Black Professionals in International Affairs - BPIA

At BPIA, our mission is to increase the involvement of African-Americans and those of African descent in the field of international affairs. Consider joining us as a member, intern, or partner. Visit our site today to learn more: iabpia.org. #BPIAGlobal.

📢 Please join us for our Rangel Fellowship Informational Webinar on 7/17/2024 @12 PM EDT! This webinar will cover the program's benefits, eligibility requirements, and application process. Register here: https://bit.ly/3xOnzWJ. #Diplomacy #InternationalService

Over the weekend, I had the honor of serving as a panelist at Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) where we discussed network strategies, expanding network capabilities, and navigating the international affairs space. The round tables were insightful, and I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with and provide insights to the next generation of leaders in international affairs. Thank you to everyone who attended. I look forward to the exciting possibilities of our future partnership and capacity-building with Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) Always eager to discuss ways to impact the next generation of leaders. #PayItForward

It was a pleasure to be a guest of the US Consular General, Will Stephens at the reception in honor of Assistant Secretary of Commerce Arun Venkataraman and the Presidential Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement (PAC-ADE) Delegation to Nigeria last night. Our work at Opportunik Global Fund in connecting the African Diaspora with opportunities in Africa made my partner Subomi Plumptre and I tour key cities in the US last year, launching the ‘Unlocking African Prosperity’ report at UNGA2023, with a specific focus on the Diaspora. The African Diaspora represents a critical part of our development options as a continent and our ability to engage, mobilize and activate the diaspora, not just for what I call “intervention remittance” but for developmental investments will lead to a major economic growth. Follow Opportunik Global Fund for more on how we’re unlocking prosperity for the African diaspora! I was particular thrilled by the second frame where Will decided to show us his selfie skills 😃 Frame 3 is of my kindred sister, Deniece, a Kingdom powerhouse, who is a leading member of the council and President Biden’s government. Her work is incredibly inspiring and her influence on championing the diaspora cause has made a huge mark on the continent already. Thank you Deniece Laurent-Mantey for your leadership and service. A special shoutout to the team ever brilliant, Stephanie Busari (Queen of African Media at CNN), Olatubosun Alake (The dynamic Commission for Innovation, Lagos State), Kunle Afolayan (The Master Craftsman of NollyWood), Kamil Olufowobi (The Great Connectologist). I salute you all. I don’t always get to come out 😄, but when I do, it’s a pleasure to be in good company! @

AFRICA proposes WTO chief for second term. Do you agree? The African Group has asked #WorldTradeOrganization (WTO) chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to run for a second term as the head of the global trade watchdog, a document showed on Friday. Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister, made history by becoming the FIRST female and African chief of the 30-year-old trade body in 2021. Her term formally ends in August 2025 and she has not yet commented publicly on her plans. "The African Group is of the view that it would be in the best interest of the Organization if the process of reappointment were to start early," according to the document sent by #Chad, asking Okonjo-Iweala to make herself available for reappointment. It cited the need to make progress on outcomes under her tenure ahead of the next major ministerial meeting due to be hosted by #Cameroon. Under #WTO rules, Okonjo-Iweala, 70, has until the end of November to decide whether to apply. Some WTO delegates have privately speculated that she may want to avoid a second term if U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump wins in November, since his administration opposed her appointment. Okonjo-Iweala has also previously voiced concerns that some of Trump's proposals could upend the global trading system. #ISupportNgoziOkonjoIwealaReappointment #TransformingAfrica #TheAfricaWeWant #AfCFTA #BrandAfrica #AU #GDP #Investment #Africa #AfricaMeansBusiness #ThisIsAfrica #Diaspora #IT #OneAfrica #AUC #TransAfricanHighway #SMEs #CreatingOneAfricanMarket #Invest #Tariffs #TheAfCFTAEffect #Trade #AI #AfricaRising #FDI #IntraAfricanTrade #Agenda2063 #Partnerships #AfCFTATV #WB #BuildBackBetter #InvestInAfrica #AfricanUnity #IMF #WTO #AfDB #TradeNotAid #AfCFTATrading #TravelToAfrica #CFTA #SAATM #TradeInAfrica #TradeUnderAfCFTA #JoinAfCFTA #AfricaOnTheMove #Infrastructure #Tourism #VisitAfrica #MadeInAfrica #AfCFTASecretariat #PanAfricanism #Investors #PAPSS #ZLECAF #AfricanSolutionsToAfricanProblems #Growth #BetterAfricaBetterWorld #StrongerTogether #Afreximbank #UnitedUnderAfCFTA #AfCFTA2024 #Africa2024 #AfricaYesWeCAN #AfricaToTheWorld #GlobalAFRICA

After being hosted and received in grand style, at the Guggenheim Museum, one of the largest art museums in the World, a team from the Guggenheim visited to document our star artist at BILARTERAL Doba Afolabi... https://lnkd.in/dxspMcRK

Now that the NATO Summit has wrapped up, join me and fellow Black Professionals in International Affairs - BPIA Board Member Michelle C. Washington, MPA as we break down the Summit and discuss key takeaways with Spencer P. Boyer, partner at Albright Stonebridge Group, a founding member of DGA Group. We'll be talking Ukraine, cybersecurity, the future of the Alliance and more! Register here: https://lnkd.in/e42JgABr

I am STILL #hiring! HUGE thanks to this fabulous community for the inspiring amplification of and interest in my team's open Research and Measurement role. While that application period for that role is closed, another opportunity is NOW OPEN! I'm thrilled to announce we've just launched recruitment for a Senior Program Officer, Strategic Partnerships, on my Digital Connectivity team in our #GenderEquality division. This critical role will build and steer strategic partnerships to galvanize actors and organize the sector around developing evidence about what high impact programming will most accelerate meaningful #digitalconnectivity of women and girls to improve their lives and livelihoods. This position requires someone creative and dynamic who can see the art of the possible, who lives and breaths strategic collaboration in various forms, and who is driven by a passion for equality and impact. https://lnkd.in/gpW96E7N Tavio McAllister Janet Zhou Becky Taylor Anita Zaidi Hao Hu Diva Dhar Alexandra Tyers-Chowdhury Zachary Kazzaz Jar Wei (Amy) Yeung Micah Sivitz Gellman Howard Lakougna Zameer Brey Mahlet A. Woldetsadik Seth Garz

This is worth attending! Well done Leland!

On the sidelines of the NATO 75 summit it was great to speak at a dinner hosted by the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center to discuss how NATO allies can work together on energy and climate security . This event was held at the U.S. House of Representatives congressional office on Capitol Hill. In attendance were The Hon. Paul Tonko (New York), The Hon. William “Bill” Keating, (Massachusetts), The Hon. Don Bacon (Nebraska), Amb. Geoffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Energy Resources and Dr. Michael Goff, Assistant Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of State. Discussions focused on safeguarding critical energy infrastructure and its importance to national security, essential services, and economic prosperity.