exploring the depths of those fields.

Topics explored by the mentees ranged from climate security to nuclear arms control to migration. The chairs of the six Working Groups, which gather regularly to discuss issues of peace and security while providing both a gender and cultural lens to relevant policies, updated participants on their

activities. There are five working groups currently: Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Weapons Policy; Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies; Climate Change; Global Health; and Illicit Trafficking. The National Security working group is under development. Afterwards, Diane Macklin, Certified Educator and actress, used “spoken word” to tell a story of peace and security.

After the panel sessions, workshop participants were invited to attend one of five breakout sessions.

These sessions provided ample opportunity for participants to speak from their own perspectives on the following topics: “Redefining National Security,” “Encouraging Campaign Conversation on Foreign Policy,” “Cultivating a Diverse Workforce,” “Women of Color Voices in Peace and Security for 2020,” and “Promoting Inclusion at Foreign Policy Institutes.”

The result of these discussions will help define and develop a WCAPS Policy Platform, to be circulated to all running candidates for the 2020 election.

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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About WCAPS THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY ARE NO LONGER CONFINED TO THE BORDERS OF NATION-STATES.

Issues such as climate change, food and water security, health security, peacekeeping, and weapons and nonproliferation are truly global in their scope, but they are not universal in their effect.

Such multidimensional and complex concerns tend to affect women of color the most, yet there are no significant or sustained voices in decision making bodies from them.

Just as modern issues cannot be defined by traditional frameworks, their solutions cannot be garnered from traditional power structures. Global issues demand a variety of perspectives.

WCAPS works to bridge the gap by creating a platform devoted to women of color in the various fields under the broad umbrellas of peace and security. The organization seeks to cultivate a strong voice and to build a network for its members in order to encourage dialogue and strategies on engaging policy discussions at an international scale. Through mentorships and partnerships, WCAPS is motivated to change the global community landscape. It is doing this, one step at a time, and by recognizing, as Ambassador Jenkins likes to call, the “whole of person� approach.

WCAPS is dedicated to treating every person with respect and fairness; creating and maintaining a safe and inclusive place; and working with all in a spirit of openness, honesty and transparency.

Established in 2017, WCAPS advances the leadership and professional development of women of color in the fields of international peace, security, and conflict transformation.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

About the Workshop #DiverseContributions

THE LEAD UP TO THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS A UNIQUE MOMENT TO AMPLIFY THE INSIGHTS OF WOMEN OF COLOR

on the issues of peace, security, and conflict transformation—issues that impact vulnerable communities often led by women of color. It is an opportunity to find guiding principles to help policymakers see peace and security through the lens of those most affected by them at the local, state, national and global levels. It is a chance to present ideas that would help election candidates highlight and prioritize aspects of foreign policies that are complexly interlinked with American society and domestic policies.

On July 22, 2019, WCAPS held its first workshop, which was organized and hosted by the organization itself, at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace Conference Center. Under the title “Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of American Foreign Policy,” attendees outlined the status quo and delved into the challenges, opportunities and solutions to

advancing an inclusive decision-making process for peace and security, foreign policy and national security debates.

Topics discussed included, but were not limited to: • The current gender and racial landscape of organizations and institutions that are engaged in American foreign policy and the challenges that come with exclusive leadership and management styles; • The importance of grassroots and datadriven movements to promote the inclusion of diverse perspectives and bridge partisan differences; • Possible solutions for talent management and pipeline development to empower and promote future leaders who are reflective of the country’s diverse population.

The culmination of these conversations will contribute to the development of a WCAPS Policy Platform, which will be circulated to all running candidates in the 2020 election.

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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Academic 3%

Corporate 3%

Students 5%

Other (eg, communication and education) 24%

Self Employed 11%

Non-profit & NGOs 52%

Science & Technology 14% Government 26%

Domestic Policy 14%

Chart 2: Areas of Focus

Chart 1: Participant Employment Background

Participants THE WORKSHOP WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 100 participants, 95% of whom were women of color. Participants represented a wide range of employment statuses (Chart 1), from an array of fields (Chart 2).

The spread of ages (Chart 3) reflects existing patterns across generations and an innovative blend of insights, experiences and expectations. Despite this difference, however, responses to the “town hall” opening survey revealed that there has been minimal equitable representation of professional women of color in policy discussions for decades.

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When asked if there were diverse racial and gender representation within their field of work and their organization, the majority opinion was that there were almost none (74% and 40% respectively).

The vast majority (76%) also stated that their organization had no known diversity and inclusion plan to hire and retain underrepresented groups.

Participants also strongly disagreed with the notion that the current U.S. government’s foreign and domestic policies reflected issues that affect women of color, racial and gender diversity, and other diverse perspectives.

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

58%

Foreign Policy 35%

32%

11%

National Security 13%

20-35

35-45

45-55

Chart 3: Participant Age Spread

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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Agenda 08:00 - 08:55

Registration and light breakfast

09:00 - 09:15

Welcome Remarks from Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Founder & Executive Director, WCAPS

09:10 - 09:30

Setting the State “Town Hall”

Panel I: 2020 Voices for Women of Color Women of color, who are the major caregivers of their families and are also community leaders in many parts of the world, are those most affected by threats to peace and security.

U.S. foreign and security policies have a major impact on the peace and security of such individuals around the world. With the upcoming election in 2020, we have an opportunity to integrate the voices and perspectives of women of color. This panel will discuss areas of peace, security and conflict that impact vulnerable communities that should be part of foreign policy and national security debates now, in 2020, and beyond.

Introduction: Laura Kupe, Counsel, Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives.

09:35 - 11:00

Moderated by Wardah Khalid, Foreign Policy and National Security Analyst; Founder, Poligon Education Fund • Elmira Bayrasli, CEO and Co-Founder, Foreign Policy Interrupted • Kavita Berger, Principal Scientist, Gryphon Scientific • Afua Bruce, Direct of Engineering, Public Interest Technology, New America • Angela Bruce-Raeburn, Associate Director for Advocacy, Global Health Advocacy Incubator • Hoda Hawa, Director, Washington D.C. Office, Muslim Public Affairs Council • Rudra Kapila, Energy Policy and Politics Researcher, University of Edinburgh • Catherine Killough, Roger L. Hale Fellow, Ploughshares Fund

11:00 - 11:20

Storytelling Diane Macklin, Certified Educator, Actress, Historian & Lecturer

11:20 - 11:30

WCAPS Mentee Video Compilation WCAPS Working Group Updates

11:30 - 12:30

Lunch Background music identified by the participants

Panel II: Encouraging campaign conversations foreign policy As you know, candidates who have launched their 2020 campaigns are announcing positions and platforms informed by our nation’s current issues. As in past elections, there is a tendency to put most attention on domestic issues. This is understandable since people are most interested in what they perceive to be threats they face that most directly affect them. However, the complex interlinkages of American society and foreign policy are critical areas that need to be highlighted and prioritized as America prepares for future foreign policy challenges. This panel will discuss why Americans should focus more attention on foreign policies the U.S. develops on peace and security issues, and ways in which candidates can prioritize them.

Introduction: Bassima Alghussein, CEO, Alghussein Global Strategies

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

12:30 - 14:00

Moderated by Asha Castleberry, George Washington University • Travis Adkins, Lecturer of African and Security Studies, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University; Host, On Africa Podcast • Elizabeth Beavers, Attorney, Analyst, and Advocate for Peace & Security, EB Consulting LLC • Grace Choi, Director of Policy, New York City Mayor’s Office • María J. Espinosa Carrillo, Director of Programs and OPerations, Center for Democracy in the Americas • Micahel O’Hanlon, Senior Fellow and Director of Research, Foreign Policy Program, Brookings Institute • Luke Schleusener, Executive Director of Out in National Security and Director of Public Policy, QOMPLX • Uzra Zeya, President and CEO, Alliance for Peacebuilding

14:00 - 15:30

Breakout Sessions “Redefining National Security” Moderated by: Erica Fein, Advocacy Director, Win Without War and Anthony Robinson, DoD/Former NatSec-Foreign Policy Advisor Appointee “Encouraging Campaign Conversations on Foreign Policy” Moderated by: Leo Cruz, Associate Director of Communications and Campaigns, National Security Action, and Nicolette Louissaint, Executive Director, HealthCare Ready “Cultivating a Diverse Workforce” Moderated by: Bunmi Akinnusotu, Deputy Director, Rangel Fellowship, Howard University and Host of What in the World? podcast, and Tamaki Laycook, Program Coordinator, U.S. Japan Council “Women of Color Voices in Peace and Security for 2020” Moderated by: Iman Awad, National Legislative Director, Engage, Empowering Engaged Muslims, and Karen Isabel Guevara, Founder and President, Equanimity International “Promoting Inclusion at Foreign Policy Institutiuons Moderated by Carmen Iezzi Mezzera, Executive Director, Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), and Andrew Albertson, Executive Director, Foreign Policy for America

15:30 - 17:00

Reception Background music identified by participants

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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Setting the Stage IDENTIFYING, ENGAGING IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF THOSE FROM VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IS A “DISCUSSION THAT INVOLVES EVERYONE,”

choice questions, and some questions asked them to rate statements on a scale of 1-5. Demographics captured have already been discussed in the above section entitled Participants.

The following reflect participant responses to their prompts: • Participants identified climate change, gender equity, immigration and migration as well as human rights as top issues they believed candidates should focus on in 2020 (Figure 1)

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins said. Though it is often portrayed as a singular race or gender issue, increasing the involvement of women of color into peace, security and conflict transformation fields is important for everyone. Challenges of the 21st century are not only amplifying but are becoming complex and increasingly global.

• Of 24 unique responses, immigration and migration, trade, climate change and human rights were flagged as the most salient foreign policy issues that have direct domestic impacts (Chart 4).

Afterwards, workshop attendees were asked to complete a live survey in a section titled “Setting the Stage.” The survey was designed to capture attendees’ opinions, thoughts and experiences regarding diversity in the spheres of peace, security and conflict transformation, and their thoughts on national security and foreign policy issues.

Attendees were asked open-ended and multiple-

Human Rights

• Overwhelmingly, participants strongly disagreed with statements indicating current domestic and foreign policies reflecting issues that affect women of color or the reflection of gender, racial or otherwise diverse perspectives.

