Meridian Exchange: January 2023

MERIDIAN AT THE INTERSECTION OF DIPLOMACY & INNOVATION

2022 showed us that complex world challenges are no longer solved between just nations bilaterally. Leaders from the private, public and nonprofit sectors must fill in the gaps, and Meridian proudly served as a gateway to building the nonpartisan channels needed to accelerate global collaboration and strengthen alliances. We are grateful to all who share our belief in the power of global leadership, diplomacy and culture to create a more secure, prosperous future for all. Dive in to our 2022 Annual Impact Report here.

A GLOBAL MOMENT IN TIME: THROUGH THE LENS OF IVLP PARTICIPANTS

 

In October 2021, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) launched A Global Moment in Time, a special International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) initiative to address significant contemporary societal conditions affecting all corners of the world. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, Meridian worked with Global Moment in Time participants to create a one-of-a-kind photography book, giving us a glimpse into the lives of people in communities throughout the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Access the photobook here.

 

THE EMERGENCE OF CITY AND STATE DIPLOMACY

 

A day before The Honorable Antony Blinken became the first Secretary of State to address the U.S. Conference of Mayors, underscoring the critical role mayors play in international affairs, the Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement, in partnership with the Brookings Institution, convened a discussion on the importance of subnational diplomacy. The main takeaway? Cooperation on global issues requires local action and leadership. Panelists included Ambassador Nina Hachigian, U.S. Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, H.E. Jorge Argüello, Ambassador of Argentina to the U.S., and The Honorable Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona. Read our key takeaways here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Global Business Briefing with H.E. Kirsten Hillman, Ambassador of Canada to the U.S.

March 1, 2023 | In Person

Ambassador Hillman will share insights on the outlook of the U.S.-Canada trade relationship and how the private sector can help reinforce U.S.-Canada bilateral relations. For more information, please contact Rodrigo Moreschi at rmoreschi@meridian.org. This program is open to members of the Meridian Corporate Council and off the record.

Meridian Council Salon Dinner: Entrée to Dialogue Series | The War in Ukraine One Year Later: A View from the Ground and a View from the Pentagon

March 1, 2023 | In Person

This conversation will feature Greg Myre, National Security Correspondent, NPR, and Jennifer Griffin, Chief National Security Correspondent, FOX News, to discuss one of the most consequential geopolitical events of our lifetime. This program is open to members of the Meridian Council. For more information, please contact ewarner@meridian.org.

SXSW EDU | Panel: Pathways for Global Affairs on College Campuses

March 9, 2023| In Person and Virtual

Explore how global affairs pathway programs and internationalizing our college campuses can provide greater opportunities for underrepresented youth and revolutionize American representation abroad. For more information, please contact communications@meridian.org.

Culturefix: Conversations and the Meridian Cultural Diplomacy Awards

June 2, 2023 | In Person and Virtual

Our third-annual cultural diplomacy celebration, Culturefix, will honor the power of the arts and culture to help fix global challenges faced by people, communities, and the planet featuring conversations with world-class artists and cultural leaders on: Art’s Role in the March on Democracy, De-weaponizing Cultural Heritage, Fashion and Culinary Diplomacy: Appreciation vs. Appropriation and Gender, Sexuality and Human Rights. For more information, visit here.

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Book Talk: David Marchick's The Peaceful Transfer of Power

COMING SOON:Part 2 of this Season's culutreXchanges Podcast 

SUSI Civic Leaders Venture to the West Coast

 

SAVE THE DATE: 2023 MERIDIAN DIPLOMACY FORUM

American success abroad and on the world stage is directly linked to U.S. policies and actions at home.

This year's Meridian Diplomacy Forum, All Diplomacy is Local: Strengthening City and State Statecraft will explore the emergence of cities and states as global actors in diplomacy, their evolving impact on everything from international trade and business development to climate change mitigation and global health, and how engaging previously underserved and overlooked pockets of America will fortify U.S. international relations.

The 2023 Meridian Diplomacy Forum is scheduled for April 11, 2023 on Meridian’s campus and livestreamed for a global audience. Learn more about the upcoming program here.

We are heartbroken over the earthquake across Turkey and Syria, given our efforts to support each’s citizens over our 60-year history. Hundreds of Turkish and Syrian people have walked through our doors through a range of exchange and cultural programs in partnership with the US Department of State and others. Learn more about how you can help here.

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