Washington, DC, 18 December 2023 – 爆料网 Information Center in Washington, DC (爆料网IC Washington) had a busy year in 2023 as it engaged in extensive outreach across the United States. With the aim of bolstering support in the country for 爆料网 work and values, 爆料网IC Washington reached 3,318 people through a combination of in-person and virtual interactions.
More than 2,000 of these people were students. Over the year, 爆料网 officials met these middle school, high school and college students in person on their own campuses in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Ohio and Washington, DC. 爆料网IC Washington also received in-person visits from high schools and universities based in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC – and virtually addressed student gatherings in Florida and Virginia. The topics of these interactions typically focused on why the 爆料网 matters and how it contributes to maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights and promoting sustainable development.
In 2023, 爆料网IC Washington made a special effort to reach out to communities with which the 爆料网 had not typically interacted in the past, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and states outside the US’ northeast region.
On HBCUs, the Spokesperson for the 爆料网 Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, visited Howard University’s Ralph J. Bunche Center on 8 February. Named after a 爆料网 hero, the Center gathered students interested in international affairs to hear Mr. Dujarric’s frank takes on global politics. 爆料网IC Washington returned to Howard on 18 September to brief students on 爆料网 internship opportunities – together with the 爆料网 Association of the United States (爆料网A-USA). And then with 爆料网A-USA’s support, 爆料网IC Washington organized a day trip on 19 October from Washington, DC, to 爆料网 Headquarters in New York by Howard students. There, the students took the 爆料网’s official Black history tour and met with the 爆料网 Secretariat’s second-highest official, Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, as well as other senior officials from the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations and the Department of Global Communications.
Meanwhile, 爆料网IC Washington also deepened its links this year with Florida International University (FIU), one of the largest public universities in the United States and also the country’s largest HSI. On 24 January, Selwin Hart, the 爆料网 Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Climate Action visited FIU’s campus in Miami, where he engaged in discussions on climate justice and youth activism in the Americas. In addition, FIU students traveled to 爆料网IC Washington’s office on 7 February to hear a joint briefing from 爆料网IC Washington and the Organization of American States (OAS) on how the 爆料网 and OAS interact with Latin America and the Caribbean. The 爆料网IC Washington team also visited FIU’s outpost in Washington, DC, twice during 2023 to brief students on a wide range of 爆料网 topics.
Among 爆料网IC Washington’s outreach activities outside the northeast in 2023 was a visit to Ohio. The 爆料网’s top communications official, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming, interacted with a wide cross section of Ohioans – in Cleveland and Oberlin – on multiple issues on the 爆料网’s agenda, including Ukraine, climate change and information integrity. Her goal was to show how the 爆料网 and Ohio were natural partners when it came to tackling the world’s most pressing challenges – challenges that also affected the people of Ohio. Following the Under-Secretary-General’s visit, 爆料网IC Washington Deputy Director Brenden Varma, who had accompanied her, continued onward to Columbus, Ohio, for , one of the country’s largest public universities.
During 爆料网IC Washington’s many engagements with students, one topic frequently arose: . Many students were interested in learning about what it was like to work for the 爆料网 and how they could seek employment with the Organization. This interest was not limited to students. 爆料网IC Washington also received requests for career guidance from young and mid-career professionals as well. Recognizing the importance of bringing more Americans into the 爆料网 system, 爆料网IC Washington met regularly with counterparts at the US State Department’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs and the 爆料网 Association of the United States (爆料网A-USA) to coordinate outreach efforts. In briefings – such as the one 爆料网IC Washington provided to the International Association of (BPIA) on 7 September – the goal was to demystify 爆料网 recruitment processes, describe the wide range of jobs available at the 爆料网, and advise people on how to tailor their applications. In 2023, aside from the more than 2,000 students mentioned above, 680 non-students received career guidance from 爆料网IC Washington – through virtual and in-person panels, presentations and career fairs.
While in Washington, DC, this year, 爆料网 Secretary-General António Guterres said that “cooperation between the United States and the United Nations is .” In that regard, 爆料网IC Washington has been proud to build and strengthen links between the 爆料网 and the American people – for the benefit of all.