3

Climate Change

5

Trade

6

Immigration & Migration

19

0

16

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Chart 4: Count of top four issues identified by workshop participants

Figure 1: Word cloud of top issues identified by workshop participants

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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• National security was described in overwhelmingly negative terms: • Of the 48 responses received to the question, How do you define “national security today,” 37 were noted as negative (“Regressive,” while only 5 were positive (“Protecting all citizens”) and 7 were neutral (“Complicated”).

• In 32 submissions on the current definition of “national security,” 23 were negative statements (e.g.., “regressive,” “selfish,” and “catering to the interests of the elite). Only 9 were neutral (i.e., “confusing,” “fractured”), while none were considered positive.

• Suggestions were drawn from participants, asking how to promote a more inclusive definition of national security. Common themes emerged: changing hiring practices to focus on women of color, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities, and engaging students from outside of elite universities and other individuals from overlooked communities, as well as restructuring political entities through the election of diverse peoples to ending policies such as gerrymandering.

• In exploring ways to bring more voices from vulnerable communities to the table, the themes highlighted in the previous question were

STATEMENT

AVERAGE RATING

Current United States Government (USG) foreign and domestic policies reflect issues that affect women of color

2.3

There is a diversity of racial perspectives reflected in the government on issues of US foreign and domestic policies

1.5

There is a diversity of gender perspectives reflected in the government on issues of US foreign and domestic policies

2.1

There is a diversity of other perspectives reflected in the government on issues of US foreign and domestic policies

1.8

Table 1: Average rating surveyed by workshop participants on current domestic and foreign policies reflecting issues that affect women of color, or the reflection of gender, racial or other perspectives. Opinions were rated on a five-point scale, with 5 representing the strongest affirmative and 1 the strongest negative.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

underlined and emphasized: altering hiring practices to be more conscious and inviting and investing in education. While new ideas were raised: starting the engagement process early, partnering with universities while offering more financial opportunities to students through paid internships and better scholarships. But most importantly, simply seeking new voices and believing in their perspectives was underscored.

• Participants were also asked what they would ask if they were permitted one question on issues of diversity in foreign policy during the next 2020 presidential debate. Most responses touched on hiring diverse persons in the candidate’s campaign, their cabinet, or

the government overall. Others asked for clarification on the candidate’s position and approach to diversity in foreign policy.

Finally, specific policies were raised regarding economic disparity, the electoral college, re-engaging alliances and partnerships, addressing the trend of democratic backsliding, and equal access to resources.

• Finally, participants were asked to consider what questions they would ask their organization’s senior leadership regarding diversity and inclusion. The vast majority responded with inquiries regarding the lack of persons of color in leadership positions and policies put in place to ensure the retention of diverse persons. 

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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Photo by Henry & Co. (@hngstrm) on Unsplash

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Panel I: 2020 Voices for Women of Color WOMEN AND GIRLS OF COLOR TEND TO BE THE CARETAKERS OF FAMILY AND TEND TO BE LEADERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES,

especially in the Global South. They are often the ones excluded from conversations that most affect them — conversations of policy that are designed and implemented by white men far from where the conflict is taking place. Reclaiming one’s voice as a woman of color within the foreign policy world was at the heart of this first panel. Panelists were asked to reflect upon the areas of peace, security and conflict and how they impact vulnerable communities, and how women of color should be part of the policy discussion. It also asked them what they were interested in hearing from the 2020 candidates on this topic.

The panel was introduced by Laura Kupe and moderated by Wardah Khalid.

This panel was rather remarkable for three important reasons: all seven panelists were women of color, daughters of immigrants, and find themselves between two worlds.

That natural bridge to other parts of the world sparked their interest in pursuing their respective avenues of foreign policy, from nuclear nonproliferation to public health policy to advocacy.

Engagement with issues beyond their home borders was something that came natural to these panelists as they grew up.

This panel was rather remarkable for three important reasons: all seven panelists were women of color, daughters of immigrants, and find themselves between two worlds.

Cathleen Killough (left) of the Ploughshares Fund opens discussions of Panel I, recalling her reasons for becoming interested in the Korean Penninsula and pursuing a career in nuclear policy. She sits next to Hoda Hawa (right), the director of the Washington, D.C. office for the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC).

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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Laura Kupe offers opening remarks to the first panel.

Speakers of Panel 1, left to right: Catherine Killough, Hoda Hawa, Kavita Berger, Angela Bruce-Raeburn, Elmira Bayrasli, Afua Bruce, Rudra Kapila, and Moderator, Wardah Khalid.

CATHLEEN KILLOUGH HAD ALWAYS BEEN interested in the Korean peninsula, as that is where her parents are from, and the path that one takes from studying Korea naturally leads one to studying nuclear policy. Rudra Kapila, researcher with the University of Edinburgh was born in the UK, grew up in the Middle East, and has roots in South Asia..

passion happening all around.”

CATHLEEN KILLOUGH HAD ALWAYS BEEN interested in the Korean peninsula, as that is where her parents are from, and the path that one takes from studying Korea naturally leads one to studying nuclear policy. Rudra Kapila, researcher with the University of Edinburgh, was born in the UK, grew up in the Middle East and has roots in South Asia. Navigating that environment sparked her interest in her research on sustainable technologies and the policies surrounding their development and proliferation. For Afua Bruce, Director of Engineering at New America’s Public Interest Technology program, her status as the daughter of Ghanaian immigrants played a key role in shaping her unique perspective on the world and the relationships that connect countries. The world has much to teach the United States, she said, “despite the labels of developed and developing...there is innovation and

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“It’s just a dinner table topic,” Hoda Hawa, the director of the Washington, D.C. office of Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) said. Amplifying those kitchen table conversations to the structures of power is a guiding principle and passion of Angela BruceRaeburn, former Oxfam disaster relief aid provider in the wake of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

The inverse of that feeling—the known “othering” that often colors immigrant experiences in the United States—forces people to be aware of the wider world, Elmira Bayrasli, co-founder and CEO of Foreign Policy Interrupted, describes. “You just automatically become aware of the wider world,” she said, “because people don’t believe you when you say you’re from where you were born.”

After introductions, the moderator asked the panelists how their work affects women of color.

For some of the panelists, they found their strongest contributions in providing women of color a platform from which they can speak. “It’s not about capacity building,” Angela Bruce-Raeburn recalled the principles of Oxfam, “because the capacity is already there. It’s about strengthening capacity.”

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Hoda Hawa said that it is young American Muslim women who are applying for the internships and fellowships her organization sponsors. She noted that giving these young women the space to channel their eagerness and to dismantle harmful stereotypes as one of the most impactful things that she does.

Afua Bruce mentioned that she tries to bring other women of color to the stage, noting that one thing that keeps her up at night is the realization of how dominant white men are in the writing and speaking about these projects. This is part of the reason why Elmira Bayrasli started Foreign Policy Interrupted (FPI). She had grown frustrated with the excuses from media producers that they simply couldn’t find any other person to bring on their show other than another white man. “I can guarantee you all sitting here that you are confident,” she said. “The problem isn’t that we don’t raise our hands. We don’t have the incentives to raise our hands because the punishments outweigh the opportunities.” She also emphasized the need for women to look out for each other, which was elaborated on by Wardah Khalid, noting that this support is why networks such as WCAPS are so important. “This is our responsibility,” Khalid said. “White men certainly won’t do it for us,” said Bayrasli.

“I can guarantee you all sitting here that you are confident.

The problem isn’t that we don’t raise our hands. We don’t have the incentives to raise our hands because the punishments outweigh the opportunities.”

—Elmira Bayrasli

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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Another theme was listening to the voices of women of color. Angela Bruce-Raeburn recalled her time as an aid worker in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Utilizing her ability to relate to the local population and to be seen as relatable by them as a Caribbean woman, she challenged the establishment and the status quo. She demanded that the organization fit to the local context, not the other way around— simply by asking where the Haitians were in conversations regarding their own future and their own fate. Afua Bruce utilizes a human-centered design approach to ensure that all stakeholders are taken into consideration when programs are designed, rather than leaving it up to policy makers who have never faced any of the challenges the programs are intended to mitigate or solve. She also looks to see what other countries are doing, noting that computer languages are the same around the world. As a scientist of infectious diseases, Kavita Berger noted that within front-line communities that are first to be impacted by a new wave of infectious diseases, women of color are often the most impacted by her work, as they are the ones tasked with combating these diseases by caring for families and sometimes whole communities. When crafting science policy, their perspectives must be considered and integrated into incident reactions and solution development. This was built upon by Rudra Kapila, who, through her work on U.S. campaigns and as a geoscientist, said that solutions to climate change that are drawn up without the consideration of women of color or people from lower incomes, are not sustainable. Much needs to be done to ensure elected officials and political discourse is reflective of the people who live there and can make sure these issues are front and center.

Catherine Killough reminded the audience to

consider conflicts from a female perspective with her invocation of the conflict on the Korean peninsula.

The unended status of the Korean War has led to the continued prioritization of the military on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone, which in turn has deep societal impacts on women, citing a long history of military violence against women. She also noted that of the 535 people who defected from North Korea, 444 were women — most of whom were the victims of human trafficking. This is the consequence of not “engaging in peace and reasserting the value of diplomacy,” she asserted.

Women can bring a unique perspective to the table in the field of peace and security, Kavita Berger said. It is “not only how to leverage their interest and their knowledge and experiences, but how to make it so it’s more of a cooperative partnership and not just business,” she said. She also noted that quickly shifting gears from the business to the personal is something she had seen quite rarely from male colleagues.

The moderator then asked the panelists what they want to hear from the 2020 democratic party nominee candidates.

Catherine Killough succinctly threaded the conversation by stating what panelists wanted to hear from candidates was a redirection of the conversation on security from national security to human security.

Each panelist felt that immigration was a topic each candidate should be talking more about. Angela Bruce-Raeburn rebuked the patronizing tone that the media and other politicians often take with women journeying from Central America to the U.S. southern border. “They’re not victims,” she

“Who gets left out of that conversation?”

— Catherine Killough

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

said, “What they’ve done is short of miraculous.”

She also noted a lack of discussion around U.S. foreign policy in Latin America, emphasizing that the problems around the swell of migrants coming to the United States did not come out of thin air. The U.S. must “talk about what you’ve done, and how can you fix some of these things in this part of the world that can really help these countries, and protect their immigrants from taking dangerous trips to save their families.”

Kavita Berger said that the U.S. needs to do much more domestically to “show that different people and different cultures are completely fine.” She identified one of the biggest hurdles to overcome is appealing to the born-and-bred U.S. citizen, who hasn’t been exposed to much outside their community, stating that these communities will continue to seek to have their political needs addressed before anyone else’s. However, she remained positive on the idea that exposure and allowing people to interact with and to ask frank questions of will help assuage doubts and fears about the influx of new populations.

