Center for Diplomatic Engagement

Ambassador Kenton W. Keith

Posted under: Center for Diplomatic Engagement By Urwah Ahmad / February 5, 2021

This post was written by Urwah Ahmad, Global Communications Fellow at Meridian International Center. This post is a part of a series highlighting and acknowledging the work and contributions of Black diplomats during Black History Month. Ambassador Kenton Keith served as the Senior Vice President of Meridian International Center from 1997 until 2010 after a successful career in the foreign service. He supported Meridian’s works through the management of the professional exchange activities associated with the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Born on November 12, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri, Kenton Wesley Keith began his interest in international relations while watching the televised Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954. He...

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U.S. Ambassador Patricia Roberts Harris

Posted under: Center for Diplomatic Engagement By Urwah Ahmad / February 5, 2021

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. Born and raised in Mattoon, Illinois, Patricia Roberts was a woman of many firsts. At a young age, she showed academic excellence and drive. Earning numerous scholarship offers, Patricia attended Howard University where she graduated cum laude. While at Howard, she was elected Phi Beta Kappa and served as Vice Chairman of the Howard University chapter of the NAACP. In 1943, she participated in one of...

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U.S. Ambassador Pamela L. Spratlen

Posted under: Center for Diplomatic Engagement By Urwah Ahmad / January 29, 2021

This post was written by Madison Abreu, IVLP Fellow at Meridian International Center. It is a part of a blog series highlighting and acknowledging the work and contributions of Black diplomats during Black History Month. Pamela L. Spratlen is an established career foreign service officer and has dedicated her life to public service. She was born in Columbus, OH on July 14, 1954, and was raised in Washington State and California. After graduating from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, Spratlen earned a B.A. in Psychology from Wellesley College in Massachusetts in 1976. She then returned to Los Angeles...

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U.S. Ambassador Terence Todman: Breaking the Barriers of Bias

Posted under: Center for Diplomatic Engagement By Nic Cervantes / January 29, 2021

This post was written by Nic Cervantes, Program Officer, Meridian’s Center for Global Leadership. It is a part of a blog series highlighting and acknowledging the work and contributions of Black diplomats during Black History Month. Implicit bias can take on many forms as it exists throughout society. While it can be as seemingly harmless as taking your Uncle Giovanni to your favorite Italian restaurant every time he visits from Italy, these indiscretions can have much larger unintended consequences. The results contradict Meridian’s core value of strengthening bonds between people of varied backgrounds. Ambassador Terence Todman faced these challenges...

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U.S. Ambassador Anne Forrester

Posted under: Center for Diplomatic Engagement By Urwah Ahmad / January 29, 2021

This post was written by Abigail Haley, Global Communication Fellow at Meridian. It is a part of a series of blog posts highlighting and acknowledging the work and contributions of Black diplomats during Black History Month. Anne Forrester Holloway was born in Philadelphia, PA, on June 2, 1941. She attended public school and was a bright student. She later transferred to the predominantly white Northfield Mount Herman School in Gill, Massachusetts. “When you are different, you have to decide whether you want to be the same or enjoy your difference,” Forrester told The Washington Post in 1979 of her time at Northfield....

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IVLP Impact Awards Perspectives: Building Bridges for Women’s Political Empowerment

From Anime to Expo Milano: Meridian Hosts a Dynamic Discussion on Cultural Diplomacy

EXCHANGES AS A TOOL FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT: THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE (IWOC) AWARD CASE STUDY

Ambassador Kenton W. Keith

U.S. Ambassador Patricia Roberts Harris

U.S. Ambassador Pamela L. Spratlen

U.S. Ambassador Terence Todman: Breaking the Barriers of Bias

U.S. Ambassador Anne Forrester