Podcasts about pacific council

In partnership with UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives, the Bruin Success Podcast presents a collaboration episode: Out N About: Navigating Identity in the Workplace. Moderated by Cleve Wong '10, featured speakers Devon Dickau '07, MBA '15 and Matt Kaczmarek '05 share their insights, reflections, and strategies on navigating the professional world as a LGBTQ+ individual. They include valuable recommendations to aspiring and current LGBTQ+ professionals, allies, and organizations seeking to foster and engage in inclusive work environments where all staff feel respected and valued for who they are.  Cleve Wong '10 is an executive health coach and product strategist with over a decade of experience in Fortune 10 companies and non-profit organizations, including Google, UCLA Health, Disney, and the Aspen Institute. He designed the first science-based mindfulness mobile app for patients and clinicians worldwide, earning recognition from the New York Times and Mashable.  After a diagnosis of stress-induced facial paralysis, Cleve immersed himself in integrative medicine. He completed post-graduate training at UCLA Neuroscience and UC Irvine Health, and became a certified mindfulness teacher and a health and wellness coach. Today, Cleve takes joy in coaching leaders on stress management, burnout recovery, and helps clients design their journey toward holistic health and deeper fulfillment. Cleve is a board member of the UCLA Lambda Alumni and is committed to supporting underserved communities.  Matt Kaczmarek '05 is Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainable Private Debt Investing, and Head of the Los Angeles office at BlackRock. Matt is also global chair of the firm's Out & Allies LGBTQ+ employee network. Previously Matt held senior economic policy appointments in the Obama Administration at the White House and Departments of State and the Treasury. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the UCLA Alumni Association, the Campaign Board of the National LGBT Victory Fund, and is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Council on Foreign Relations. He received his MA from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he was editor-in-chief of the SAIS Review of International Affairs, and his BA from UCLA, where he served as President of the University of California Student Association. Devon Dickau '07, M.B.A. '15, also holds an M.Ed. in Technology, Innovation & Education from Harvard. While attending UCLA Anderson, Devon was a TED UCLA Campfire speaker on the topic of covering in the workplace and was named one of Poets & Quants “Favorite MBAs” of 2015 for giving voice to the LGBTQ+ community. He is now currently a Board Director for the UCLA Alumni Association. After a career spanning the nonprofit, entertainment, and education sectors, focused on using media and technology for social change, Devon is now the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Offerings Leader at Deloitte Consulting, where he is also an ESG and Social Impact Strategist.  Most importantly, he lives in Calabasas with his husband Peter and their twin toddlers, Rebel and Cosmo.  The Bruin Success Podcast is hosted and produced by Sara Mosgrove and Kelsey Beisecker. Thank you to our sustaining donors.

Christian McGuigan is an Emmy-nominated producer and founder and CEO of Sycamore Studios - a premium film studio that develops and produces good, true, and beautiful family entertainment for audiences everywhere. Sycamore's upcoming animated feature film releases include: Doctor Dolittle, Sherlock & Son, and Born Free. Before founding Sycamore Studios, Christian served as the Vice President of Global Content Strategy for Omnicom's Porter Novelli. During this time, he oversaw accounts ranging from LEGO to CVS. Prior to his work at Omnicom, Christian was Vice President at Participant Media, the leading Hollywood film studio dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Christian began his career at Participant developing digital strategy and leading creative for Participant's integrated, impact-driven film marketing campaigns. He later helped lead Participant's in-house agency division. Christian earned his B.A. in English Literature from the University of Dallas and his J.D. from Chapman University School of Law. He is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Public Policy and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. Christian currently resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife and four children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jerrold D. Green (Research Professor, USC Annenberg and President & CEO, Pacific Council on International Policy) joins Richard K. Green (Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss a short list of global hotspots from a United States perspective. Green delivers insights and offers detailed context on Israel-Gaza, China, Mexico, Ukraine-Russia, and the unique position the US holds within the global economy and international relations. More: http://lusk.usc.edu/perspectives

Deep Dish revisits the haunting morning of August 7, 1998, when al-Qaeda struck US embassies in Kenya that claimed over 200 lives and left thousands wounded. Ambassador Prudence Bushnell, who was present during the attacks, and former foreign service officer Mietek Boduszyński, who served in Libya when US facilities in Benghazi were attacked, reflect on how the US government should balance diplomacy and danger, whether the right lessons were learned, and what challenge face US diplomats in today's risky world.    Reading List:  Terrorism, Betrayal, and Resilience: My Story of the 1998 U.S. Embassy Bombings, Prudence Bushnell, Potomac Books, October 1, 2018  Public Diplomacy and the American Fortress Embassy, Mietek Boduszyński, Pacific Council on International Policy, February 13, 2019   Diplomacy Doesn't Work in a Zero-risk World, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, November 4, 2021 

Tony Hoang is the Executive Director of Equality California and Silver State Equality and a veteran of the LGBTQ+ equality movement. The son of Vietnam War refugees and the first person in his family to attend college, Tony is a proud first-generation immigrant who grew up understanding the marginalized intersections of sexuality, gender, race and immigration status. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Tony moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California. During college, he interned with the Pacific Council on International Policy and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor before joining Equality California as a field intern in 2009, beginning his long career with the organization.Tony went on to serve as Equality California's Database and Volunteer Manager, Director of Operations, Chief of Staff and Managing Director prior to his selection as Executive Director-designate in 2021. During that time, Tony played a pivotal role in the passage of groundbreaking civil rights legislation in California, Nevada and Washington, DC, implementation of statewide public education campaigns and the election of hundreds of openly LGBTQ+ and pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot. Tony helped usher in a dramatic expansion of Equality California's budget, staff, programming — especially the organization's political work and efforts to advance racial justice — and growth to over 900,000 pro-equality members across the country.Tony serves the City of Los Angeles as a Commissioner on the Innovation and Performance Commission. He also sits on the boards of Equality Federation, the national movement builder and strategic partner to state-based organizations advocating for LGBTQ people, and DTLA Proud. He is a member of the Center for Asian Americans United For Self Empowerment (CAUSE) Leadership Network and the Pacific Council on International Policy and serves as a mentor for the USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Mentoring Program.Chapters is a multi-part series concerning the history and the lessons of civil rights violations or civil liberties injustices carried out against communities or populations—including civil rights violations or civil liberties injustices that are perpetrated on the basis of an individual's race, national origin, immigration status, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.This project was made possible with support from Chapman University and The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, a state-funded grant project of the California State Library.Guest: Tony HoangHosts: Jon-Barrett IngelsProduced by: Past Forward

When the morning news broke to the world that WNBA Star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia, it brought the invasion against Ukraine up close and personal to the Black community. The WNBA Star, age 32 at the time, was detained in Russia on February 17, 2022, for allegedly possessing cannabis oil in her luggage after arriving in Moscow from New York City. Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, along with a host of celebrity friends like Lebron James, pressured the Biden Administration to bring Griner back home, adding an international spotlight to her case. On August 4, 2022, she was sentenced to nine years in prison following weeks of a long trial. Black America poured out their frustrations on social media criticizing President Biden's slow efforts to negotiate her release with Russian President, Vladimir Putin as there were concerns of her personal safety given that she was both black and lesbian. Griner's case was even more complicated given that her negotiation was during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. More importantly, how would Griner's prisoner swap affect U.S. national security? In this episode, Alexanderia Haidara talks with Dr. Nola Haynes to discuss the implications of Griner's case, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the geopolitical shifts with China. Dr. Nola Haynes ⁠Dr. Nola Haynes⁠ is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is an academic, policy writer, and advocate. Her interests center on emerging threats, WMD in space, strategic competition, and intersectionality. Recently, Dr. Nola was named one of the top 50 leaders in national security and foreign affairs by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Diversity in National Security (DINSN). She is the former Director of the West Coast chapter of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS) and sits on several boards, including the Women's Caucus for the International Studies Association communications team (WCIS), Foreign Policy board for the American Political Science Association (APSA), and ISA West. She is a Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) member and an alumnus of the WestExec Advisors mentoring program. As a Pacific Council on International Policy member, Dr. Nola works as an Ops Coordinator to help resettle Afghan allies with Evacuate Our Allies (EOA) and is a policy advocate for the Afghan Adjustment Act. Dr. Nola has over ten years of experience working in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and is a proud New Orleans native. Donate and follow Black Professionals in International Affairs at ⁠⁠⁠www.iabpia.org⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.