Once immigrants arrive, Afua Bruce said that “we need to make sure we’re developing the talent here and that we have ways to keep that talent here.”

Such a policy spoke to the lack of public investment

in science and technology and research and development. Such an investment is not a luxury.

Elmira Bayrasli said that it’s time candidates— and the American political discourse overall— acknowledge the need for multilateral engagement and the erosion in American power, especially soft power. American soft power goes beyond the appeal of Hollywood and the record industry and includes things like the country’s invocations of morality when denouncing human rights violations.

The degradation of soft power comes in many forms, including the hypocrisy of policies that separate families at the border, as mentioned by Catherine Killough. Soft power also includes the results of a society well-funded in science and technology, and research and development. Again reflecting on the moon landing, Afua Bruce lamented the decline of American excellence in math, science and even reading. Landmark events like the Apollo project “inspired a generation of people to come together,” and witness what America stood for, its capacity and drive to invent and contribute to society in different ways. The project “made us respected on an international scale.” Elmira Bayrasli emphasized the importance of international, multilateral organizations, and engaging with them, rather than isolating ourselves between the Atlantic and Pacific.

“I don’t think that candidates are harnessing a lot of the experiences of communities of color...because they’re not meeting them where they are...they’re expecting people to flock to them.”

—Hoda Hawa

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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Catherine Killough reminded the audience to remember in the discussion and formation of domestic and foreign policy, “Who gets left out of that conversation?”

Khalid then asked if the panelists had reached out to campaigns or the candidates themselves.

Catherine Killough described the polarization she experienced through the advocacy coalition built by the Ploughshares Fund in support of diplomacy and engagement with North Korea. The idea of negotiating with a dictator is a difficult idea to bring both Democrats and Republicans around to, and it prompts the exploration of what a progressive foreign policy actually looks like.

Rudra Kapila noted, in her conversations with congressional and senate Republican staffers that there is an interest in climate change solutions, but regretted that their focus was mostly on building “bigger and better” technology as a solution.

She redoubled her earlier assertions that the development and distribution of technology has a political component to it. The conversation must be framed such that, “You’re designing the kit, but how is this going to help families off the coast of Florida?”

After this, Khalid opened the floor up for questions and comments from the audience.

Laura Kupe, who introduced the session, asked how to connect foreign policy elite and media with the immigrant communities that are, as previously discussed, inherently interested in foreign affairs in ways that born-and-bred American might not be.

She also wanted to know how said communities can

emphasize to the elites and the media that immigrant communities are also American.

There is a feeling among immigrant communities that “we’re here, but we don’t really belong,” Angela Bruce-Raeburn said. Reflecting on her experience as a Caribbean person in Brooklyn, she noticed that the community didn’t fully participate in the American political system as they should. “[We] saw ourselves as people who were coming to work and sending money back home.” Elmira Bayrasli picked up on this point, saying the problem was “we’re not politically organized,” but also mentioned that the media doesn’t do a good enough job in making issues of foreign affairs relevant and digestible for Americans. Kavita Berger then expanded on the idea of exposure, stating that she couldn’t recall her family being exposed to political discourse. Further, she posited that the question isn’t how to better reach out to individuals, but where the microcosms of the communities are in large and small cities. Hoda Hawa pushed back on this, however, recalling results from the earlier poll, which indicated that politicians should be meeting communities of color where they are. “I don’t think that candidates are harnessing a lot of the experiences of communities of color...because they’re not meeting them where they are,” she said. “They’re expecting people to flock to them.”

Another speaker, Kathleen, from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wanted to push back against the narrative of immigrants being less politically engaged or astute within the conversations, somehow “fomenting their own marginalization.” She cited research from Pew, which

“Your generation is going to have to learn how to be more informed and more intentional.”

—Angela Bruce-Raeburn 26

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Elmira Bayrasli (right) describes the importance of American soft power, and how it is much more than popular culture, and encompasses the values of human rights. Elmira Bayrasli is the co-founder of Foreign Policy Interrupted (FPI).

Rudra Kapila (second from the left) emphasizes that policy solutions that are not inherently intersectional are unsustainable. Dr. Kapila is a scholar of geology from the University of Edinburgh, and today works in American campaigns.

Hoda Hawa (center) highlights the fact that for the children of immigrants, foreign policy is simply another kitchen-table discussion.

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indicates that naturalized citizens are more engaged than U.S.-born citizens. She pointed to the work of Asian-American activism, which helped bring about labor rights into the country, and the entire notion of natural-born citizenship. These communities “are speaking out,” she said, “but who is listening?” She asked how these individuals are removed from their own history in advancing rights in this country.

Rudra Kapila agreed with the speaker’s sentiment, then provided examples of her experiences in Florida.

“They know their foreign policy,” she said. Within the Cuban community, the first question is always: What is the U.S. or candidate’s position on Cuba? She recounted how every Uber driver she spoke to had voted, even though they might have only been in the country for a few years. She circled the conversation back to earlier notions of community engagement and knowledge. “They are here for it,” she said, “and they’re incredible organizers.”

Lidya, an environmental consultant, asked panelists how to reconcile the issues of their focus and the impact on women of color and underserved

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populations, while acknowledging the bulk of political power comes from a small constituency.

Kina, an undergraduate student, asked how to engage the African diaspora with issues on the African continent, while dealing with domestic issues like an overtly racist president and his supporters.

Angela Bruce-Raeburn could not recall a time during her childhood as an undocumented immigrant, where she felt the same hate and resentment from other Americans as she does today.

This, she reflected, is an emotional time for many in the country, as they feel that they’re under siege.

She told the speaker, “Your generation is going to have to learn how to be more informed and more intentional.” Kavita Berger considered the process of how immigrant communities conduct themselves and engage with—especially—the broader American community. She expounded on the notion that every American was, at some point, new to this country as well. She reflected on her time growing up, stating that because America was the country she was raised in, she doesn’t see the world as other Indians do—it has fully influenced the way she thinks.

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

In thinking about her son, who had been told multiple times that he wasn’t a real “Indian,” due to his mixed background, Berger said, “I don’t want to get to the point where kids with mixed families…if they don’t look like the stereotypes that [they] should be, that they somehow get treated poorly, because they’ll grow up to be adults with that.”

Sara from Women in International Security (WIIS) asked panelists how they come to understand the idea that women of color have to work harder than everyone else in the room—especially compared to their white male counterparts—at a personal and professional level.

difficult for her, it was a reflection of her personally.

Bruce said, “We need to be speaking about this more often and perhaps at a younger age.” Dealing with the pushback and the other difficulties can be challenging. “It is not fair, but it is systemic. It’s not you individually.” Bruce reincorporated earlier conversations into her answer, advising the audience to build a support network and to be intentional about relying on it, and to use that network to amplify the work of others “who look like you,” to begin to build a more inclusive environment. 

Afua Bruce answered this question through an anecdote. She told the story of a young mentee of hers who had said that it was time for her to leave the science and technology field, only two years out of her undergraduate studies, because she struggled with the pushback from the environment and her work, where Bruce seemed to confidently glide through them. She thought because it was

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Photo by Henry & Co. (@hngstrm) on Unsplash

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Art and Policy: Storytelling & Song THROUGH ITS ARTS AND POLICY INITIATIVE, WCAPS STRIVES TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE TO ENCOURAGE NEW WAYS OF UNDERSTANDING HOW ISSUES OF PEACE, SECURITY AND CONFLICT AFFECT WOMEN OF COLOR GLOBALLY.

Promoting engagement of women of color in peace and security along with artists has been instrumental in raising awareness and targeting young women who may find interest in peace and security issues through a different medium. This workshop engaged the Arts in two ways: 1. Storytelling: Diane Macklin 2. Music: participants were asked to identify a song that reflects the theme of peace, security and conflict transformation. The songs were collected, curated and played during the event.

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Mentorships provide one-on-one career counseling and skills training with a young professional and veteran in the field.

Mentee Video Compilation WCAPS LAUNCHED ITS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IN JANUARY 2019.

The goal is to provide mentorship to our members and promote a sponsorship relationship between mentor and mentee. The first mentorship program concluded in May 2019, and the second will begin in January 2020. Each submitted a five-minute video to address challenges to global peace, security and conflict transformation. During this portion of the workshop, a compilation of these videos were presented to participants.

substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. She highlighted that many victims of substance abuse find not only themselves but their families and loved ones marginalized— they are met with stigma and ostracized. Jasmine Owens, under the guidance of her mentor, Brittney Washington, discussed the need for diverse voices in the realm of nuclear arms control. Such perspectives are needed to remind policymakers of the humanitarian consequences wrought by arms races and elaborated on the dangers of withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.

Gabrielle Gueye, under the mentorship of Adrienne White-Faines, discussed the need for diverse voices in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.5, which specifically calls on States to strengthen the prevention and treatment of

The role of women of color in climate security conversations was the topic addressed by Lydia Cardona and her mentor, Nakia Bell. In her video, she showed footage of her family’s farms in Puerto Rico, and remarked on the personal connection to the

WCAPS mentee, Ashley Burrell, sits with her mentor, Retired Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley and discusses a draft research proposal comparing the effect of Chinese direct measures influence campaigns in the United States, New Zealand and Australia.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

They are invaluable tools, a platform to build confidence for the mentee and an opportunity to give back for the mentor.

land and countries unique to Latinos. Climate security, then, is much more than the advancement of policy, but a manifestation of personal convictions and stakes.

Perla Mora, with mentor Leila Hasan, also allowed her background to influence her position regarding refugee resettlement. As the daughter of immigrants, she is empathetic of the plight of people forcibly removed from their homes, reminding audiences that refugees are a particular class of protected people, as they are fleeing for their lives.

She called on the global community — especially the U.S. — to stand up and play a greater role in hosting refugees.

Ibilola Owoyele discussed collective memory and its impact on peacebuilding in transitional democracies. Collective memory stands between “myth” and “history,” holding its potency not

through cold, dry facts, but in its vagueness and ambiguity. The danger lies in memory’s inherent ability to be manipulated, manufactured, transferred, intensified and hindered.

Tamaki Laycock discussed the pain and trauma surrounding the U.S. military presence in Okinawa, highlighting a recent rape and murder by a U.S. service member of an unidentified woman in 2019, and the rape and beating of a 12-year-old girl by three service members in 1995. Her mentor was Michelle Dover.

