HERspectives: Edda Collins Coleman

Posted under: Forums By /

Photograph of Edda Collins Coleman from POLITCO.com

Edda Collins Coleman is the Managing Director of Cogent Strategies, a certified woman-owned small business specializing in government relations, communications and digital analytics. This interview was conducted by Sheerica Ware Wilkins, a Corporate Research Fellow at Meridian. It is part of a series highlighting and celebrating women leaders during Women’s History Month. You co-founded a non-profit called the All in Together Campaign (AIT) that is geared towards activating the civic power of women in private senior leadership, and have had great success in convening thousands of women in technology and other sectors. What’s the advantage of businesswomen leading in...

Continue  

Former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Posted under: Forums By /

Photo of Condoleezza Rice from @CondoleezzaRice on Twitter.

This post was written by Katie Hudak Senior Program Associate / Social Media Facilitator at Meridian. It is a part of a blog series highlighting and acknowledging the work and contributions of Black diplomats during Black History Month. American political scientist and diplomat Condoleezza Rice broke barriers when she became the first black woman to serve as the United State’s national security adviser, as well as the second woman and first black woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State (2005-2009).  Born in 1954 in Alabama to Angelena Ray Rice, a high school science, music and oratory teacher, and John Wesley Rice, Jr., a high school guidance...

Continue  

A Fellow’s Farewell: Final Reflections on Communications and Diplomacy

Posted under: Forums By /

Urwah Ahmad, Global Communications Fellow

This blog post was contributed by Urwah Ahmad, Global Communications Fellow at Meridian International Center.  When I first started my fellowship at Meridian in February 2020, I never knew what the year ahead would bring. However, I never imagined my time in D.C. would be cut short so quickly. I also never imagined how flawless the transition would be. Lastly, I never knew that my imposter syndrome would be cured. As I sit from the comfort of my home writing this, I’d appreciate it if you all to lend me an ear as I talk about what this year and what Meridian has meant to me.   This past year has been full of ups and downs, and...

Continue  

Pakistani Ambassador: Dialouge is the way forward

Posted under: Forums By /

This blog post was contributed by Urwah Ahmad, Global Communications Fellow at Meridian International Center.  On February 4, 2021, Asad Majeed Khan, the Ambassador of Pakistan to the U.S. joined Eric Ham, Political Analyst at The Washington Diplomat, for a Global 360 conversation about topics ranging from Pakistan-U.S. relations in the context of the Biden Administration and the regional, security and economic situation in Kashmir.   Ham shared that global challenges will only “be solved by nations working together and in common,” echoing President Biden’s address to the U.S. State Department on February 4, 2021. “America’s alliances are our greatest asset,” he noted. Ambassador Khan commented that this was a significant and symbolic address and a message to people around the globe on “the importance that  administration is going to...

Continue  

Ambassador John Reinhardt

Posted under: Forums By /

Photograph of Ambassador Edward Reinhardt from the American Academy of Diplomacy.

This post was written by Kara Zelasko, the Senior Cultural Programs Associate at Meridian. It is a part of a blog series highlighting and acknowledging the work and contributions of Black diplomats during Black History Month. Meridian’s Center for Cultural Diplomacy (MCCD) owes a lot to the legacy of John Reinhardt, who in 1957 became a Foreign Service Officer for the United States Information Agency (USIA), which was merely a year after USIA launched its first cultural initiative. As the USIA expanded its cultural diplomacy efforts, Reinhardt continued to gain experience in the Foreign Service. Eventually, he returned to the...

Continue