Meridian Exchange | April 2021

Happy Earth Day! For the past month we’ve worked hard to plan and host our flagship events like the Diplomacy Forum, and to ensure that we practice what we preach: diversifying our guests and programs to reflect the strength and diversity of the American people. We remain committed to our values of equity and inclusion, and to building a more just world through our work and in our workplace.

Diplomacy Forum:
Strengthening American Statecraft

Diplomatic, government and business leaders joined university students and emerging diplomats to discuss the future of American statecraft at our Diplomacy Forum on April 16. In case you missed the program, you can view all sessions here. At the Forum, we launched our new DiplomacyRISE Initiative, an inclusive diplomatic professional development program that provides greater access to critical skills training, career guidance networks and emerging issue expertise to cultivate the next generation of U.S. diplomats that reflect America’s diversity and are equipped with 21st century statecraft skills and knowledge. Learn more in our press release.

Prioritizing Global Journalism
and Press Freedom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With International Fact Checking day on April 2, we launched our Central Asian Journalism Summer Institute virtually. Typically held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan at American University of Central Asia, the collaboration trains journalists on source verification and fighting disinformation. At the Diplomacy Forum on Friday, April 16 we were honored to host The Honorable Will Hurd, Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, Dr. Vivian Walker, Dr. Harry Wingo and Bay Fang for a timely conversation about overcoming disinformation with facts. And as we gear up for World Press Freedom Day, we look forward to hosting Ned Price & Emily Horne for a conversation on press freedom as a national and global security priority.

2020 Annual Report:
Responding to Shared Global Challenges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 was a difficult year: a global pandemic, the continued fight for racial justice and a contentious U.S. election had ripple effects that transcended borders and sectors, creating an urgent need for diplomacy and international cooperation. Meridian responded to these shared global challenges by providing platforms for global leaders to collaborate on innovative solutions through 160 virtual programs. Click here to view our Annual Report.

Upcoming Events

Press Freedom as a National and Global Security Priority

April 27 | 3:30 P.M. ET
"Press Freedom as a National and Global Security Priority" will feature Ned Price, Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State; Emily Horne, Spokesperson and Senior Director for Press at the National Security Council; and moderator James Bennet, Visiting Senior Editor of The Economist, who will discuss the challenges facing freedom of the press around the world and what actions the Biden administration can take to advance the values of transparency, democracy, and freedom of speech in journalism. For more information, please reach out to Megan Devlin.
*This program is on the record and open to press.

Global Business Briefing with H.E. Claudia Cornejo, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Peru

May 4 | 11:00 A.M. ET
H.E. Claudia Cornejo, Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, will join the Meridian Corporate Council for a discussion on the U.S.-Peru bilateral relationship. The conversation will focus on the future of the trade and economic relationship in 2021. For more information, please reach out to Steven Greenwald.
*This program is closed to press and off the record.

Global Business Briefing with H.E. Dame Karen Pierce, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the United States

May 6 | 2:00 P.M. ET
H.E. Dame Karen Pierce, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the United States, will join the Meridian Corporate Council for a discussion on the U.S.-UK trade and economic relationship in the year ahead. For more information, please reach out to Maggie Henkin.
*This program is closed to press and off the record.

Global Business Briefing with H.E. Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan to the United States

May 13 | 9:00 A.M. ET
H.E. Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan to the United States, will join the Meridian Corporate Council for a discussion on the future of U.S. and Japan trade and economic relations. For more information, please reach out to Maggie Henkin.
*This program is closed to press and off the record.

Global Business Briefing with H.E. Nestor Forster, Ambassador of Brazil to the United States

May 19 | 11:00 A.M. ET
H.E. Nestor Forster, Ambassador of Brazil to the United States, will join the Meridian Corporate Council for a discussion on the U.S.-Brazil bilateral relationship. The conversation will focus on the future of science and technology as it relates to the bilateral trading relationship. For more information, please reach out to Steven Greenwald.
*This program is closed to press and off the record.

culturefix

June 9, 2021
As Cultural Diplomacy Month comes to a close, we are pleased to announce our upcoming Culturefix event, Meridian's inaugural cultural diplomacy celebration, which will honor the power of the arts and culture to help fix global challenges. The virtual program will feature conversations at the intersection of diplomacy, culture and the arts, the announcement of the Meridian Cultural Diplomacy Awards and special performances. Register today! For more information, please reach out to Rebekah Mechem-Nantz.

Meridian Ball and Global Leadership Summit

October 21-22, 2021
Please save the dates for the 53rd Annual Meridian Ball (Friday, October 22, 2021) and Global Leadership Summit (Thursday, October 21, 2021). The Summit will be a hybrid virtual/in-person experience and the Ball will be in person at embassies across Washington, DC, and Meridian House. More details to follow as the event dates approach. All health guidelines at the time of the event, including limiting guest capacity, will be followed. Tickets and sponsorship packages will be limited accordingly. For more information on pre-purchasing tickets, please contact Kylie Cash.

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