Ashley Burrell worked with Retired Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley and drafted a research proposal comparing the effect of Chinese influence campaigns in the United States, New Zealand and Australia. 

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Photo by Henry & Co. (@hngstrm) on Unsplash

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Panel 2: Encouraging Campaign Conversations on Foreign Policy THE DISCOURSE SURROUNDING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS DOMINATED BY KITCHEN-TABLE ISSUES—day-to-day issues that one might have

a conversation about around the kitchen table such as jobs, taxes, social security, healthcare and the economy. However, as Bassima Alghussein argued in her introduction, it is up to women of color to make the argument to candidates and constituents that issues of foreign policy affect many aspects of everyday life for Americans.

The formation and execution of foreign policies are statements of national character and identity, Travis Adkins posited. This is why there have always been “voices in America who relate to foreign leaders…when they say to the U.S., in the words of James Baldwin, ‘I can’t believe what you

say, because I see what you do.’” He also posited that there is a false division between the domestic and foreign, stating, “There is no domestic issue that doesn’t have a foreign policy analogue to it.” Indeed, Maria J. Espinosa Carrillo used a particular phrase—“intermestic”—to describe this indivisibility, using Florida as a case in point on why campaigns need to focus on foreign policy.

Florida has high and active engagement in topics involving Latin America due to its high immigrant population from that area—the top countries of origin in 2017 were Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Colombia and Jamaica,1 and it is positioned within the country as a battleground state. Luke Schleusener made similar remarks, stating that as the campaign moves more aggressively into 2020, that “it would be worth thinking about continuities between home and abroad,” pointing to an aging national security

Speakers of Panel 2, left to right: Luke Schleusener, Micahel O’Hanlon , María J. Espinosa Carrillo, Uzra Zeya, Elizabeth Beavers, Grace Choi, Travis Adkins as well as Moderator Asha Castleberry

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work force and climate change, and underlining the importance of recapturing domestic aspects of international and foreign policies.

Addressing the dissonance between foreign and domestic policies is what moderator Asha Castleberry tried to pull out of panelists with her first question—why foreign policy hasn’t been considered a priority in many campaigns, and what reasons there are for such a perception.

Elizabeth Beavers asserted that “[you] can’t talk about…Medicare For All or the Green New Deal or free college without noting how much we pour so much into militarization and big corporate interests.”

Uzra Zeya highlighted the discursive tendency to divide people into “us” and “them” camps, such that foreign investment or expenditures are inherently undercutting direct problems domestically. Grace Choi additionally pointed to the prioritization of topics that candidates undergo through their sensitivity to polls, surveys and organized movements; issues of foreign affairs rarely reach the top of those surveyed or those marching.

To address this issue, Uzra Zeya indicated that the case needs to be made for the interconnectedness of the world and the relevance of foreign policy issues in kitchen table issues. This resonated with Choi’s prescription, as she pointed to education as a reason why people might not be as engaged with issues abroad as they might ought to be. She hoped through technological advances, especially in the classroom, “young minds can have access to the world that [they] may have never set foot on, but they can know…we’re all connected as human beings.”

Michael O’Hanlon proposed a practical solution, physically tying every dollar spent on foreign policy with an equal investment in domestic spending.

An increase in domestic spending through plans like “Medicare for All” are hot-ticket issues in the 2020 primary. Although each major candidate has put forth a comprehensive statement on domestic policy, there are gaps in the ongoing discussions by the candidates regarding foreign policy and national security, so Asha Castleberry asked each panelist what they considered missing in that conversation.

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Asha Castleberry, moderator for Panel 2, asks the panelists their thoughts on what they think is missing from the conversation on foreign policy from 2020 presidential candidates.

Michael O’Hanlon lists the qualities that are needed to be successful in foreign policy and national security in a presidential campaign.

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Michael O’Hanlon did not express concern over what is missing in the campaign, but an overemphasis on increasing competition with Russia and China, recalling the discourse around the lead up to the Iraq War: the U.S. is very “capable of collectively developing groupthink that maybe goes too far, too fast.” Luke Schleusener went on further by saying Russia only poses as much of a threat to the U.S. as the country allows. “It means working harder on democracy at home,” he said, “so we don’t let subversion take over the country.”

In her follow-up, Asha Castleberry wondered if the U.S. would jump into another cycle of spending to keep up. Michael O’Hanlon agreed with her prescription and reservedly agreed with the Trump defense buildup, noting that his concern arose from the imbalance between the other tools, while Luke Schleusener remarked that it is easy to spend money at the Pentagon.

Uzra Zeya discusses the lack of conversation around the current state of global governance, which is, according to her, in a state of crisis.

Uzra Zeya lamented a lack of conversation around the current state of global governance, which she described as being in crisis. She posited that global communities ought to move away from a states-only approach, which places the nation-state construct as the highest and most important component of international politics, and instead begin to embrace civil society and the private sector. Asha Castleberry followed up with regards to the United Nations, and Uzra Zeya said of the gridlock there, “It [is] time for bold thinking and new ideas, but that comes with American engagement.” This idea was supported by Travis Adkins, who noted that “America has been first in the world because of its engagement with the world.” He also warned that some moves that the country has taken on the international stage might not be repairable with a new administration. “I don’t think the world works that way,” he said, “There’s a great danger of the world figuring out how to move around without U.S. leadership.”

Furthermore, Maria J. Espinosa Carrillo emphasized that stability and prosperity will not come to Latin America without engagement.

Disengagement, by way of measures like sanctions, only perpetuate the status quo. Building on this, Grace Choi believed candidates should bring up “the 3Ds in foreign policy” conversations more often:

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diplomacy, development and defense, underscoring that there is far too much emphasis on defense.

Missteps taken recently are only one part of the conversation Elizabeth Beavers felt is left out of campaign discussions. She expressed a desire to see more of a comprehensive but deep analysis of mistakes the U.S. has made, especially in the last twenty years, and what could be done to mitigate more harm while ensuring they don’t happen again.

Further, a much more earnest discussion about “who we are as a nation, what are our values, how do we apply them” needs to happen. “The executive plays a disproportionate role of power in determining security policy,” she said, indicating that “it really matters what the next president thinks.” Grace Choi underlined the importance for candidates to mention that the U.S. is a nation of integrity.

Asha Castleberry then wanted to bring panelists from the “what” to the “how.” Specifically, she asked panelists what women of color can do to contribute to the foreign policy discussion during the presidential election.

Grace Choi and Travis Adkins praised organizations like WCAPS for their ability to connect women of color within the field and to provide them with a platform from which to share ideas and be heard. Like nations on the international stage, Grace Choi asserted the only way to mainstream women of color in these spaces is to engage. She listed volunteering on campaigns, working in civil organizations, and running for office at all levels.

Echoing points from the first panel, Elizabeth Beaver called on journalists to find other experts in the field than the all-white, all-male ones. Travis Adkins observed that while the gender element in this field has improved, the racial component still lags. If a panel has six people on it, he posited, often “three of them are women, but it’s still six white people.”

In her final question, Asha Castleberry asked about the importance of having a foreign policy or national security background when running for president.

Each speaker disagreed with the premise, and contended that what truly matters is the desire

Travis Adkins (right) recalls a story of the Congressional Black Caucasus confronting President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and catalyzed their Black experience to counter and levy an emotional impact on President Sisi’s attempt to dismiss criticism.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

to seek expertise, and the patience to listen and deliberate that counsel once it’s given “passion,” as Michael O’Hanlon described, for the issues, and an ability to “realize the stakes.” Finding a “varied and diverse landscape of leaders within the space of people who support you…so you can avoid as many blind spots as possible” is key, indicated Grace Choi.

Luke Schleusener reminded audiences that “[you] can be very experienced in foreign policy and still get it wrong,” using the Iraq War as his case in point. The military backgrounds of candidates like Tulsi Gabbard and Pete Buttigieg have resulted in starkly different opinions and approaches, but it is not “necessarily determinative towards their ability to become Commander in Chief.” However, expertise must be respected, as Uzra Zeya stated, deploring recent trends in the “vilification of career Elizabeth Beavers (right) expresses her desire to see journalists be more proactive in seeking expert voices from those who are not White men.

“A ‘varied and diverse landscape of leaders within the space of people who support you… so you can avoid as many blind spots as possible’ is key to crafting sound foreign policy as a presidential candidate. Not an extensive background in foreign policy or national security.”

—Grace Choi Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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“No one thinks you need to be a doctor to have an opinion on healthcare...so, same thing with our own peace and security.”

—Elizabeth Beavers

“[The recent trends] in the vilification of career experts and public servants must stop.”

—Uzra Zeya

expertise and public servants.”

Elizabeth Beavers celebrated the integration of non-experts into the fold, because people who are funneled through the traditional channels of foreign policy—the military, the State Department—might already be used to performing in a certain light, with certain creative restrictions. “No one thinks you need to be a doctor to have an opinion on healthcare…so, same thing with our own peace and security,” she remarked.

Four questions were taken from the audience. The first came from a foreign service officer. They highlighted the current political moment, which she described as being too starkly black and white, in a field which is inherently gray and nuanced.

She asked, how do we comment on current administrations while remaining a part of it?

Travis Adkins noted that in 2015, he was on a Congressional delegation trip to Egypt where Members confronted President Sisi on the detention and murder of protestors. President Sisi responded rather smugly, “I appreciate your concern, but what about Ferguson?”2 Mr. Adkins said that had

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this been a white Congressional delegation, the “gut punch” of such a reference might have landed differently. However, President Sisi was being addressed by members of the Congressional Black Congress (CBC). Consequently these “dozen 60- to 80-year-old African Americans” were able to speak with moral clarity when they responded, “You’re exactly right, and no one knows that better than we do. That’s exactly why you shouldn’t be doing this.” He remarked on the CBC’s ability to “use their personal, actual negative experiences inside of America to turn a powerful foreign policy point.”

Uzra Zeya expressed her belief that a bipartisan consensus in the U.S. for American leadership, values, and engagement exists, regardless of deep partisanship. She pointed to a “healthy” and “robust” constituency on both sides of the aisle that supports the Magnitsky Act,3 holding Saudi Arabia responsible for the Khashogghi murder,4 and linking security assistance with our values via the Leahy Legislation,5 and the recently House-passed Global Fragility Act.6 “This isn’t a partisan issue,” she assured, “I think it’s an American issue.” Michael O’Hanlon pointed to North Korea as an interesting

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

“During a 2015 Congressional delegation trip to Egypt, Members confronted President Sisi on the detention and murder of protestors.