President Biden is running for his second term in office, but this time it's not just against former President Donald Trump. Republican presidential hopefuls like Governor Nikki Haley, Senator Tim Scott, and let's not forget about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, are vying for the White House too. Black America will be the deciding vote on the future of U.S. democracy. President Biden boldly boasted that he had Black America's back in his acceptance speech for the presidency. Despite gains in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and the historic achievement of choosing the first woman of color as his Vice President, Kamala Harris, Black Americans are questioning if President Biden deserves another term in office. But how has U.S. foreign policy impacted the African diaspora? In this three-part series, we will evaluate U.S. foreign policy in the three main corners of the Diaspora: Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Alexanderia Haidara, Global Take Podcast Host, talks to Nii Simmonds, Non-resident Fellow of the Atlantic Council, and Dr. Nola Haynes, Georgetown University professor. They discuss how diaspora engagement shapes U.S.-Africa foreign policy, Vice-President Kamala Harris's recent trip to Africa, and reflect on the impact of the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit that took place in Washington, D.C. About Nii Simmonds Nii Simmonds is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center and an expert in emerging and frontier markets. He has held top leadership positions in corporate finance, entrepreneurial ecosystems, supply chains, and research commercialization. Simmonds has previously worked for Fortune 500 firms, including companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech, consumer product, and strategy consulting industries. He also provides thought leadership on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, analyzing their impact on society for innovation and policy while accelerating impactful solutions to challenges. Simmonds has worked for the World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation, and African Development Bank, providing consultation in the areas of private-sector development, diaspora engagement, and financial inclusion. Simmonds holds a BS in Management from Pennsylvania State University and he has undertaken graduate courses in operations/business process management at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School for Executive Education. Dr. Nola Haynes Dr. Nola Haynes is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is an academic, policy writer, and advocate. Her interests center on emerging threats, WMD in space, strategic competition, and intersectionality. Recently, Dr. Nola was named one of the top 50 leaders in national security and foreign affairs by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Diversity in National Security (DINSN). She is the former Director of the West Coast chapter of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS) and sits on several boards, including the Women's Caucus for the International Studies Association communications team (WCIS), Foreign Policy board for the American Political Science Association (APSA), and ISA West. She is a Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) member and an alumnus of the WestExec Advisors mentoring program. As a Pacific Council on International Policy member, Dr. Nola works as an Ops Coordinator to help resettle Afghan allies with Evacuate Our Allies (EOA) and is a policy advocate for the Afghan Adjustment Act. Dr. Nola has over ten years of experience working in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and is a proud New Orleans native. Donate and follow Black Professionals in International Affairs at ⁠⁠www.iabpia.org⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

In this KEEN ON episode, Andrew talks to WORLD CITIZEN author Jane Olson about Eleanor Roosevelt, Nicaragua and Uganda, Greta Thunberg and why she remains optimistic about young people making the world a better place. ABOUT JANE OLSEN: Jane Olson has worked as a volunteer for many decades to promote peace and justice through international human rights and humanitarian organizations. She chaired the International Board of Trustees of Human Rights Watch from 2004 to 2010 and served as co-chair of the Women's Refugee Commission. As founding board chair of Landmine Survivors Network/Survivor Corps, she gave leadership to LSN for 12 years.  Extensive travels with those and other humanitarian organizations took Jane to Nicaragua and El Salvador during the Contra Wars and to the former Soviet Union beginning with trips to Ukraine in 1989 and 1990, a time of revolution. As the former USSR fell apart and wars broke out, she participated in investigative trips to the former Yugoslavia during “ethnic cleansing” of Bosnia, and to the Caucasus countries of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Jane is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a board member of both the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and Direct Relief, based in Santa Barbara, CA. She is a board member of The Trusteeship, the Southern California chapter of the International Women's Forum, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Pacific Council on International Policy.  Jane grew up in rural western Iowa and graduated from the University of Nebraska. She lives with her husband, attorney Ronald L. Olson, in Pasadena, California. They have three children and eight grandsons. Her latest book is "WORLD CITIZEN: Journeys of a Humanitarian" (2023) ABOUT ANDREW KEEN: Name as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Josh Kurlantzick about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) public diplomacy, its malign activities around the world, and what it means for the United States. Guest Biography Joshua Kurlantzick is senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is the author, most recently, of Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World. Kurlantzick was previously a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he studied Southeast Asian politics and economics and China's relations with Southeast Asia, including Chinese investment, aid, and diplomacy. Previously, he was a fellow at the University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy and a fellow at the Pacific Council on International Policy. He is currently focused on China's relations with Southeast Asia, and China's approach to soft and sharp power, including state-backed media and information efforts and other components of soft and sharp power. He is also working on issues related to the rise of global populism, populism in Asia, and the impact of COVID-19 on illiberal populism and political freedom overall. Resources from the Conversation Read Josh's new book, Beijing's Global Media Offensive Read Josh's previous book about China's public diplomacy Read reporting from Politico about Beijing's charm offensive Read reporting from The Wall Street Journal about China-Australia relations Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

Ambassador John Emerson joins American Ambassadors Live! host, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe, to discuss Germany's perspective regarding the conflict in Ukraine, the energy challenges Germany faces, the impact of internal politics, and the Europe/China relationship. Ambassador John Emerson describes Germany and Russia's relationship over the past 40-50 years as being schizophrenic. He goes on to describe the reasons why including "...an admiration for the Russian spirit...to endure suffering for a long period of time." Ambassador Emerson is the former U.S. Ambassador to Germany (2013-2017). He currently serves as Chairman for the American Council on Germany and is the Vice Chairman for Capital Group International. He serves on the boards of the Pacific Council on International Policy and the German Marshal Fund. He is a long serving member on the Council on Foreign Relations. 

Matt Kaczmarek, Director, is head of sustainable investing and macro policy research for the global credit investment team at BlackRock. He also serves as a senior member of the firm's external affairs team and is co-chair of BlackRock's Los Angeles leadership team. He is a member of the firm's geopolitical risk and inclusion and diversity committees. Matt teaches public policy analysis as adjunct assistant professor of public service at NYU's Wagner School. He serves on the board of directors of the UCLA Alumni Association, the campaign board of the national LGBT Victory Fund, and is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to joining BlackRock, Matt held senior appointments in the administration of former U.S. President Barack Obama, including as senior advisor to the Deputy National Security Advisor for international economic policy in the White House. He served in the international finance division of the U.S. Treasury Department during the global financial crisis and later as Secretary of State John Kerry's White House liaison. Matt has managed or advised eight federal, state, and local candidate and issue campaigns, including as chief economic policy advisor to a leading presidential campaign in the 2020 cycle. Matt received his BA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was president of the University of California Student Association, and MA from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he was editor-in-chief of the SAIS Review of International Affairs.

Hyepin Im, CPA, MBA, and Master of Divinity, has a B.S. from U.C. Berkeley, M.B.A. from USC, and M.Div., summa cum laude, from Wesley Theological Seminary. She is a frequent speaker on CNN and NPR and her opinions have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post.   She is the President and Founder of Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE), a national nonprofit serving as a bridge between the Asian American community and the greater community at large. Since its inception in 2001, FACE has had over 800 partners ranging from the White House to Fortune 500 companies to various community organizations. She was a U.S. Presidential Appointee on the Board of the Americorps. Her successful initiatives include educating 10,000+ homebuyers and helping them receive over $1.6 million in down payment assistance and saving over $91 million in mortgages from foreclosure, partnering with both FDIC and Freddie Mac in developing a Korean curriculum in financial literacy and homeownership, implementing a historic $5 million U.S. Department of Labor workforce development program for Asian youth, and hosting joint conferences with the White House and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to mobilize 5000 Korean American churches for economic development. She is on the Mayor's Interfaith Collective, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Metro-Urban Institute Advisory Council, U.S. Army Advisory Board. Prior services include Board Member of Greenlining Institute, Community Advisory Board of MUFG Union Bank and Torrey Pines Bank, the Pacific Council on International Policy, the Western Partner for the Council on Foreign Relations, and L.A. County Supervisor's Empowerment Congress and Board of FTE (Forum for Theological Exploration) and Advisory Board for Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Urban Institute.

