Creating the Next Generation of Corporate Diplomats

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The following was written by Gina Adams, Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at FedEx. This feature can be found in our recently launched Corporate Systemic Responsibility Report. To download the report and read other testimonies, click here.  At FedEx, keeping the world connected — in good times and during periods of great need — is who we are and what we do every day. With a network serving more than 220 countries and territories, and more than 570,000 team members, FedEx has a strong interest in public policy and issues that affect the global economy, our...

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The Evolving Role of the CEO and Responsibility of Business

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The following was written by Lisa Osborne Ross, CEO of Edelman U.S. and member of Meridian Board of Trustees. This feature can be found in our recently launched Corporate Systemic Responsibility Report. To download the report and read other testimonies, click here. I am an optimist, and that position has at times felt hard to maintain throughout 2020 and 2021. Over the past 18 months, our society has weathered challenges that, imagined five years ago, would have crushed our spirits in mere anticipation. But, for those seeking a silver lining, consider this: We may be divided and fractured, but...

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IVLP Fosters Collaboration as part of 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative

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IVLP Participants meet with representatives from Michigan State University, UCLA, Centre College in Danville, KY, and Kalamazoo College in Michigan

The 100,000 Strong in the Americas initiative was originally conceived during President Obama’s administration with the stated goal “to underscore the critical relationship between broader educational opportunity and greater regional prosperity.” The initiative’s central objective is to increase study abroad opportunities between the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Over the years, Meridian has worked on multiple projects aimed at building stronger cooperation through this initiative. Most recently, an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project focused on Expanding Sustainable Education Partnerships engaged eight higher education leaders from four Latin American countries exploring future linkages with U.S. educational institutions....

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Reflections on Filipino-American Identity

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The month of October in the U.S. is recognized as Filipino-American History Month and commemorates the arrival of the first Filipinos to North America. The following blog post was contributed by Keanu Gaite, Program Associate for International Visitor Leadership Program Collaborative Services at the Meridian Center for Global Leadership.  For most of my life, I have identified as Filipino. No hyphen. No Filipino-“American.” I would wear hats with “Pinoy” across the brim and shirts embossed with the Philippine flag, presents from titos and titas (also known as uncles and aunts) when they returned from trips to the islands.   But at some point, this cultural pride started to dim. I came to question how connected to...

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A Personal Reflection on the Complexity of Hispanic Heritage Month

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The following blog post was contributed by Kezia McKeague, Director of Latin America Practice at McLarty Associates. As the daughter of a Latin American immigrant to the United States, I applaud the intent of “Hispanic Heritage Month,” even as I often tire of the platitudes so frequently associated with it.  The goal of the annual celebration, as originally conceived in 1968, was to honor the long history of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. These are worthy objectives, to be sure, but we need more than clichés about Hispanic culture to recognize the contributions and needs of the largest minority group in the...

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