President Sisi responded rather smugly,’ I appreciate your concern, but what about Ferguson?”’

Had this been a white Congressional delegation, the ‘gut punch’ of such a reference might have landed differently. However, President Sisi was being addressed by members of the Congressional Black Congress.

Consequently, these ‘dozen 60- to 80-year-old African-Americans’ were able to speak with moral clarity when they responded, ‘You’re exactly right, and no one knows that better than we do. That’s exactly why you shouldn’t be doing this.’

The CBC’s ability to ‘use their personal, actual negative experiences inside of America [turned] a powerful foreign policy point.’”

—Travis Adkins Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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case to watch. Even though President Trump’s approach to engaging Kim Jong Un is haphazard, his administration too internally confused, and the methodology not sound, there is a logic there, and it resonates somewhat with President Obama’s first inaugural address, in which he said, “We’ll reach out a hand to those who unclench their fist.” The reaching out to North Korea is an opportunity for progressives to take the issue and “do [it] right.”

Julian, a student at American University, asked Grace Choi, what can one do to maintain their humility in this highly competitive and ego-centric field?

during the discursive firestorm that happened in its wake, people were far more willing to defend the American-ness of the women of Congress, “[but] no one talked about why their parents left in the first place,” she said. Why are people so uncomfortable about talking about the root causes of such refugee movements? She then used her time to bring forward a question from one of her younger colleagues on Capitol Hill, Dina (see below).

Travis Adkins considered the implications of phrases like “Send her back,” and why they’re so Grace Choi admitted that this is a point she has been painful. “It touches on the most electrically negative part of American history, this notion of ‘Who is an struggling with for the last few years but pointed to her faith and Christian values as grounding elements. American.’” He compared the discomfort people feel about addressing the root causes of forced “Humility is not thinking too little of yourself with migration to male silence in the wake of the #MeToo all the power and resources and knowledge and movement,8 “They’re scared that their shoe might strength that you have,” she said, “but not thinking drop next, so they don’t want to say as much,” too much of yourself.” She described struggling with indicating a widespread fear of backlash. Elizabeth imposter syndrome, believing her being an Asian-

“Who are you if you’re not a good person to yourself…to the people who live and care about you — to go into the world and try to change it?”

—Grace Choi American woman in politics as the source of her anxieties. “I have to be comfortable with speaking my truth, because my voice matters, my perspective matters,” she said, finding that if she remained silent, a constituency might not be considered in policy ramifications. She closed, reflecting and positing, “Who are you if you’re not a good person to yourself…to the people who live and care about you—to go into the world and try to change it?”

Laura Kupe, who introduced the first panel, wanted to discuss with the panel the recent “Send her back” comments,7 a xenophobic sentiment rooted in anti-immigrant overtures. Noting that

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Beavers connected it to the earlier question about critiquing Trump that isn’t so stark in its black and white divides. “Yes, Trump says the grossest part of the bigotry out loud, but he stands on the surface of a foundation that so many of us are complicit in building.” Luke Schleusener dismissed fear or caution as the core reason for ignoring why, especially Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, had to flee Somalia. Somalia has been in a “failed state” designation since the outbreak of its Civil War in 1991. He pointed, instead, to ignorance of the American public. “That’s why foreign policy in

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

the U.S. works the way that it does,” he said. “If you’re going to have a fight about ‘going back,’ it’s not a fight about recalcitrance or indifference, it’s ignorance.”

Dina, the Capitol Hill affiliate, asked, How the panel tackles Imposter’s Syndrome, especially in spaces when they might be the only woman of color.

Travis Adkins asked Dina,“Through whose eyes do you see yourself?” He impressed that the root of her insecurities lies in a 243-year long history that has “ensur[ed] you’re not there and that even when you get inside the room that you feel that way.” He reassured her that “there’s nothing wrong with any of us.” Uzra Zeya encouraged Dina that when she feels like this, it is only the strongest indicator that she must be in the room. She further pressed Dina to bring her ideas to the public domain through writing, other expression and collaboration. “Don’t let people who want to stick to the comfort of the past prevent you from putting yourself forward.”

The final question came from an unnamed Fellow at the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFAR). She noticed a lack of discussion around the challenges posed by international health security. How do you see health discourse playing out in 2020?

“Like a lot of niche fields in foreign policy,” Luke Schleusener answered, “it won’t matter until it matters.” He pointed to the irony of an administration that claims to want to end AIDS, but has cut AIDS research at NIH to fund detention camps on the border. “It’s a moving target,” he said, and “it’ll only press when there’s a crisis.” 

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Photo by Henry & Co. (@hngstrm) on Unsplash

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Notes 1 “Immigrants in Florida” Washington, D.C.: American Immigration Council, 2017. Accessed December 3, 2019. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/immigrants_in_ florida.pdf 2 In August 2014 Darren Wilson, a White police officer, shot Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri. A series of demonstrations and riots broke out over the subsequent weeks.

On November 24, it was announced that Mr. Wilson would not be indicted, and this sparked another wave of protests. While there were no casualties from the events, a considerable amount of damage was done to local businesses and infrastructure.

3 The Magnitsky Act, formally known as the “Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012,” was a bipartisan bill passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by then-President Barack Obama in December 2012. The bill, which applies globally, authorizes the U.S. government to sanction those who it sees as human rights offenders, freeze their assets and ban them from entering the United States.

4 On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi-Arabian journalist critical of the Saudi government and a U.S. resident, was murdered after walking into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Khashoggi went into self-imposed exile to the United States in 2017 and wrote a monthly column for The Washington Post. It is widely believed this was an act from the official government, though the Saudi government has continued to deny its involvement in the activity.

5 The Leahy Legislation is intended to prevent U.S.-funded assistance from reaching specific security force units or individuals who have committed gross violations of human rights. It also allows for the restoration of aid and assistance once violators have been held accountable (this is a less commonly known attribute known as the “remediation clause”).

6 The Global Fragility Act of 2019 passed the House and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The bill is intended to establish the interagency Global Fragility Initiative to stabilize conflict-affected areas and prevent violence globally and establishes funds to support such efforts.

7 On July 17, 2019, US President Donald Trump appeared before a rally in Greenville, North Carolina, where he condemned four recently elected Democratic Congresswomen (colloquially known as “The Squad”) for their vocal positions against him. He focused much of his attention on Ilhan Omar (MN-05). In response to his attacks, the crowd chanted, “Send her back,” and in response, President Trump said, “If they don’t love it, tell them to leave it.”

8 The #MeToo movement describes a social movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault, especially in the workplace. The originator of the movement is accredited to Tamara Burke, who began using the hashtag #MeToo in 2006 to encourage solidarity with one another. It went viral in 2017 in Hollywood, and eventually leading to the indictment and prosecution of movie mogul and financier Harvey Weinstein.

Since 2017, the #MeToo movement has spread to dozens of countries and throughout various industries. Time Magazine called them “The Silence Breakers” and deemed them the Person of the Year in 2017.

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Photo by Henry & Co. (@hngstrm) on Unsplash

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

Speaker Biographies BONNIE JENKINS

@JENKINSBD @WCAPSNET

Bonnie Jenkins is the founder and president of the Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS) nonprofit organization.

She is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and president of Global Connections Empowering Global Change LLC., where she works with several academic institutions on issues of global health, infectious disease and defense innovation.

Prior to this, Jenkins was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House. Previously, she was an ambassador at the U.S. Department of State from 2009 to 2017, where she served as coordinator for threat reduction programs in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. In that role, Jenkins coordinated the Department of State’s programs and activities to prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) terrorism with programs funded by other U.S. departments and agencies, and also with similar programs funded by other countries.

She served as the U.S. representative to the 30-nation G-7 Global Partnership.

Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction and chaired the Global Partnership in 2012. Jenkins was the Department of State’s lead to the four Nuclear Security Summits that took place from 2010 to 2016. Jenkins also worked closely with several international organizations including the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), INTERPOL, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organization, and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit.

Jenkins was also a leading U.S. official in the launch and implementation of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and also led engagement efforts with the nongovernmental sector in furtherance of the GHSA, to include academic institutions, foundations, and the private sector.

She was also the U.S. Department of State International Security and Nonproliferation Bureau’s (ISN) nominee for the 2016 Secretary’s Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs.

Before returning to government in 2009, Jenkins served as program officer for U.S. Foreign and Security Policy at the Ford Foundation. She also served as counsel on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). Jenkins was the lead staff member conducting research, interviews, and preparing commission reports on counterterrorism policies in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and on U.S. military plans targeting al-Qaida before 9/11.

She served as general counsel to the U.S. Commission to Assess the Organization of the Federal Government to Combat the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and also worked at Rand Corporation focusing on Middle East weapons of mass destruction issues. She began her career as a civilian in the federal government at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency in the Office of the General Counsel, where she was the legal advisor to U.S. ambassadors and delegations negotiating WMD and conventional arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation treaties, and conventions. She also served as legal advisor to several WMD and conventional international implementation bodies, including the OPCW, the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty Joint Consultative Group, and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization.

Jenkins is a retired Naval Reserves officer and received several awards for her service. She was a pre-doctoral fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University in both the international security and managing the atom programs. During that time, Jenkins also worked at the Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising at Harvard Law School where she advised law students on employment in the U.S. government and public entities. Jenkins holds a doctorate in international relations from the University of Virginia; a Master of Law in international and comparative law from the Georgetown University Law Center; a Master of Public Administration from the State University of New York at Albany; a juris doctor from Albany Law School; and a bachelor’s from Amherst College.

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LAURA KUPE @Laura_Kupe

Laura Kupe is a former Obama presidential appointee and multilingual attorney with domestic and foreign policy expertise in think tanks and the Federal Government, including the U.S. House of Representatives, the Department of Homeland Security, and the White House. She is currently working with the U.S. House of Representative’s Counsel on the Committee of Homeland Security. She servies as a Youth Ambassador for Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation.

Laura previously worked as a Policy Analyst at the RAND Corporation. Prior to that, she served as Special Assistant at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Office of International Engagement within the Office of Policy as a presidential appointee in the Obama Administration. In her role, Laura served as a subject-matter expert on the Department’s engagement with European Union (EU) member states and the Five Eyes on topics including immigration/migration, border security, and counterterrorism. She was also detailed to the Presidential Personnel Office in the White House and served as Domestic Director. Prior to her time in the Obama Administration, Laura served as a legislative fellow for Congresswoman Karen Bass, Ranking Member of the Africa Subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

She graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

WARDAH KHALID @wardahkhalid_

Wardah Khalid is a policy analyst, activist, and speaker on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, refugees, and Islam in America. She is Founder and President of Poligon Education Fund, a national civic education and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening Muslim American engagement with Congress, and advocates on refugee and immigration issues at Church World Service. She is also a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project.