Harvard legal scholar Cass R. Sunstein, author most recently of “Sludge: What Stops Us from Getting Things Done and What to Do about It,” visits Zócalo to talk about eliminating the piles of paperwork obscuring our path to a more equal world. Tonight's Zócalo/Pacific Council on International Policy event is moderated by New York Times assistant metro editor Nikita Stewart. Read more about our panelists here: https://zps.la/3cjL6OA For live captioning, please turn on the video's caption feature. Visit https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/ to read our articles and learn about upcoming events. Follow along on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepublicsquare Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublicsquare/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zocalopublicsquare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/z-calo-public-square

As we continue our celebrations of Kiribati language week 2021 on Pacific Days, we're joined now by Baue Rebeiariki, Pacific Council Leader at Manurewa High School, and proud I Kiribati.  Baue moved to New Zealand 4 years ago. Baue is featured in one of our PMN video's celebrating Kiribati language week 2021, which, since being posted, has already been viewed over 9k times. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Myanmar's history has been a long march towards democracy, the Southeast Asian nation faced a major setback earlier this year. The military recently ousted the de facto leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, and has begun a crackdown on its own citizens. To make matters much worse, the nation had already been undergoing and executing what the United States calls a genocide. Joshua Kurlantzick is a Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations studying the collapse of democracies, state capitalism, and populism. Formerly at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the University of Southern California Center for Public Diplomacy, and the Pacific Council on International Policy, Kurlantzick has written as a columnist for Time, The Economist, and Mother Jones. And now, he's on The Finch. You can learn more about what we do by following us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube, or by checking out our website. New episodes released each Friday. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-finch-podcast/support

I first met Cooper Hefner in 2007, and today he is my guest on the Wednesday Edition of The Bookshop Podcast. We chat about community service, his father's commitment to social justice and civil rights, politics, and a host of other topics.Cooper Hefner is an American businessman, teacher, author, activist, and reservist in the United States Air Force. He has worked as the chief creative officer and chief of global partnerships at Playboy Enterprises, a company founded by his father Hugh Hefner. In July 2020, Cooper launched an exploratory campaign to run as a Democrat for the California Senate in the state's 30th District. Because of a service obligation with the United States Air Force, he announced his decision to suspend the campaign on November 30, 2020.  Links from this episode:In That Season Of Turmoil And Change, A Bright Light: The Story Of Hef, Jesse Jackson & MLK (Playboy article by Reverend Jesse L. Jackson SR.)Pacific Council on International PolicyChildren of the NightTalking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell Support the show (https://paypal.me/TheBookshopPodcast?locale.x=en_US)

An installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, featuring Dr. Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on the escalating India-China conflict. Featuring: Dr. Ashley Tellis, Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Dr. Tellis specializes in international security and U.S. foreign and defense policy with a special focus on Asia and the Indian subcontinent. While on assignment to the U.S. Department of State as senior adviser to the undersecretary of State for political affairs, he was intimately involved in negotiating the civil nuclear agreement with India. Previously he was commissioned into the Foreign Service and served as senior adviser to the ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. He also served on the National Security Council staff as special assistant to President George W. Bush and senior director for strategic planning and Southwest Asia. He is the author of India’s Emerging Nuclear Posture and co-author of Interpreting China’s Grand Strategy: Past, Present, and Future. Moderator: Aseema Sinha, Wagener Family Professor of Comparative Politics and George R. Roberts Fellow, Claremont McKenna College Aseema Sinha is the Wagener Chair of South Asian Politics and George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College in California. She previously taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. Background: India and China are not only the two most populous countries in Asia, but they are among the most populous countries and the fastest-growing major economies in the world. Despite the increasing need for economic and diplomatic ties, the nations are engaged in a conflict that looks increasingly tense by the day. What is the future of cooperation and competition between India and China? And what are the regional and global implications of fraught India-China relations? The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support and dedication to the Pacific Council.

An installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, on the state of human rights in China. Featuring: Kenneth Roth, Executive Director, Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth is the executive director of Human Rights Watch, one of the world's leading international human rights organizations, which operates in more than 90 countries. He has written extensively on a wide range of human rights abuses, devoting special attention to issues of international justice, counterterrorism, the foreign policies of the major powers, and the work of the United Nations. Moderator: Kimberly Marteau Emerson, Board Member, Human Rights Watch Kimberly Marteau Emerson is a lawyer, civic leader, and human rights advocate. She worked in the Clinton administration as a senior political appointee and spokesperson for the U.S. Information Agency, now part of the State Department. She serves on the Board of Directors of Human Rights Watch, the Advisory Board of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Pacific Council on International Policy. Opening remarks: Alicia Miñana, CEO, Law Offices of Alicia Miñana Background: According to the Human Rights Watch World Report 2021, "the Chinese government’s authoritarianism was on full display in 2020 as it grappled with the deadly coronavirus outbreak first reported in Wuhan province. Authorities initially covered up news about the virus, then adopted harsh quarantine measures in Wuhan and other parts of China. The government has rejected international calls for independent, unfettered investigations into Chinese authorities’ handling of the outbreak, and surveilled and harassed families of those who died of the virus. "Beijing’s repression—insisting on political loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party—deepened across the country. In Hong Kong, following six months of large-scale protests in 2019, the Chinese government imposed a draconian “National Security Law” on June 30—its most aggressive assault on Hong Kong people’s freedoms since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997. In Xinjiang, Turkic Muslims continue to be arbitrarily detained on the basis of their identity, while others are subjected to forced labor, mass surveillance, and political indoctrination. In Inner Mongolia, protests broke out in September when education authorities decided to replace Mongolian with Mandarin Chinese in a number of classes in the region’s schools. "Chinese authorities’ silencing of human rights defenders, journalists, and activists, and restrictions on the internet, also make it difficult to obtain accurate information about Chinese government policies and actions." Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, will speak on these issues and more during the next installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China. The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support and dedication to the Pacific Council.

A keynote conversation featuring Robert Zoellick, World Bank president (2007-2012), U.S. Deputy Secretary of State (2005-2006), U.S. Trade Representative (2001-2005), and author of "America in the World: A History of U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy." This event is part of the Pacific Council's First 100 Days Memo on U.S.-Mexico Policy, offering policy recommendations to the Biden administration to strengthen U.S.-Mexico relations. Featuring: Robert Zoellick, Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Robert Zoellick is Senior Counselor at Brunswick Geopolitical, an advisory service of Brunswick Group, and a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In addition, Zoellick serves on the boards of Temasek, Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, and Twitter, Inc., chairs the International Advisory Council of Standard Chartered Bank, and is on the Advisory Board of Swiss Re. He is a member of the boards of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and the Carnegie Endowment, chairs the Global Tiger Initiative, and is a member of the Global Leadership Council of Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian agency. Zoellick was the President of the World Bank Group from 2007-12, U.S. Trade Representative from 2001 to 2005, and Deputy Secretary of State from 2005 to 2006. From 1985 to 1993, Zoellick served as Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury and Under Secretary of State, as well as White House Deputy Chief of Staff. He published his book, “America in the World: A History of US Diplomacy and Foreign Policy” in August 2020. Zoellick is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, the Department of State’s highest honor, the Alexander Hamilton Award of the Department of the Treasury, and the Medal for Distinguished Public Service of the Department of Defense. The German government awarded him the Knight Commanders Cross for his achievements in the course of German unification. The Mexican and Chilean governments awarded him their highest honors for non-citizens, the Aztec Eagle and the Order of Merit, for recognition of his work on free trade, development, and the environment. Zoellick holds a J.D. magna cum laude from the Harvard Law School, a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and a bachelor's degree (Phi Beta Kappa) from Swarthmore College. Moderator: Kimberly Breier, Senior Advisor, Covington Kimberly Breier has more than 20 years of experience in foreign policy, primarily focused on Western Hemisphere affairs. Prior to joining Covington, Breier, a non-lawyer, was Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. She also served as the Western Hemisphere Member of the Policy Planning Staff. Breier was previously the founder and Director of the U.S.-Mexico Futures Initiative, and the Deputy Director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She also was Vice President of a consulting firm, leading country risk assessment teams for private clients in Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.

