The entire Meridian community is shocked and saddened to learn of the devastation caused by the shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. Through our international exchange and cultural diplomacy initiatives, Meridian works to advance the freedom of expression and ideas to achieve greater mutual understanding of the world’s diversity of people and cultures, including religion. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.
Meridian International Center has launched its Corporate Diplomacy Training program where we equip corporate leaders across industries and sectors with the diplomatic tactics, strategy and insights to succeed in a competitive global business environment while enhancing leadership skills and advancing multilateral cooperation. We sat down with Brad Knox, Vice President and Counselor for Federal Affairs at Aflac, to get his feedback on the program. Meridian International Center: Six months ago you and fellow members of Aflac’s federal relations team participated in a four-part corporate diplomacy training at Meridian. How was the experience? Brad Knox: When you tell your team you’re going to...
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In the fall of 2018, Mr. Manuel Comeron, an alumnus of the 2017 Meridian International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) entitled “Strong Cities: Building Community Resilience to Radicalization and Violent Extremism,” was a programming partner for the Community Connections program. This iteration of Community Connections is a two-part international exchange program between Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee and Liège and Verviers, Belgium during which rising American and Belgian leaders in violence prevention exchange best practices in countering violent extremism. In the first part of the program, Mr. Comeron organized a one-week program in Liège for 8 American NGO leaders, government officials,...
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As we mark the retirement of Congressman Ed Royce of California, who served ably as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, it is worth noting that his cooperation with incoming Chair and then Ranking Member Eliot Engel reminds us of what can be accomplished if issues are approached with mutual respect and shared interests. Royce was widely respected for his deep knowledge on a range of foreign policy issues and chaired the Africa subcommittee, where he was instrumental in working with Democrats on President Bush’s landmark HIV-AIDS initiative, advancing trade, and building support for robust public diplomacy programs and...
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The following Q&A was originally published in The Washington Diplomat to highlight the diplomatic and global leadership work of U.S. Ambassador Thomas Shannon, who serves on the advisory board of the Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement. The profile was written by Aileen Torres-Bennett, a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. Venerated U.S. Ambassador Thomas Shannon retired in February 2018 after an almost 35-year career at the State Department. He started off as a consular/political officer in Guatemala in 1984 and ended as the third highest-ranking official in the agency as undersecretary for political affairs. He also briefly served as acting secretary...
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