AGENDA

UN General Assembly Hall and Conference Room 4

7:30 AM Registration & UN Grounds Pass – Church Center for the UN (777 UN Plaza: 1 st Ave. & 44th)

7:30 AM United Nations Entrance Opens – 1st Ave. & 46th Street

9:00 AM Opening Plenary

Location: UN General Assembly Hall

Jeanne Betsock Stillman, Conference Chair, UNA-USA National Council

Chris Whatley, Executive Director, United Nations Association of the USA
Don Lewis, President, Professional Hygiene, Essity
Munira Khalif, U.S. Youth Observer to the United Nations
Her Excellency Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
Peter Yeo, President, Better World Campaign & Senior Vice President, UN Foundation
Ambassador Kelley Eckels Currie, U.S. Mission to the United Nations

10:15 AM Breakout Session I

ISSUE TRACK: OUR PLANET, OUR RESPONSIBILITY
Location: UN General Assembly Hall

Climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national borders. Protecting the
planet is everyone’s responsibility. This panel will discuss how the UN, NGOs, and public-private
partnerships are working together and engaging people to protect our planet.

Moderator
Zephanii Smith, Liaison to the United Nations, UNA-USA National Council, and NGO
SustainUS, Inc.

Panelists
Jamil Ahmad, Deputy Director and Head of Inter-Governmental Affairs, UN Environment
Megan Boone, Environmental advocate and actress from the hit series The Blacklist and Sony’s
“Picture This” competition judge
Lia Cairone, Senior Policy Advisor at New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
 ACTION TRACK: ADVOCACY THROUGH THE ARTS
Location: Conference Room #4

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then these panelists speak volumes through their
respective media. Throughout history, art has been used to convey emotion, educate, and
inspire. Art has moved entire generations to take action. Through artistic expression, barriers
of nationality, language, and culture can fade away. In this session, learn how these artists
have used their talents to advocate for great causes.

Moderator
Dr. Cindy Maguire, Director, Arts Action Group and Professor, Adelphi University; eL Seed,
artist, activist, and TED Fellow

Panelists
Ahmed Badr, Poet, Fellow, Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life
Theresa Balderas, Disney: Dream Big Princess Photographer
Aaron Barksdale, Writer and Editor, VICE Impact
Rene Spellman, Creative Arts Agency Foundation

11:20 AM Breakout Session II

ISSUE TRACK: PRIORITIES BEFORE THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Location: UN General Assembly Hall

The General Assembly is the only body capable of bringing together every nation on the planet
to address common problems. From addressing conflict to promoting human rights, the
General Assembly has a critical role to play in advancing human security and dignity. This
session will feature a discussion with His Excellency Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd
Session of the UN General Assembly and Foreign Minister of the Slovak Republic.

Introduction – Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, UN Foundation

Featured Speaker – His Excellency Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UN General Assembly
 ACTION TRACK: TAKING ACTION ON THE GLOBAL GOALS
Location: Conference Room #4

This past UN Day, we honored local leaders for the global goals in communities across America.
Hear from some of these activists on their journeys to influence positive change and learn how
you can do the same through this hands-on workshop. Under the guidance of experienced
activists, you can learn to identify key stakeholders, formulate actionable steps, and inform
and inspire your local community about a cause that excites you.

Moderator
RJ Johnson, Vice Chair, UNA-USA National Council; World Federation of UN Associations

Panelists
Ayesha Barenblat, Founder, Remake
Soffiyah Elijah, Executive Director, Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ), “March for Justice”
Clayton Ferrera, Executive Director, Ideas for US
Mitchell Toomey, Executive Director, UN SDG Action Campaign, UN Development Programme

12:10 PM Lunch Break (on your own)

INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE EXHIBIT

1:40 PM Breakout Session III

ISSUE TRACK: PRIVATE SECTOR’S ROLE IN ACHIEVING THE GLOBAL GOALS
Location: UN General Assembly Hall