A discussion on solutions to public health challenges faced by migrant communities amidst the pandemic, as part of the Pacific Council's First 100 Days Memo on U.S.-Mexico Policy. This event is presented in partnership with International Medical Corps and the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust. Thank you to the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust for supporting our work around global health. Featuring: Essey Workie, Senior Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute Essey Workie is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, where she works with its Human Services Initiative. Her work focuses on unaccompanied children, immigrant families, and access to local, state, and federal health and human service programs. Dr. Scott Lillibridge, Senior Medical Advisor, International Medical Corps Dr. Lillibridge provides medical leadership to all the organizational aspects of medical and public health programs for the International Medical Corps. In this capacity, he has responded to the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has just returned from the ongoing cholera outbreak in Mozambique. Moderator: Nastasha Everheart, Director of Strategy, Pacific Council on International Policy As Director of Strategy, Nastasha Everheart facilitates vision-setting at the highest tiers of Pacific Council leadership, creates, implements, and measures institution-wide strategic plans, and helps develop and execute the Council’s impact agenda. Background: Under the Mexico Initiative, the Pacific Council has developed a First 100 Days Memo on U.S.-Mexico Policy to be shared with President Biden and his administration, including recommendations on immigration policy. Accordingly, we partnered with the International Medical Corps to explore health services and conditions for immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Join us as we discuss solutions to public health challenges faced by migrant communities amidst the pandemic.

The Pacific Council on International Policy has presented a First 100 Days Memo on U.S.-Mexico Policy to the Biden administration, outlining recommendations on trade, immigration, and diplomacy, as well as urging President Joe Biden to take immediate action to strengthen the bilateral relationship from the outset of his term. This is the first virtual event of a series of three about the memo's recommendations. This event was framed as a policy briefing, where experts shared their recommendations as if they were presenting for the Biden administration. Audience members were encouraged to submit their questions as if they were members of the president's cabinet. Learn about the memo and its contributors here: https://www.pacificcouncil.org/first-100-days-memo Featuring: Dr. Pamela Starr, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Southern California; and Senior Adviser, Monarch Global Strategies Dr. Starr is a senior adviser at Monarch Global Strategies, the director of the U.S.-Mexico Network, a university fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, and an associate professor of international relations and public diplomacy at USC. She came to USC from the Eurasia Group, one of the world's leading global political risk advisory and consulting firms, where she was senior analyst responsible for Mexico. Patrick Schaefer, Chief Legal Officer, Supply Chain Capital Partners Patrick Schaefer is the Chief Legal Officer at Supply Chain Capital Partners. He previously served as the Senior Vice President of the Center for Global Trade & Foreign Investment at the LA Chamber of Commerce and as Executive Director of the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, part of the University of Texas at El Paso, which produces detailed economic and legal analysis of the various markets that converge in the transboundary, Paso del Norte region. Opening Remarks: The Hon. Michael Camuñez, President & CEO, Monarch Global Strategies LLC Michael Camuñez is a Pacific Council Director and the co-founder, president, and CEO of Monarch Global Strategies, a strategic consulting firm providing senior corporate executives with market and political intelligence, strategic advice and stakeholder engagement support to drive market entry and business expansion efforts in North America, with a particular emphasis on Mexico. Background: Through careful messaging, consistent focus on the relationship, and early symbolic and substantive actions, President Biden has the opportunity to reframe the relationship as one of strategic partnership. The Council’s Mexico Advisory Committee has commissioned a report focusing on actions recommended by Mexico policy experts and informed citizens that President Biden and his team can take to improve the relationship with Mexico during the first 100 days of his administration. Learn more about the Mexico Initiative: https://www.pacificcouncil.org/initiative/mexico-initiative

Global Trade Talks is a podcast that shares brief perspectives on key global issues on international trade, current events, business, law and public policy as they impact our lives. In this podcast, hosts Nicole Simonian and Ambassador Robert Holleyman talk to Dr. Jerrold D. Green, president and CEO of the Pacific Council on International Policy, about the Biden administration, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the west coast perspective on international trade.

A State of the Global City address by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on how U.S. cities can work with the Biden administration on foreign policy, made possible by the generous support of the RM Liu Foundation. In partnership with the LA Mayor's Office, the Pacific Council on International Policy has hosted two previous State of the Global City addresses. Featuring: The Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor, City of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti was sworn in as the 42nd Mayor of Los Angeles on July 1, 2013, after being elected four times by his peers to serve as President of the City Council from 2006 to 2012. Moderator: Elise Buik, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Los Angeles Elise Buik is a Pacific Council Director and the first female president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Pacific Council President and CEO Dr. Jerrold D. Green offers a general outlook of U.S. foreign policy under the new Biden administration, on the afternoon of Inauguration Day. Tune in to hear expectations, predictions, and have your questions answered about the future of American leadership in the world. Featuring: Dr. Jerrold D. Green, President and CEO, Pacific Council on International Policy Dr. Jerrold D. Green is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles. He is also a Research Professor of Communications at the University of Southern California. Prior to this he served as a Partner at Best Associates in Dallas, Texas, a privately held merchant banking firm with global operations. He also served as the Director of International Programs and Development at the RAND Corporation where he oversaw the activities of the Center for Asia-Pacific Policy as well as the Center for Russia and Eurasia.

An installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, on how the incoming Biden administration should balance its relationship with China. Featuring: Anja Manuel, Co-Founder and Partner, Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC Anja Manuel is a former diplomat, author, and advisor on emerging markets. She is the author of the critically acclaimed This Brave New World: India, China and the United States, published by Simon and Schuster in 2016. From 2005-2007, she served as an official at the U.S. Department of State, responsible for South Asia Policy. She is Co-Founder and Partner along with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC, a strategic consulting firm that helps U.S. companies navigate international markets. Moderator: Alexandre Moore, Senior Events Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy Alex Moore is the Senior Events Officer at the Pacific Council, where he researches and monitors shifts in foreign policy, oversees the logistical and operational elements of events, and recruits U.S. and foreign diplomats, military officials, and experts to meet with the Council. Background: On January 20, 2021, the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, will assume office. His administration will be met with a host of competing priorities on the homefront. Though when looking abroad, the top priority seems clear: China. President-elect Biden must balance engaging China with standing up for American economic and security interests. Joining us to discuss her recommendations for President-elect Biden as well as the tools available to him as he responds to a rising China will be former diplomat, author, and advisor on emerging markets, Ms. Anja Manuel. The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support of and dedication to the Pacific Council.

A conversation on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in California. Featuring: Dr. Peter Katona, Professor of Medicine and Public Health, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Dr. Katona is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Adjunct Professor of Public Health at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. He has worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has authored articles on medical informatics, medical education, influenza, polio, nutrition, bioterrorism, disasters, and the future of health care. He maintains a private practice in infectious diseases. Moderator: Marissa Moran Gantman, Chief Communications Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy Background: U.S. regulators have approved the first COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for California to begin a historic and complex rollout of millions of immunizations. This marks a much-anticipated turning point in a state where over 20,000 people have been killed by the virus to date. California’s first shipment of vaccines will include 327,000 doses and is widely expected to reach hospitals this week. Join us as we explore how the vaccine will be rolled out in Los Angeles, what its presence will mean for Southern California, and when we can expect a return to normalcy.

