Meridian Exchange: February 2022

For Media

We are heartbroken over the events in Ukraine given our efforts to support the citizens of the country through a range of exchange programs in partnership with the U.S. Department of State and others. You can read Ambassador Stuart Holliday’s full statement here.

THE WORLD HAS TRANSFORMED.
SO HAS MERIDIAN.

While the ongoing pandemic could easily define this past year, the disruption and transformation that emerged out of the ensuing public health crisis – alongside other global challenges – is a more accurate characterization of 2021. Meridian continued to address the diverse array of challenges using new and innovative approaches and applied key learnings to inform our 2021 hybrid engagement. As we continue to transform as an organization, Meridian looks forward to collaborating with all our partners to transform global challenges into opportunities in 2022.

BLACK LEADERS IN DIPLOMACY -
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

February was Black History Month, and we celebrated by highlighting Black leaders in diplomacy, while still recognizing the ongoing struggle to advance racial equity here in the U.S. On February 23, the birthday of W.E.B Dubois, the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy collaborated with PostClassical Ensemble to present, “Rethinking the Canon: The Legacy of Black American Classical Music.” The discussion navigated the important cultural legacy of Black classical musicians, interrogated their absence in musical history, and reimagined a future for classical music rooted in inclusion and recognition. Additionally, the Meridian Center for Global Leadership developed programming for audiences in Brazil and Azerbaijan that focused on diversity in the U.S., health and wellness in the Black community, and the current state of Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S.

A FOCUS ON LATIN AMERICA

This month, Meridian hosted a variety of programs focused on Latin American countries and participants.

The Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement brought together leaders for “Innovations in Healthy Aging in Latin America", which explored lessons learned from across the region in healthy aging.
The Meridian Corporate Council spoke with H.E. Marcos Pontes, Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation about the country's strategy to invest in scientific advancement.
The Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy held a discussion on recent archaeological discoveries made by Guatemala’s PACUNAM LiDAR Initiative, which recently discovered dozens of ancient, previously lost Mayan cities of more than 60,000 large constructions.
The Meridian Center for Global Leadership convened one of our first in-person programs of 2022 in partnership with the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, bringing a group of civil society and business sector leaders to Mexico for a week of cross-cultural exchange.

UPCOMING EVENTS

	SXSW EDU: "American Diplomats Should Look Like America" March 10, 2022 \| Austin, TexasThere is imbalanced representation among the U.S. Foreign Service members who educate the world on American values. To ensure a more diverse public workforce, it’s vital to create a pipeline that educates, mentors and prepares underrepresented American youth for global affairs careers.
	Global Cinema Panel Discussion March 10, 2022 \| VirtualThe Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy will host a panel discussion to explore how film has been used as a tool in public diplomacy. Guests will include leading scholars, professors of cinematic arts, professionals, cultural diplomacy experts, and organizations that focus on cinematic arts. Register here.
	Global Business Briefing: U.S. - Colombia Relations March 16, 2022 \| HybridAmbassador of Colombia Juan Carlos Pinzón will discuss the history and state of of the U.S.- Colombia relationship. This conversation is open to members of the Meridian Corporate Council and has limited space. For more information, please contact the Meridian Corporate Relations team. This program is closed to press and off the record.
	Global Business Briefing: International Trade in 2022 March 23, 2022 \| HybridUnder Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago will preview the administration's top trade priorities for 2022. This conversation is open to members of the Meridian Corporate Council and has limited space. For more information, please contact the Meridian Corporate Relations team. This program is closed to press and off the record.
	Diplomacy Forum - Statecraft in the Evolving Frontiers: Ocean, Arctic and Space April 12, 2022 \| Hybrid Science and technological innovation are decreasing the barriers of entry to space, while climate change is expanding the operability of the Arctic and renewing focus on our oceans. Add yourself to the event interest list.