Wardah has significant U.S. government experience working with and advising members of Congress and their staff, the White House, and State Department on the Iran nuclear negotiations and human rights issues pertaining to the Syrian and Israel/ Palestine conflicts. She traveled to Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel and provided policy recommendations to Congress and National Security Council staff on settlements and reconstruction issues, based on her observations. Her UN efforts include consulting for UN CTED on lone wolf terrorism as well as field work with UNRWA in Jordan, UNDP, and the Permanent Mission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in New York.

Wardah’s writing and commentary has been featured in national and international outlets including the Washington Post, CNN, The Guardian, NPR, U.S. News & World Report, Al Jazeera America, and Haaretz. She is the author of the “Young American Muslim” blog for the Houston Chronicle and previously hosted the show “Reality Check” on One Legacy Radio. Wardah was featured on ABC’s Nightline as one of the country’s top millennial activists.

Wardah holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, focused on Human Rights/Humanitarian Policy and Middle East Studies. Additionally, she is a CPA and received a BBA and MS in Accounting from Texas A&M University.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

ELMIRA BAYRASLI @endeavoringE

Elmira Bayrasli is CEO and Co-Founder of Foreign Policy Interrupted. She is the author of From the Other Side of the World: Extraordinary Entrepreneurs, Unlikely Places, a book that looks at the rise of entrepreneurship globally. She is also a professor at Bard College’s Global and International Affairs program.

She has lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina where she was the Chief Spokesperson for the OSCE Mission. From 1994-2000 she was presidential appointee at the U.S. State Department, working for Madeleine Albright and Richard Holbrooke, respectively.

Elmira is a regular contributor on global entrepreneurship for TechCrunch. She also provides analysis on foreign policy, particularly on Turkey. Her work has appeared in Reuters, Foreign Affairs, Washington Post, Quartz, Fortune, Forbes, CNN, NPR, BBC, Al Jazeera, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. Elmira sits on several boards, including Invest2Innovate, Turkish Women’s International Network, and Our Secure Future.

KAVITA BERGER Dr. Kavita Berger began her career in science and security policy in 2005, when she joined the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where she developed activities that engaged Washington, D.C.-based science policy and security experts on topics ranging from health security to biological weapons. These efforts provided opportunities for scientists to bring their knowledge and experience to current security policy dialogs and for the security policy community to better understand the broader implications of science and technology.

Dr. Berger’s interest in looking between the lines of policy and practice led her to initiate two significant activities at AAAS, both of which have influenced her work at Gryphon Scientific. One activity was to promote dialogue between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and university officials to enhance their familiarity with each other, find common ground, and promote trust-building—all critical for preventing deliberately harmful incidents involving laboratory materials.

Through this work, she brought the voice of university leaders to the policy discourse. The relationships she developed with university officials, security policy experts, and the FBI enabled her to conduct forward-looking studies, such as the 2014 evaluation of the security implications of big data in the life sciences, a study which launched follow-on work by the FBI. The second activity was to engage scientists across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia to work together to prevent biosecurity threats. This effort was new to the cooperative threat reduction community and required different approaches for engagement. Her work in the MENA region promoted partnership and trust among U.S. and regional scientists to jointly reduce biological risks. The trust she built with regional leaders has persisted, allowing her to explore new opportunities for partnership with her regional colleagues.

Dr. Berger came to Gryphon Scientific in 2015, where she is building new programs on international bio-engagement and science policy. A genetics and molecular biologist by training, Dr. Berger has become a well-known and widely-respected voice in worldwide efforts to prevent the harmful use of biology.

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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AFUA BRUCE @afua_bruce

Afua Nruce is a fellow with New America’s Public Interest Technology program where she leads a team of technologists working with state and local governments, as well as NGOs, to deliver services better. Afua joined New America after spending several years working in the Federal government—at the White House and at the FBI. From 2015 to 2017, Afua served as the Executive Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s National Science and Technology Council at the White House. In this role, she oversaw 100 different Federal inter-agency working groups, tackling challenges on environment, and sustainability, homeland and national security, science, technology, and STEM education. While at the FBI, Afua held a variety of strategy and program management positions. She led work on data challenges, technical project management, process improvement, and strategic change for the Bureau’s engineering, lab, and financial programs.

Prior to joining the Federal government, Afua was a software engineer at IBM. Afua holds a degree in computer engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

HODA HAWA @hodahawa

Hoda Hawa is MPAC’s Director of the Washington, D.C. Office where she oversees MPAC’s strategic initiatives in government and policy by engaging those circles at the highest levels and developing an active constituency.

Hoda has written and spoken on subjects ranging from international religious freedom and national security to free expression and hate speech. She has been featured on BBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Voice of America, NPR and C-SPAN. Hoda spoke at the first-ever groundbreaking event at the White House honoring and highlighting the contributions of American Muslim women during Women’s History Month.

She writes frequently on issues that affect Americans both domestically and internationally, with a particular emphasis on those issues that impact American Muslims. Hoda is a Truman National Security Fellow, USC AMCLI Fellow and Google NextGen Policy Leader.

CATHERINE KILLOUGH @CatKillough

Catherine Killough is the Roger L. Hale Fellow at Ploughshares Fund, the largest U.S. philanthropic organization focused exclusively on nuclear security. She manages an advocacy coalition in Washington, D.C. that promotes diplomatic solutions to the U.S.-North Korea nuclear crisis. Her work has appeared in Foreign Policy, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, The National Interest, and she authored the recently released report “Begun is Half Done: Prospects for U.S.-North Korea Nuclear Diplomacy.”

Catherine has prior experiences in the State Department’s Office of Korean Affairs, the Office of Representative Tulsi Gabbard, and the National Committee on North Korea. She received her MA in Asian Studies from the School of Foreign Service at

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

ANGELA BRUCE-RAEBURN @abruceraeb

Angela Bruce-Raeburn is currently serving as Associate Director for Advocacy at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, which is a Bloomberg Philanthropies program. Previously, Mrs. Bruce-Raeburn worked as the Senior Policy Advisor for the Humanitarian Response in Haiti at Oxfam in the aftermath of the earthquake in 2010. Prior to joining Oxfam, Angela was the President of Junior Achievement of Sacramento Inc. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Angela grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Her immigrant experience drove her interest and commitment to choosing a career where she would be able to impact and improve the lives of people living in the developing world.

Intrigued with politics, Angela majored in political science at Lincoln University (the oldest HBCU, or Historically Black College/University) where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1986. In 1992, Angela returned to Trinidad to pursue a post-graduate Diploma in International Relations at The University of the West Indies.

Angela was selected by the Rotary Foundation to receive a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship for graduate study in Peace Studies at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. Upon completion of the degree in 2005, She received a Rotary World Peace Fellowship to study Conflict Resolution at the University of Bradford in England completing that degree in 2006. Returning to the US in 2006, Angela headed straight to Washington D.C. to accept a Congressional Black Caucus Fellowship and went to work in the Office of then CBC Chairperson Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick from Michigan. Angela focused on human trafficking and modern day slavery.

Fluent in French, Angela holds three Masters Degrees, in Public Administration, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

Mrs. Bruce-Raeburn has been married for twenty-six years to Dr. Alan Raeburn who hails from Tobago the smaller of the twin island republic and a practicing Veterinarian. The couple makes their home in Rockville, Maryland with their three sons Zachary (23), Zion (19), Zidane (17), and their dog Bamboo.

Ms. Bruce-Raeburn is the founding principal of DiverseDev–an organization dedicated to starting conversations about diversity and inclusion in the development sector.

RUDRA KAPILA @rudraverykapila

Dr. Rudra V. Kapila is a multifaceted researcher and an expert on the development and implementation of clean energy technologies to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, specifically in the context of vulnerable emerging economies.

Following her doctoral research, and her work on energy and environmental policies with the Scottish Parliament, Dr. Kapila applied her unique skillset to support political campaigns and policies for U.S. presidential, congressional, and state-level races. By practice and by trade, she has been a strong advocate for women-of-color leadership in STEM and foreign policy since beginning her professional studies in Environmental Sciences.

Dr. Kapila received her master’s degree in Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology from Imperial College London, and an interdisciplinary Ph.D in Earth & Planetary Science and International Relations from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

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DIANE MACKLIN Diane Macklin, Master Storyteller engages audience with a “dynamic” style – whether as a performing artist, keynote speaker, or workshop/residency leader.

Her background in theatre, dance, and cultural mediation join together with her focus on storytelling as a transformative and healing art form to elevate humanity. She has performed from Massachusetts to California for venues such as Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park, National Association of Black Storytellers, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, International Storytelling Festival’s Exchange Place, National Docent Symposium, and many more.

As a performer, certified educator, and teaching artist, Diane believes in “Making a Difference, One Story at a Time!”

BASSIMA ALGHUSSEIN @Bassima_AGS

Ms. Alghussein is Managing Partner of Alghussein Global Strategies, a government affairs and communications consulting firm based in Washington D.C. The firm has executed projects involving the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of State, European Union, British Parliament, Egyptian Parliament, International Monetary Fund and the World Economic Forum. Ms. Alghussein is also a Truman National Security Project Political Expert.

She frequently appears on international news outlets to discuss foreign and domestic policy issues including: Fox News Channel, Fox Business Channel, Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera, i24News, CGTN, TRT World, EgyptTen and BBC World News reaching audiences in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

She has published or been quoted in Foreign Affairs, Al Jazeera English, and The American Conservative.

Ms. Alghussein served as a White House appointed Legislative Affairs Advisor to the U.S. Dept. of Energy and is a graduate of the White House Management Leadership Training Program. She previously led Congressional relations for the Center for Strategic and International Studies—consistently ranked the world’s most influential defense think tank-- working with global leaders including Zbigniew Brzezinski and Henry Kissinger, among others. She began her career in the U.S. House of Representatives working for a member of the Armed Services Committee.

Ms. Alghussein is a cum laude graduate of Mount Holyoke College in International Relations and is writing her Masters thesis at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Security Studies. She previously studied and worked at Yale University.