Leslie Gilbert-Lurie is a lawyer, human rights and children’s rights advocate, author, philanthropist, and former television executive. She is also an active member of the DNC National Finance Committee and the Biden for President Southwest Finance Committee. Leslie is a member of the International Board of Directors of Human Rights Watch (HRW), where she is Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. She is also the Past Co-Chair of HRW’s Los Angeles Committee and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. As a Founding Board Member and past Board Chair of the Alliance for Children’s Rights, Leslie has been instrumental in guiding a leading legal rights organization for abused, at-risk, and foster youth. In further advance of child welfare reform, Gilbert-Lurie served as the Vice-Chair of the Los Angeles Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Welfare, which led to widespread policy change in Los Angeles County. Leslie has worked to improve public education in a variety of settings. She is a member of the UCLA Foundation Board of Directors, and Chair of its Nominating and Governance Committee. She is a member of the Board of Advisors to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and the UCLA School of Law. As a student at UCLA, she was the Student Regent on the Board of Regents of the University of California. She also served for over a decade on the Los Angeles County Board of Education, and she was President of the Board for three terms. Gilbert-Lurie’s memoir, Bending Toward the Sun, published by Harper Collins, chronicles her mother's experience in the Holocaust and the intergenerational transmission of trauma. She has spoken in a variety of countries and across the US about the book, the Holocaust, and its implications for the world. Leslie spent her earlier career as a television executive at NBC, where she oversaw NBC Productions and the comedy division, co-wrote television episodes for Alf and Saved by the Bell, and co-founded an in-house production company, Lurie-Horwits Productions. She later consulted for USA Network and Disney Television. As a lawyer, Gilbert-Lurie worked at the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg and Tunney, and she served as a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Law Clerk for Judge Harry Pregerson. Bruin Success is hosted by Katie Russo, produced by Christian Chavez '13 and made possible by UCLA Alumni.

An installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, on what an increasingly forceful China means for the United States and Taiwan. Featuring: Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Jr., Chair, Projects International, Inc. Ambassador Freeman is a career diplomat (retired) who was Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs from 1993-94, earning the highest public service awards of the Department of Defense for his roles in designing a NATO-centered post-Cold War European security system and in reestablishing defense and military relations with China. Ambassador Freeman worked as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok (1984-1986) and Beijing (1981-1984). He was Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979-1981. He was the principal American interpreter during the late President Nixon’s path-breaking visit to China. Moderator: Marissa Moran, Chief Communications Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy Marissa Moran has dedicated her decade-long career to the intersection of media, communications, and social impact. Background: China is getting tough on Taiwan, and the U.S. response will have consequences that reach far into the future. To date, Taiwan has intercepted more than twice as many Chinese warplanes in 2020 than it did in the whole of 2019. China’s increasingly assertive posture towards the island has been assumed against the backdrop of deteriorating U.S.-Sino relations, and growing U.S. support for Taiwan. As Beijing continues to step up its military activities against the island, it is creating the conditions for crisis and risking decades of peace. Join us as we explore what an increasingly forceful China means for the United States and Taiwan, what options are available to the island, and how the United States should respond. The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support of and dedication to the Pacific Council.

A Culture Club webcast with the filmmakers of "Immigration Nation." Featuring: Christina Clusiau, Documentary Filmmaker Christina Clusiau is a documentary filmmaker and cinematographer based in Brooklyn, NY. She co-founded the production company Reel Peak Films with Shaul Schwarz, specializing in documentary films and series that prioritize cinematic quality and journalistic integrity. Shaul Schwarz, Documentary Filmmaker Shaul Schwarz is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, cinematographer, and photojournalist based in Brooklyn, NY. His debut documentary, Narco Cultura, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. Moderator: Marissa Moran, Chief Communications Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy Marissa Moran has dedicated her decade-long career to the intersection of media, communications, and social impact Background: "Immigration Nation" is a six-part docuseries on Netflix that gives viewers inside access to operations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plus stories of immigrants to give a deeper understanding of the state of immigration in the United States today. Please join us as we feature the directors of the series, Ms. Christina Clusiau & Mr. Shaul Schwarz, to discuss how they approached its making and what it taught them about our country.

An installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, on how the United States should balance competition and collaboration with China, the prospects for economic decoupling, and the state of bilateral trade. Featuring: Dr. Geoffrey Garrett, Dean, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California Dr. Garrett is a former president and CEO of the Pacific Council. He is dean of the USC Marshall School of Business and holder of the Robert R. Dockson Dean’s Chair in Business Administration and Professor of Management and Organization. He assumed this role in 2020, after six years as dean of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Moderator: Jennifer Faust, Executive Director, Pacific Council on International Policy Jennifer Faust is a political economist with a broad academic and professional background in the private sector and public service. Background: The United States and China are deeply bound. They share robust interpersonal ties, influence one another’s cultural development, and occupy the imaginations of their respective publics. Though it is the economic piece of the U.S.-Chinese relationship that is its cornerstone. The last four decades have seen China grow to become both a peer and competitor of the United States in almost every industry. Join us as we host renowned political economist, dean of the USC Marshall School of Business, and former Pacific Council President Geoffrey Garrett to explore how the United States should balance competition and collaboration with China, the prospects for economic decoupling, and the state of bilateral trade. The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support of and dedication to the Pacific Council.

A Local-to-Global webcast on lessons and threats from other countries regarding U.S. election security. Featuring: David Brody, Counsel & Senior Fellow for Privacy and Technology, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law David Brody leads the Digital Justice Initiative. He is Counsel & Senior Fellow for Privacy and Technology. He focuses on issues related to the intersection of technology and consumer privacy, free speech, hate group activity, government surveillance, and racial discrimination. Camille François, Chief Innovation Officer, Graphika Camille François works on cyber conflict and digital rights online. She is the Chief Innovation Officer at Graphika, where she leads the company’s work to detect and mitigate disinformation, media manipulation and harassment. Camille was previously the Principal Researcher at Jigsaw, an innovation unit at Google that builds technology to address global security challenges and protect vulnerable users. Moderator: Thomas Zimmerman, Director of Programs, Pacific Council on International Policy Thomas Zimmerman oversees programing for Council members and the general public. After working on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, Thomas joined the Pakistan Desk at the Department of Defense before moving to the White House to serve as Special Assistant to the National Security Advisor. In 2012, he managed the national security and foreign policy research portfolio for President Obama’s reelection campaign. Background: As U.S. states brace for the upcoming November election, the threat of a pandemic, voter suppression, and foreign interference looms large. These challenges are not unique to the United States, but the country already struggles amongst its peers in voter turnout and ease of voting. With less than 40 days to go until election day (as of the date of this event), what is the outlook for U.S. election security? How have cyber warfare tactics from actors like Russia, China, and Iran progressed and tested U.S. voting systems? What lessons can the U.S. follow from other developed countries to prepare its election security for the future?

The sixth installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, on the impact shifting U.S. policy will have on the South China Sea. Featuring Rear Admiral Stephen Koehler of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the second-highest-ranking U.S. military official in the Pacific. No longer is the United States officially neutral on the issue of the South China Sea. July saw a raft of statements from the United States rejecting China’s “historical rights” claim to the region and reaffirming The Hague’s 2016 tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines. Southeast Asian nations, many of which similarly stake dubious claims to the region, have quietly welcomed the official change in policy. Though they also worry about the instability threatened by an increasingly tense U.S.-China relationship. This discussion explores the impact shifting U.S. policy will have on South China Sea claimant nations as well as China’s approach to the resource-rich region. The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support of and dedication to the Pacific Council. Featuring: Rear Admiral Stephen Koehler, Director of Operations, J3, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command/ Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (In Transit) Rear Admiral Koehler commanded the Pukin’ Dogs of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and Carrier Strike Group Nine. His additional assignments at sea include tours in Fighter Squadron (VF) 211, VF-41, executive officer aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). During his operational tours, he supported Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel in support of contingency operations in the Middle East, Operation Deliberate Guard in support of stabilization efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Operation Unified Protector in support of contingency operations Libya, and Operation Unified Response which provided emergency disaster relief to Haiti. Bonnie S. Glaser, Senior Adviser for Asia; Director, China Power Project, CSIS Bonnie S. Glaser is a senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project as CSIS, where she works on issues related to Asia-Pacific security with a focus on Chinese foreign and security policy. She is concomitantly a nonresident fellow with the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, and a senior associate with the Pacific Forum. Moderator: Alexandre Moore, Senior Programs Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy Alexandre Moore researches and monitors shifts in foreign policy, oversees the logistical and operational elements of events and recruits U.S. and foreign diplomats, military officials, and experts to meet with the Council.