The UN estimates that achievement of the Global Goals will cost between $2-3 trillion. This will
be impossible without the involvement of the private sector. The business community
can contribute financial and human resources, but must also responsibly incorporate the goals
into their business missions, values, supply chains, services, products, and daily practices. We
are pleased to present panelists offering three different perspectives: a small social enterprise,
a major multinational corporation, and an organization seeking to mobilize the private sector’s
potential to improve our world.
Moderator
Donna Rosa, President, UNA-USA Northern New Jersey Chapter

Panelists
Natalie Africa, Senior Director, UN Every Woman Every Child Initiative
Jennifer Ann Ragland, Senior Director, Government & Stakeholder Relations, The Coca-Cola
Company
Tim McCollum, Co-Founder, Madécasse

ACTION TRACK: STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Location: Conference Room #4

Throughout 2018, the UN is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights by encouraging global citizens to “Stand Up for Human Rights.” Recognizing the
famous truism from former first-lady and UNA-USA chair Eleanor Roosevelt that human rights
begin close to home, this panel will explore best practices of how advocates can stand up for
the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration by acting locally, engaging private enterprise,
seeding partnerships, and connecting with the United Nations.

Moderator
Ryan Kaminski, Senior Program Manager: Human Rights, UNA-USA

Panelists
Maria Almario PhD., Chair, UNA-SNY Partnership for the Eradication of Human Trafficking
Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Special Advisor to Governor Andrew Cuomo for Policy and
Community Affairs of New York State Homes and Community Renewal
Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer, UN Human Rights Office
JaMel Perkins, Co-Founder, Freedom FWD
2:45 PM Breakout Session IV
ISSUE TRACK: THE GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS
Location: UN General Assembly Hall

As we engage in this panel, thousands of people are fleeing their homes every day in search of
safety. Refugees are crossing borders, arriving in remote rural communities or in sprawling
cities affected by urban poverty. Others are uprooted within their own countries, forced from
their homes by major security operations or armed clashes, caught in the midst of conflict,
often without the option of making their way to safety abroad. Across the world, we also see
humanity, generosity, resilience, welcome, patience, determination, and understanding,
reminding us that extending protection to those in search of refuge is an age-old value, as well
as a universal, binding, legal obligation. The panelists will discuss the state of the global
refugee crisis and the response of the international community.

Moderator
Rachel Pittman, Sr. Director of Membership and Programs, UNA-USA

Panelists
Amir Ashour, Founder and Executive Director, IraQueer
Grainne O’Hara, Deputy Director, New York Office, UN Refugee Agency
Gillian Sorensen, Board Member, International Rescue Committee

ACTION TRACK: USING TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL GOOD

Location: Conference Room #4

Technology and social media have connected us across the world in ways we previously never
thought imaginable. Technology has cultivated a sense of familiarity and closeness between
people from across the world. It has united us through our shared humanity and desire for a
better world. Technology is now the quintessential tool to propel social movements and
promote social good. Through apps and social networking, we’ve tackled issues from climate
change to political injustice and made our voices heard. With technology, we can make our
 world better one click at a time. In this session, we’ll hear how tech-savvy humanitarians
leverage this platform to advance important causes.

Moderator
Ari Eisenstat, Activist Impact Investor, Civil Society/ICC Representative to the UN, Chief
Ambassador, Moeda Cooperative Crypto Banking Platform

Panelists
Robert Kirkpatrick, Director, UN Global Pulse (Executive Office of the UN Secretary General)
Jill Nguyen, Senior Client Strategy Lead, Phone 2 Action
Nicol Perez, Product Marketing Manager on Civic Engagement, Facebook
Lauren Theurkauf, Marketing Director, Charity Miles

3:50 PM Closing Plenary

Location: UN General Assembly Hall

Elisabeth Philippe, Senior Manager of Community and Media Relations, UNFCU

Lidia Bastianich, Emmy Award-Winning Chef, Author, TV personality, Former refugee, and
UNA-USA’s Adopt-A-Future Champion
Keynote Speaker – Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director, UN Sustainable Development Solutions
Network
Micah Spangler, Deputy Director, Legislative Affairs, Better World Campaign
Perrin Ireland, Great-Granddaughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt
Honorable Teta Banks, Chair, UNA-USA National Council

4:55 PM Adjourn