Her interest in international relations stems from her competitive debate experience, winning first place at the Hawaii State Championship. At the National Debate Championship, Ms. Alghusssein was recruited as one of five debaters to represent the U.S. at the World Debate Championship in Peru.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

ASHA CASTLEBERRY @ashacastleberry

Asha C. Castleberry is a national security expert, University Professor, and Combat Veteran. She is a professor teaching U.S. Foreign Policy/National Security & Congress at George Washington University. For two years, she was a Lecturer (professor) at Fordham University. She taught U.S. Foreign Policy, International Politics, International Political Economy and United Nation Peace Operations.

A U.S. Army veteran, Asha recently completed a 30-month deployment in the Middle East. Since the 2014 ISIL incursion in Iraq, she served for Combined Joint Task ForceOperation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Kuwait.

From December 2012 to June 2014, Asha served as the Kuwait Desk Officer for International Military Affairs, U.S. Army Central. During the Obama Administration, she worked with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations at the State Department.

Asha was an election observer for the 2009 Presidential Election Observer in El Salvador and worked on USSOUTHCOM’s peacekeeping operations in Nicaragua.

Asha is also a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves.

She is a member of the Truman National Security Project’s Defense Council, Fellow at Foreign Policy Interrupted, and Adjunct Fellow at the American Security Project. Recently she was awarded the Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs Fellows Fund to conduct research about populism in the defense community. Furthermore, she was awarded the 2016 Aspen Institute Ideas Scholarship and a scholarship recipient for the Socrates Program.

A graduate of Hampton University and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Asha is a proud study abroad student studying Law and Business in China and international politics at the University of Oxford New College Program.

She is a New Leaders Council Fellow, New America Foundation top Rising Star in National Security, the Diplomatic Courier’s Top 99 Under 33 Foreign Policy Leaders and The 2015 Root100 Top African American Rising Leaders.

She has been featured or quoted in many outlets including CNN, MSNBC, CBS News, Fox News, Fox and Friends, Washington Post, Washington Times, The Huffington Post, The Hill, Al Jazeera English, i24 News International, Lima Charlie News, Uptown Magazine, Elle Magazine, The Root Magazine, Forbes, etc.

TRAVIS ADKINS @TravisLAdkins

Mr. Travis L. Adkins is currently a Lecturer of African and Security Studies at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. As an international development leader, he has 20 years of experience working in over 50 nations throughout Africa and the Middle East. This includes serving as Staff Director of the House Subcommittee on Africa, working with leading international NGOs and think tanks, and within various branches of the United Nations system.

Travis was selected as a 2010 International Affairs Fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations and is a regular contributor to global media outlets on African Affairs. Mr. Adkins is also the host of the “On Africa” podcast which serves as a global convening space for nuanced conversations on African politics, history and culture.

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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ELIZABETH BEAVERS @_ElizabethRB

Elizabeth Beavers is an attorney, analyst, and advocate for peace and security. Her work focuses on dismantling the endless war machine and protecting the human rights and civil liberties that it displaces.

Most recently, she served as Associate Policy Director for the Indivisible Project, a movement of thousands of local groups working to pressure their members of Congress. Elizabeth led the organization’s work on foreign policy, national security, democracy, and human rights.

Before Indivisible, Elizabeth was the Senior Campaigner for the U.S. section of Amnesty International, focused on bringing U.S. national security policy in line with international human rights standards. She also created and directed the Militarism & Civil Liberties program at the Friends Committee on National Legislation and sits on the board of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.

Elizabeth’s commentary on U.S. militarism has been featured in outlets including the New York Times, The Guardian, Reuters, CNN, U.S. News & World Report, and USA Today. Her work making the connections between the so-called global “War on Terror” and domestic militarization of U.S. police was featured in the award-winning documentary Peace Officer.

GRACE CHOI @choigrr

Grace Choi is the Director of Policy in the New York City Mayor’s Office. Recently, she served as the Constituency Director for Asian American & Pacific Islander Outreach for the Stacey Abrams for Governor Campaign. Previously, she was the Associate Director for Global Gender Policy and Advocacy at Save the Children.

She served in President Obama’s Administration as Policy Advisor in the Secretary of State’s Office on Global Women’s Issues and as Staff Assistant in the White House Liaison’s Office at the U.S. Department of State.

Prior to her political appointment at the Department of State, Grace worked for the Council of Korean Americans (CKA), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) in Congresswoman Judy Chu’s office, the Presidential Inauguration Committee, President Obama’s 2012 Presidential Campaign, the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Refugee Affairs Division.

She is a Council on Foreign Relations Term Member, is a co-founder of Korean Americans for Organizing (a Korean American progressive PAC), and served on the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership Board of Directors as Vice Chair for Programs. She holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College.

LUKE SCHLEUSENER @OutInNatSec

Mr. Schleusener is Director of Public Policy for Fractal Industries, an advanced AI and cybersecurity company. He is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Out in National Security, which advocates for greater equity and participation of LGBTIA+ people in national security. He served on the speechwriting staff of Secretaries of Defense Panetta, Hagel, and Carter from 2012 to 2017. Prior to this, he worked in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel from 2011 to 2012. He worked on President Obama’s campaign in 2008.

He is a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project. He previously served on the Board of No One Left Behind, a 501(c)3 that serves Special Immigration Visa holders. He holds an A.M. from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. He was a Zemsky Scholar of Arabic at Hebrew University in 2010, and attended the American University of Cairo.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

MARIA J. ESPINOSA CARRILLO @MariaJEspinosaC

María José Espinosa Carrillo is Director of Programs at the Center for Democracy in the Americas (CDA), a leading nonprofit nonpartisan institution based in Washington, D.C. devoted to encouraging a policy of engagement between the U.S. and the governments of the Americas, and to recognizing and fostering positive trends in democracy and governance in the region. María José’s portfolio includes providing strategic and operational leadership to support the growth of CDA’s fact-finding travel programs, advocacy and communications initiatives, as well the organization’s policy research and fundraising efforts.

María José has over 10 years of experience in academic and policy research, advocacy, global affairs, and in the private sector. Prior to joining CDA, María José worked in Miami where she organized exchange programs between the U.S. and Cuba. In Spain, she was a Ph.D. Fellow at the Universitat de les Illes Balears. Earlier in her career, in Cuba, she was an International Affairs Analyst at a think tank formerlycalled Centre for the Study of Asia and Oceania and was a member of a research team that published reports on the region’s economic, political, and social affairs. She began her career as a professor in the School of Economics at the University of Havana.

María José holds an MSc. in Tourism and Environmental Economics from the Universitat de les Illes Balears and an MSc. in Economics from the University of Havana. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including a scholarship from the government of Spain’s Agency for International Development Cooperation for her graduate work at the Universitat de les Illes Balears.

MICHAEL O’HANLON @MichaelEOHanlon

Michael O’Hanlon is a senior fellow, and director of research, in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in U.S. defense strategy, the use of military force, and American national security policy. He co-directs the Security and Strategy team, the Defense Industrial Base working group, and the Africa Security Initiative within the Foreign Policy program, as well. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia, Georgetown, and Syracuse universities, and a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

O’Hanlon was also a member of the external advisory board at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011 to 2012. O’Hanlon’s latest books include “The Senkaku Paradox: Risking Great Power War over Limited Stakes” (Brookings Institution Press, 2019); “Beyond NATO: A New Security Architecture for Eastern Europe” (Brookings Institution Press, 2017); “The Future of Land Warfare” Brookings Institution Press, 2015); and “Strategic Reassurance and Resolve: U.S.-China Relations in the 21st Century” (with Jim Steinberg, Princeton University Press, 2014).

Previously, he wrote “Bending History: Barack Obama’s Foreign Policy” (with Martin Indyk and Kenneth Lieberthal, Brookings Institution Press, 2012); “A Skeptic’s Case for Nuclear Disarmament” (Brookings Institution Press, 2010); “The Science of War” (Princeton University Press, 2009); “Crisis on the Korean Peninsula” (with Mike Mochizuki, McGraw-Hill, 2003); “Winning Ugly: NATO’s War to Save Kosovo” (with Ivo Daalder, Brookings Institution Press, 2000); and “Technological Change and the Future of Warfare” (Brookings Institution Press, 2000), among other books.

O’Hanlon has written several hundred op-eds in newspapers including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, USA Today, and Pakistan’s Dawn paper. His articles have appeared in Foreign Affairs, The National Interest, Survival, Washington Quarterly, Joint Forces Quarterly, and International Security, among other publications. O’Hanlon has appeared on television or spoken on the radio some 4,000 times since September 11, 2001.

O’Hanlon was an analyst at the Congressional Budget Office from 1989 to 1994. He also worked previously at the Institute for Defense Analyses. His doctorate from Princeton is in public and international affairs; his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, also from Princeton, are in the physical sciences. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Congo/Kinshasa (the former Zaire) from 198284, where he taught college and high school physics in French. Earlier, he worked on a dairy farm in Upstate New York, where he grew up, and attempted (unsuccessfully) with a team of Princeton experimental physicists in the “Gravity Group” to disprove Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.

Diverse Contributions: A Strong Feature of America

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UZRA ZEYA

@UzraZeya @AFPeacebuilding As CEO and President of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, Uzra Zeya leads a network of over 100 organizations working in 153 countries to end conflict through peaceful means. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed her January 2018 appointment by declaring, “After doing so much for so long to advance the cause of peace and human dignity on a global basis, Uzra is ideally suited to lead and help transform modern peacebuilding efforts in a new era.”

Over the course of a distinguished, 27-year diplomatic career, Ms. Zeya championed a more just, peaceful and sustainable world across five continents.

As Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Paris from 2014 to 2017, she led the U.S. response to three major terror attacks and forged unprecedented cooperation with France in combating terrorism in Africa and the Middle East, countering Russian aggression and malign influence in Europe, and mobilizing global action to confront climate change.

Ms. Zeya served as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor from 2012 to 2014. She oversaw over $400 million in global human rights and democracy assistance, led U.S. human rights dialogs with China and other nations, and launched a new public-private partnership to counter gender-based violence. She frequently briefed U.S. and international media on human rights policy, and has been profiled by the New York Times, Washington Post, and National Public Radio, among others.

As Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of State from 2011 to 2012, she helped shape the U.S. policy response to the Arab Spring and deepened U.S. engagement with emerging powers. She also served as Deputy Executive Secretary to Secretaries Rice and Clinton and overseas at Embassies New Delhi, Muscat, Damascus, Cairo, and Kingston. She is the recipient of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest civilian honor, and 15 Superior Honor and Senior Performance Awards.