A Local-to-Global webcast on preparing for future challenges through subnational diplomacy and global engagement. Like few events before it, the global pandemic has highlighted how global events can have major impacts at the local level. At the same time, cites are increasingly becoming front line actors in responding to the major global challenges of the day, from climate change to public health to human rights. This discussion explores the growing role of cities in subnational diplomacy and to discuss how local governments can prepare for the greatest challenges of the future through greater global engagement. Featuring: Vanessa Ibarra, Director, Office of International Affairs, City of Atlanta As Director of the Mayor's Office of International Affairs, Ms. Ibarra plans, develops, and implements the international activities of Mayor Bottoms’ Office. She assists in facilitating trade, economic development, tourism and cultural initiatives of the City of Atlanta through liaison with local, national, and international agencies. Ambassador Nina Hachigian, Deputy Mayor for International Affairs, City of Los Angeles Ambassador Hachigian is a Pacific Council Director and served as U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 2014-2017. In 2017, Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed Ambassador Hachigian to be the first Deputy Mayor of International Affairs. Moderator: Anka Lee, Fellow, Truman National Security Project Anka Lee is a Pacific Council member and, previously, he advised the California State Assembly Speaker on international affairs, where he created new bilateral initiatives for legislators to address shared policy challenges with foreign counterparts and positioned California to lead on key issues of local and global significance.

The fifth installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, on what a joint U.S.-E.U. strategy on China might look like. The United States and the European Union need a shared understanding of China to resist it. That was the message from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his June 2020 visit to the continent. While the United States and E.U. have adopted a tougher stance on China in recent years, they remain split on how best to respond to Beijing’s growing clout. Foreign policy consensus building among the E.U.’s 27 members is a difficult task and is in part to blame for the difference in the E.U.’s approach. Though in the wake of China’s post-pandemic assertiveness, the bloc has shown a willingness to reexamine its China policy. What obstacles stand in the way of greater U.S.-E.U. cooperation on China? How tough is the E.U. willing to get? What might a U.S.-E.U. strategy look like and what could it accomplish? Join us as we explore these questions and more in the fifth installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China. The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support of and dedication to the Pacific Council. Featuring: Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri, Dean, Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs; and Director, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House Dr. Vinjamuri leads the US & Americas programme and is Dean of the Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Leslie writes and speaks about America’s role in the world, international security, geopolitics, and global governance. Noah Barkin, Senior Visiting Fellow, Asia Program, German Marshall Fund of the United States Noah Barkin is a senior visiting fellow in the Asia Program based in Berlin. He specializes in Europe’s relationship with China and the implications of China’s rise for the transatlantic relationship. Noah is also managing editor in the China practice at Rhodium Group. Moderator: Kimberly Marteau Emerson, Principal, KME Consulting Kimberly is a Pacific Council member and board member of Human Rights Watch.

Ms. Hyepin Im is a former U.S. Presidential Appointee on the Board of the Corporation for National and Community Service and serves as President and Founder of Faith and Community Empowerment (formerly KCCD), a national nonprofit involved in empowering churches and nonprofits to leverage their resources by building capacity, leadership, and partnerships in economic development and serving as a bridge between the Asian American community and the greater community at large. Since its inception in 2001, FACE has had over 700 partners, ranging from the White House to Fortune 500 companies. Successful initiatives include educating over 10,000 homebuyers and helping them receive over $1.6 million in down payment assistance, saving over $91 million in mortgages from foreclosure, partnering with both FDIC and Freddie Mac in developing a Korean curriculum in financial literacy and homeownership, implementing a historic $5 million U.S. Department of Labor workforce development program, and hosting joint conferences with the White House and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to mobilize 5000 Korean American churches for economic development. Ms. Im is a frequent speaker who has been on CNN and NPR and who has been quoted in the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post. She has presented at numerous conferences including at the White House, U.S. Department of Labor, Christian Community Development Association, and Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. She serves on the Mayor’s Interfaith Collective, Community Advisory Board of MUFG Union Bank and Torrey Pines Bank,U.S. Army Advisory Board, the Pacific Council on International Policy, the Western Partner for the Council on Foreign Relations, and L.A. County Supervisor’s Empowerment Congress and Board of FTE (Forum for Theological Exploration) and Advisory Board for Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Urban Institute. In 2012, she was honored as Woman of Action by California Speaker of the Assembly John Perez.She was selected twice as Pioneer Woman of the Year by Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Tom Labonge. She was also recognized by LAUSD School Boardmember as a Trailblazer for her work and advocacy for students. Los Angeles Magazine featured Ms. Im as “Ten Inspirational Women of Los Angeles in their September 2013 issue. Her previous positions include venture capitalist for Renaissance Capital Partners, Sponsorship Manager for California Science Center, and Senior Auditor at Ernst & Young. She has a B.S. from U.C. Berkeley, M.B.A. from University of Southern California, and M.Div., summa cum laude, from Wesley Theological Seminary.

On today's Global Exchange Podcast, Colin Robertson is joined by Ambassador Tom Pickering and former U.S. official Atman Trivedi to discuss their latest piece in Foreign Affairs: "The International Order Did Not Fail the Pandemic Alone." Participants bios: - Tom Pickering is a career ambassador who has represented the U.S. abroad for 40 years and last served the U.S. government as under secretary of state for political affairs. https://www.brookings.edu/experts/thomas-pickering/ - Atman Trivedi is the Managing Director of Hills & Company, an adjunct fellow of the Pacific Council, and is a former official at the U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.pacificcouncil.org/about/network/profile/atman-m-trivedi Host Bio: - Colin Robertson (host): Vice President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Links: - Pickering & Trivedi, "The International Order Did Not Fail the Pandemic Alone," Foreign Affairs, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2020-05-14/international-order-didnt-fail-pandemic-alone Recommended Readings: - William Burns, The Back Channel, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/561709/the-back-channel-by-william-j-burns/ - Susan Rice, Tough Love, https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Tough-Love/Susan-Rice/9781501189975 The Global Exchange is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Subscribe to the CGAI Podcast Network on SoundCloud, iTunes, or wherever else you can find Podcasts! If you like our content and would like to support our podcasts, please check out our donation page www.cgai.ca/support. Recording Date: 28 May 2020. Give 'The Global Exchange' a review on iTunes! Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on Linkedin. Head over to our website www.cgai.ca for more commentary. Produced by Jay Rankin. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

A virtual conversation with Elizabeth Cousens of the UN Foundation. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, and it comes at a time when pillars of global engagement seem under siege from multiple directions. At the same time, the past year has demonstrated the essential role international institutions play in promoting life-saving cooperation across borders…and the risks we face if that cooperation is obstructed or undermined. United Nations Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth Cousens joins the Pacific Council for a virtual conversation about how the United Nations and the World Health Organization have helped shape the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how global efforts are connected to local efforts, including that work has directly impacted lives in Southern California. We look at the lessons learned from this crisis and innovations that are emerging as a response to the pandemic, and discuss the United Nations’ important role in confronting global challenges that face the next generation of leaders, from climate change to economic inequity. Featuring: Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO, UN Foundation Elizabeth Cousens has been at the forefront of global policymaking and innovation for over 20 years. She is a diplomat and thought leader who has worked on the frontlines of peace processes, played an influential role in policy innovations from peacebuilding to the Sustainable Development Goals, and helped build public-private partnerships to solve global challenges at scale. Moderator: Dilpreet Sidhu, Director of International Relations, Policy, and Protocol, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles

A webcast on battling disinformation and reporting the news in an atmosphere of mistrust, featuring former CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin. The rise of social media has provided an environment conducive to the viral dissemination of disinformation. As disinformation has spread, trust in the political process, public institutions, and the press have fallen. Societies, in turn, have begun to suffer as the opinions of their publics are manipulated by bots, big data, trolling, deep-fakes, and more. Join us as we host Emmy award winning journalist Jessica Yellin to discuss her approach to battling disinformation and reporting the news in an atmosphere of mistrust. Featuring: Jessica Yellin, Founder, #NewsNotNoise Jessica Yellin is the founder of #NewsNotNoise, a fresh voice in media that provides daily news reports on Instagram. You can find the account @JessicaYellin. She is the former chief White House correspondent for CNN and an Emmy and Gracie award-winning political journalist reporting for CNN, ABC News, and MSNBC. Yellin has covered Capitol Hill, domestic politics, state and national elections, the culture wars, and issues facing women in the workplace. Her work has been published in The New York Times, the Daily Beast, Details, Entertainment Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, and The Atlantic. She is a graduate of Harvard University and the Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles, California. Her first novel, Savage News, about reporting-while-female, is available now from HarperCollins. Moderator: Justin Chapman, Communications Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy Justin Chapman is a journalist who has written for more than 20 print and digital publications. He is the host of the show "Well Read with Justin Chapman."

The fourth installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, featuring Dr. Jeffrey Wasserstrom of UC Irvine and Joanna Chiu of the Toronto Star on the future of Hong Kong. July 1, 2020, marks the 23rd anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong. In that time, a lot has changed for the territory. In 1997, about one in five Hong Kong residents identified as Chinese as opposed to “Hongkonger.” That number eventually grew to one in three identifying as Chinese, but as Beijing has begun to erase the lines between Hong Kong and the mainland, local attitudes are beginning to shift. As of 2019, nine in 10 primarily identified as Hongkongers. Over the past few years, we've seen protesters take the streets of Hong Kong to push back against the erosion of their freedoms. Join us as we discuss the current state of Hong Kong, what its future might look like, and what the United States can do to best support the people of Hong Kong going forward. The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support of and dedication to the Pacific Council. Featuring: Dr. Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Chancellor's Professor of History, School of Humanities, UC Irvine Jeffrey Wasserstrom is the Chancellor's Professor of History and historical writing mentor of literary journalism in the School of Humanities and professor (by courtesy) in the School of Law at UC Irvine. He is also the co-founder of the Forum for the Academy and the Public. Joanna Chiu, Journalist, Vancouver Bureau, The Toronto Star Joanna Chiu a Vancouver-based journalist for the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest newspaper, after previously serving as bureau chief of StarMetro Vancouver. Her specialty is China-Canada relations, and she has been tracking global support and solidarity actions in support of Hong Kong's democracy movement. Moderator: Dr. Ira Kasoff, Senior Counselor, International Advisory Council, APCO Worldwide Ira Kasoff is a Pacific Council member and a recognized expert on Asia. He has lived and worked extensively in the region–10 years in mainland China, eight years in Japan, eight in Hong Kong, and two in Taiwan.

Freedom, Entrepreneurship and Difficult Conversations with Steve Miska “Wherever you are on the spectrum of belief or thoughts, this is a conversation for everyone.” — Ursula Mentjes (17:11-17:15) Over the last few weeks, we've been having a lot of conversations about what's going on in the world from the murder of George Floyd, how that's impacted the world as a whole, and how we're supporting our communities of color all over the world as well. In addition, we are still in the middle of the pandemic, which means so many things for so many people. In this week's episode, Ursula Mentjes speaks about freedom, entrepreneurship, and difficult conversations with Steve Miska. Part One of ‘Freedom, Entrepreneurship and Difficult Conversations with Steve Miska’ Steve Miska is the Executive Director of First Amendment Voice, a nonpartisan effort to reinvigorate civic awareness around free expression, religious liberty, press freedom, and other first amendment issues. He founded Servant, Leader, Citizen (SLC) Consulting, Inc. after retiring as a Colonel with 25 years in the Army. His last assignment was teaching graduate students as the Army Chair at Marine Corps University. Previously, he served in the Obama White House as Director for Iraq on the National Security Council.  In 2007, on his second of three combat tours, Steve led a team that established an underground railroad for dozens of interpreters from Baghdad to Amman to the United States. He earned top academic honors as a Counterterrorism Fellow at the College of International Security Affairs and has taught economics at the United States Military Academy, West Point. “There is so much more that we share than what divides us.” — Steve Miska (27:59-28:04) Steve routinely speaks on first amendment issues and soft networks and has addressed DIA, RAND, the Pacific Council on International Policy, the Young Presidents Organization of LA, and numerous media outlets and think tanks. He holds degrees from Cornell University, National Defense University, and West Point. He and his wife of 28 years have two children and reside in Southern California. He's an author of multiple publications based on thesis work to protect soft networks. Conducts pro bono work to support nonprofits that help former interpreters and actively educates Congress on national security implications of legislation. Routinely engages with the media. Motivational speaker and discussion facilitator. Actively mentors young professionals.   Part Two of ‘Freedom, Entrepreneurship and Difficult Conversations with Steve Miska’ In terms of limiting beliefs, Steve had enough self-awareness to know that the military cultivates a character trait of humility, and everything is focused on the team. It's about whether the mission can be accomplished. So, a lot of veterans are not suited in a good way to enter the civilian sector because they're coming from this environment where they don't believe they need to sell themselves. They don't believe that they're the product many times that people want. It's a very different cultural shift that he struggled with. He  Steve had gone to interviews for senior positions in different places in the country. He ended up realizing that if he got stuck in a bureaucracy somewhere, whether it's in the corporate sector or elsewhere, it was always a bad fit for him in the Army. Later on, he discovered the sales camp, recommended it to other people, and attended it himself because it's a great way to reflect and learn from mentors who have traveled that path. It can be humbling to admit there's always something that we don't know. “Keep exploring ideas, be a lifelong learner, and remain understanding.” —  Steve Miska (32:01-32:06) There's a lot to unpack when it comes to dealing with difficult conversations. First, focus on the areas closest to you in your communities or whatever level you happen to be interacting with. Currently, we're seeing all of these major protests happening around the world. But toxic rhetoric out there in public is not healthy for us. It's not healthy for the country. Getting those hits right off of social media that are confirming our own preconceived biases, that's not healthy for us as individuals, both from a mental perspective, but physiologically, it can impact you as well.   With all the chaos happening in the world right now, it's completely powerful to remain understanding of the situation and be a lifelong learner no matter what. Be one of those people who's willing to build a bridge and bring diverse people together where they can share in a way that's beneficial for everyone. How to Connect More with Steve Miska: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-miska/ Resources Discussed:  Difficult Conversation’s workshop: https://difficultconversationsproject.org/  Kern’s bio here: https://difficultconversationsproject.org/the-facilitator About Ursula Mentjes: Ursula Mentjes is the founder of Sales Coach Now, as well as a Sales Expert, Inspirational Speaker, Author and Certified Sales Coach who specializes in NLP to help her clients double and triple their sales. Sales Coach Now delivers a unique approach to sales training and coaching designed for ultimate retention and achievement.    Discover how to transform limiting beliefs, make powerful shifts with intention, and authentically serve (sell) your clients with my free pdf, “6 Secrets to Doubling Your Sales! www.salescoachnow.com/gift  Also, Ursula would love to partner with you at your next event, conference, or sales training session. If you’re interested in coming to Sales Camp, that’s her two-day live course then, you may find out more information here: https://www.salescoachnow.com/sales-camp/. NEXT STEPS - A GIVEAWAY ALERT! Be one of the first to receive My One Great Goal Digital Book, My One Great Goal Digital Workbook, and Access To My One Great Goal Virtual Event by completing an online review of my "Double Your Sales Now" Podcast:  go to this link here - www.salescoachnow.com/giveaway/.

A webcast on the latest trends in renewable energy, energy storage, and electrification. In April 2019, renewable energy provided 23 percent of U.S. power generation. Coal, on the other hand, accounted for just 20 percent. This marked the first time in U.S. history that renewables had outpaced coal’s share of the market. Driving the expansion of renewable energy has been a combination of falling costs, breakthroughs in energy storage, and public demand and incentives for greener energy sources. As the transition towards renewable energy accelerates, questions remain about the best path forward—particularly as these technologies come with costs of their own. Please join us as we explore trends in renewable energy, energy storage, and electrification. Featuring: Mark L. Kellaher, Design Phase Manager of Energy Storage and Solutions, M.A. Mortenson Mark Kellaher is a Pacific Council member and focuses on contract and commercial services management, strategy development, regulatory policy analysis, and the management of large capital infrastructure projects. Tracey Evers, Market Director, Power Delivery Solutions, Mortenson Tracey Evers manages the positioning activities of the business development team by participating in strategic business planning, providing leadership and insight for the overall strategic pursuit and direction of established and new markets as well overseeing the creation and production of internal and external communications. Moderator: Samantha Pettigrew, Associate, International Council on Clean Transportation Samantha Pettigrew is a Pacific Council member and an associate at the International Council on Clean Transportation.