Uzra is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, where she taught graduate level coursework on diplomatic tradecraft and U.S.-European relations. Since leaving government, she also served as a Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group and a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. She speaks French, Arabic, and Spanish.

ERICA FEIN @enfein

Erica Fein is the Advocacy Director at Win Without War. In this capacity, she engages with policymakers in Congress, the Executive Branch, the NGO community, the media, and grassroots partners to advance the organization’s progressive foreign policy and national security agenda. Her career has centered in and around Congress and foreign policy issues.

Previously, she served as Director of Government Affairs and Nuclear Weapons Policy Director at Women’s Action for New Directions where she led campaigns to limit the excessive U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal. She also handled national security, foreign policy, veterans affairs, and other issues as a legislative assistant to former Congressman John D. Dingell. Erica holds an MA from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Erica has been published and quoted in the New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Defense One, Defense News, The Huffington Post, Think Progress, and The Intercept, among other publications.

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Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

ANTHONY ROBINSON @robcando

Anthony Robinson has over 17 years of experience leading teams across diverse public and private organizations. He is skilled in program development and implementation, team leadership, exchange facilitation, and partnership building.

Anthony formerly served as the Director of Training and Public Engagement with the Truman National Security Project, where he was responsible for designing, organizing, and conducting a number of progressive issues- and policy-based trainings and briefings for policymakers, military leaders, civic and political leaders, and global allied organizations on topics ranging from combating the rise of authoritarianism and erosion of democratic institutions and norms to improving inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. In recent years he has worked extensively in transatlantic regions on security cooperation, upholding democratic institutions, and inclusiveness in the security sector.

Prior to Truman, Anthony served as a White House appointee during the Obama Administration in several national security policy roles at the Department of Defense, Department of Labor and Department of Transportation. During his time as a White House Appointee, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.

Anthony is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and has a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University.

Anthony was recently named a Black American National Security & Foreign Policy Next Generation Leader and a 2019-2020 Marshall Memorial Fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

LEO CRUZ

@LeoCruz1787 Leo Cruz is currently the Associate Director for Communications and Campaigns at National Security Action. He has years of experience in state and national issue advocacy and electoral campaigns.

During the Obama Administration, he served as a political appointee in the Department of Defense and in each branch of the military services. Prior to his service in the Obama Administration, Leo worked for various nonprofits and political organizations in community organizing and veterans support. Leo is also an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, serving as a Gunnery Officer aboard the U.S. Navy Destroyer, the USS RAMAGE (DDG-61).

Leo is a graduate of Norwich University with a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. Leo lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife Susan and their children, Thomas and Rachael.

NICOLETTE LOUISSAINT @DRNLouissaint @HC_Ready

Dr. Nicolette Louissaint serves as the Executive Director of Healthcare Ready, where she leads organizational initiatives to meet the most pressing patient needs before, during and after natural disasters, disease outbreaks and catastrophic events. She coordinates with health and emergency management across the public and private sectors to ensure communities are prepared and able to bounce back following disasters.

Prior to joining Healthcare Ready, Nicolette was the Senior Advisor to the State Department’s Special Coordinator for Ebola during the height of the Ebola Epidemic of 2014. In this role, she helped coordinate international response efforts.

Nicolette holds Bachelors of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed post-doctoral fellowships at the Johns Hopkins University and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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BUNMI AKINNUSOTU @msb616 @witwpod

Bunmi Akinnusotu is a foreign policy enthusiast and organizational management leader. As the Deputy Director of the Rangel Fellowship at Howard University, Bunmi builds the talent pipeline of foreign service officers and international affairs leaders.

Prior to Howard, Bunmi was the Chief of Staff at Young Professionals in Foreign Policy which also amplifies the voices of rising global policymakers. She was a political appointee in the Obama Administration where she served as Special Assistant in the Office of Land and Emergency Management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There, she coordinated international and domestic efforts to advance resource conservation and bring greater visibility to the social and economic benefits of reducing negative environmental impacts.

Bunmi’s international journey began at Search for Common Ground in Timor-Leste and she later taught English in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Prior to her career in foreign affairs, Bunmi was a non-profit fundraiser for the YWCA and United Way in Chicago. She’s also an Americorps Alumn, a Truman National Security Fellow, and a Penn Kemble Democracy Fellow.

Bunmi obtained her Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and also a Master’s in Sociology from Illinois State University Stevenson Center for Applied Community and Economic Development. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Bryant University located in her home state of Rhode Island. Bunmi is a recovering collegiate volleyball player, loves anything made of red velvet, anything from Chicago, and enjoys producing her radio program and podcast, What in the World?. She is relentless in her pursuit to help more Americans understand the connection of foreign policy to their everyday lives.

ANDREW ALBERTSON @AndrewAlbertson

Andrew Albertson is Executive Director of Foreign Policy for America, a 501c(4) organization that advocates for principled American engagement in the world.

Andrew brings more than a decade of experience leading initiatives that promote smart, principled approaches to American foreign policy challenges. From 2007 to 2010, he was the founding executive director of the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED). From 2011 to 2012, he served in Afghanistan with USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), where he was Deputy Regional Representative for OTI’s programs in the South and Southwest regions. From 2012 to 2015, at Creative Associates International, he directed programs in Libya that built the capacity of civil society organizations and municipal governments.

Mr. Albertson is a Fellow with the Truman National Security Project and recently co-directed the organization’s Fragile States Working Group. He received a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree from Georgetown University, where he was the Huffington Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.

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TAMAKI LAYCOCK Tamaki Laycock works as Program Coordinator for the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC).

Prior to joining USJC, Tamaki worked for Fontheim International, a social corporate responsibility firm, as Executive and Research Assistant to the CEO. Prior to her move to the United States, she studied at the University of York in York, England, and earned a BA in Politics with International Relations. As a student, she was elected as Academic Officer for the University of York Students’ Union, working to benefit students locally and nationally on matters of education policy and national politics.

She was active on campus as an organizer and campaigner, including as Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) Officer working as an advocate for minority student views on campus.

IMAN AWAD Iman Awad is the National Legislative Director of Emgage. In this capacity, she advises on the development of a legislative strategy to advance issues that are important to Muslim Americans. Additionally, Awad is supporting efforts on Capitol Hill pertaining to the Rohingya Crisis and anti-Hate Crime Legislation.

Prior to working with Emgage, Iman served as Director of the Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs in Maryland, worked with the Middle East Policy Council and served as a Truman Political Partner. Iman has a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Loyola University.

CARMEN IEZZI MEZZERA @apsiainfo

Carmen Mezzera has been executive director of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs since January 2014.

Previously, she served as: Director of Programs and Operations at the Bretton Woods Committee; Executive Director of the Fair Trade Federation; Assistant Director for Education and Outreach at the Atlantic Council of the United States; and Director of Alumni Relations for the School of International Service (SIS) at American University.

Graduating Phi Beta Kappa from SIS, Ms. Mezzera stayed on to complete her master’s degree with a focus on international organizations and sustainable development. In the course of her studies, she provided analyses for NATO’s Partnership for Peace in Mons, Belgium and at the United Nations Development Program Washington Office.

Among her volunteer work, Ms. Mezzera has served with the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area, St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington D.C., the Canadian Coalition for Fair Trade, and the Abyssinian Fund. She has written and/or provided interviews for CNN, CBS, Forbes, Foreign Affairs, the Wall Street Journal, Martha Stewart Living, Vogue, and Cooperative Grocer Magazine–among other outlets–and spoken at numerous national and international conferences. She received the 2008 Rising Star Alumni Award from American University.

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KAREN ISABEL GUEVARA Ms. Karen Isabel Guevara is the Founder and President of Equanimity International, a firm dedicated to solving complex global security sector challenges.

With a diverse career in government, non-profit, and the private sector, Ms. Guevara has extensive capacity building, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and security sector reform experience. A seasoned security expert, she has spearheaded multi-milliondollar programs around the world. Most recently, she oversaw: a law enforcement academy reform program in Bamako, Mali; United Nations Peacekeeping Operations program in Fiji; and conceptualized capacity building programs for the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Kenya. On behalf of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), she managed strategic communications training in Thailand and Information Technology (IT) records management assessment in Nepal. She also assisted the Senegalese Prison Administration host the first Mock Prison Riot in West Africa.

At the Grameen Foundation, she oversaw a 20-million-dollar Americas portfolio and led M&E efforts to evaluate numerous microfinance and non-governmental organizations. She managed programs in Latin America and the Caribbean in countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. At the United Nations, Ms. Guevara spearheaded the Global Classrooms program, a 10 milliondollar initiative to promote dialogue and peace missions through cross cultural exchanges from Ghana to Russia and other locations throughout the world. She also developed curricula and conducted training for the United Nations.

Ms. Guevara has worked for both the U.S. Departments of State and Defense. At the Department of State, she specialized in Turkish-Syrian relations with an emphasis on the Syrian conflict and border issues. She successfully represented the U.S. Government in various diplomatic posts in Turkey, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, and Botswana. At the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) in the Pentagon, Ms. Guevara led several initiatives to recommend policies concerning resource allocation and developed metrics to improve organizational performance.

Under the Obama administration, she served as the Department of Defense representative to the White House Council on Women and Girls. She drafted strategies and policies to promote women’s leadership and advancement. She helped implement initiatives dedicated to increasing women and girls’ participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields.

Ms. Guevara has many years of private sector experience working at Morgan Stanley, government contracting firms, and consulting agencies. In the private sector, she led IT, digital products, and digital platforms projects to measure the true impact of programming by using objective and methodical metrics as well as rigorous data-driven insights and analytics.

Ms. Guevara holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate and completed studies at Georgetown University and the University of Oxford.

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Photo by Henry & Co. (@hngstrm) on Unsplash

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At WCAPS, we believe global issues demand a variety of perspectives.

That’s why we created a platform devoted to women of color that cultivates a strong voice and network for its members while encouraging dialogue and strategies for engaging in policy discussions on an international scale. Through our dedication to mentorships and partnerships and our passion for changing the global community landscape, we remain committed to achieving our vision of advancing the leadership and professional development of women of color in the fields of international peace, security, and conflict transformation.

While the global community is faced with issues related to worldwide health security, peacekeeping, weapons of mass destruction nonproliferation, and the intersection of other areas of international security, there is no significant or sustained voice from women of color who are often the most affected and who are also community leaders in many parts of the world.

We want to change that.