A webcast on what Venezuelans are doing to restore their democracy. On January 10, 2019, Nicolás Maduro illegally assumed the presidency of Venezuela despite a lack of free and fair elections. Under Maduro, the democratic institutions underpinning what had once been South America's most prosperous state have all but been eroded. Those who oppose him have been arbitrarily jailed or barred from the political process, while access to food and medicine has been leveraged as a tool for social control. But hope is not lost. Join us as we discuss what Venezuelans are doing to restore their democracy, how the United States is helping, and what might come next. Featuring: Carrie Filipetti, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cuba and Venezuela, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State Carrie Filipetti is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cuba and Venezuela in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Prior to this position, Carrie served as a Senior Policy Advisor for the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN), where she advised U.S. Ambassador Nikki R. Haley on issues related to counterterrorism, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere. Moderator: Dr. Katja Newman, President, KSN Consulting Katja Newman is a Pacific Council member and a professor at Loyola Marymount University.

A webcast about the state of U.S.-Taliban negotiations. At the end of February, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace deal that calls for the full withdrawal of American troops within 14 months. This is contingent on a guarantee from the Taliban that they will not plan nor launch attacks from Afghan soil with aims to attack the United States or its allies. What is the state of the deal now? Are the United States and the Taliban staying true to their commitments? And what are the opinions of the Afghani people and other stakeholders in the region? Featuring: Shamila Kohestani, Senior Program Officer, Democracy Council Shamila Kohestani is a senior program officer with Democracy Council in Los Angeles and manages multiple programs supporting gender rights and civil society in the MENA and S Asia regions. She is one of the most prominent Afghani human rights activists and the former captain of the Afghani National Women’s soccer team. Barnett Rubin, Associate Director and Senior Fellow, Center on International Cooperation, New York University Dr. Barnett R. Rubin is a Senior Fellow and Associate Director of CIC, where he directs the Afghanistan Pakistan Regional Program. From April 2009 until October 2013, Dr. Rubin was the Senior Adviser to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan in the U.S. Department of State. Moderator: Thomas Zimmerman, Director of Programs, Pacific Council on International Policy Thomas Zimmerman is the Director of Programs at the Pacific Council on International Policy, where he oversees programing for Council members and the general public. He started his career working in Kabul, Afghanistan, with American Councils for International Education.

A virtual conversation with Dr. Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund of the United States about the experience of COVID-19 in Europe. As EU member states pursue isolationist tactics to combat the pandemic, there is concern that COVID-19 will have a damaging impact on European unity. What strengths and weaknesses of the EU has this crisis unveiled? How are member states stepping up to contain the spread of COVID-19? Featuring: Dr. Ian Lesser, Vice President and Executive Director, Brussels Office, German Marshall Fund of the United States Prior to joining GMF, Dr. Lesser was a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and vice president and director of studies at the Pacific Council on International Policy. He came to the Pacific Council from the RAND Corporation, where he spent over a decade as a senior analyst and research manager specializing in strategic studies. Moderator: Alexandra Lieben, Deputy Director, Burkle Center for International Relations, UCLA In addition to her work at the Burkle Center, Alexandra Lieben teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in international conflict resolution and international development as well as alternative dispute resolution at UCLA.

While times of global crisis can bring out the best in this country, they also have a history of surfacing deeply rooted xenophobia and bigotry. At a moment where many are fearful, we are once again seeing efforts to scapegoat a group of Americans based on their identity. The Pacific Council and Japanese American National Museum (JANM), in partnership with Skylight Books, hosted a conversation with John Tateishi about his recent book, "Redress: The Inside Story of the Successful Campaign for Japanese American Reparations," and his experiences leading the fight to seek reparative justice. Tateishi will join Karen Ishizuka, Chief Curator at JANM, to discuss the parallels between his own experiences, the post-9/11 period, and today. In the midst of the “Safer at Home” order, it is more important than ever to support our local businesses and neighbors. Copies of Redress: The Inside Story of the Successful Campaign for Japanese American Reparations can be bought from Skylight Books (in Los Feliz, Los Angeles) or from the Japanese American National Museum Store. Featuring: John Tateishi, Author, "Redress: The Inside Story of the Successful Campaign for Japanese American Reparations" John Tateishi served as National Redress Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and was involved in the movement to obtain redress and reparations for Japanese Americans. Moderator: Karen Ishizuka, Chief Curator, Japanese American National Museum Karen Ishizuka is the Chief Curator at the Japanese American National Museum.

A virtual keynote webcast with Alabama state Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-53), minority leader in the state House of Representatives. Rep. Daniels will discuss educational reform, prison reform, voter suppression issues, and the healthcare system in conversation with Kimberly Freeman, Associate Dean and Chief Diversity Officer of USC Dornsife. They will also explore how these “domestic” issues impact the United States’ standing in the world. In March, a Pacific Council delegation traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, with the goal of better understanding the legacy of slavery and institutionalized racism in the United States. Inspired by the trip, Pacific Council President and CEO Dr. Jerrold Green and Board member Ambassador Michael Lawson wrote an op-ed piece on why institutionalized racism is a national security threat. They argue that to preserve democracy and security in the United States and to be effective as an international actor, we need to address issues of race in our own country. Selma's Bloody Sunday occurred 55 years ago. The question that begs to be answered is: Where are we now? Featuring: The Honorable Anthony Daniels, Minority Leader, Alabama House of Representatives Anthony Daniels has represented the 53rd District in the Alabama State House of Representatives since 2014. Since February 2017, Daniels has served as minority leader in the state House of Representatives, leading the House Democratic Caucus. Moderator: Kimberly Freeman, Associate Dean and Chief Diversity Officer, USC Dornsife Kimberly Freeman is a Pacific Council member and the associate dean and chief diversity officer at USC Dornsife.

A virtual keynote featuring Ambassador Michael A. Lawson. The killing of George Floyd at the hands of U.S. law enforcement has sparked protests across the world, with thousands gathering in cities like London and Berlin to condemn human rights violations against Black communities in the United States. The world is watching and the moment calls for Americans to reflect on how systemic racism continues to plague our society and institutions. Ambassador Michael Lawson, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League, led a discussion on the message behind the protests taking place across the country, the scale and nature of the challenges facing our city, and the difficult work that must be done to advance racial justice in our communities. Featuring: Ambassador Michael A. Lawson, President & CEO, Los Angeles Urban League Ambassador Lawson is a Pacific Council Director and president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League. Moderator: Tanya Acker, Host, The Tanya Acker Podcast; and Co-Host, Hot Bench Tanya Acker is a Pacific Council member and co-host of the twice Emmy-nominated Hot Bench (CBS Television Distribution), Tanya Acker is also host of The Tanya Acker Show podcast.

A Staying Connected Series webcast on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Iran's political future. Iran has successfully weathered political and economic unrest over the years, though the damage wrought by COVID-19 threatens to turn out the people like never before. Join us as we discuss the state of Iran's economy, the regime's attempt to battle unrest, and the country's activity abroad. Featuring: Hamed Behravan, Vice President of Independent Media, Internet Freedom and Iran Programs, DT Institute Hamed Behravan is vice president at the DT Institute, where he designs and implements a broad range of innovative solutions that enable civil society activists and organizations in Iran and other closed societies push for tangible reforms and opening of the political and social spaces. DT Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting democracy, human rights, economic opportunity, and good governance in developing countries. Dr. Alma Keshavarz, International Security Analyst, Institute for Politics and Strategy, Carnegie Mellon University Alma Keshavarz is a Pacific Council member, an international security analyst and a post-doctoral fellow at the Institute for Politics and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University, and an associate at Small Wars Journal. Moderator: Peter Theroux, Writer and Translator Peter Theroux is a Pacific Council member and served as a political officer and translator in Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan; under Richard Haass on the State Department's Policy Planning Staff, at the White House as Director of Persian Gulf Affairs on the National Security Council (2003-05), and the New York's Joint Terrorism Task Force (2008-10).

The latest episode in a new podcast series by the Pacific Council on International Policy: "Local Planet with Thomas Zimmerman," the Council's Director of Programs. Each week, Thomas will share first-person perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic from around the world, highlight ways that people are stepping up to support their communities in the face of this outbreak, and present some global pop culture recommendations to help you get through the week. In this episode, we hear about how the coronavirus is impacting both Somalia and the Somali diaspora in the United Kingdom; Mutual Aid Networks—how they organize and how to join one; and Thomas catches up with Pacific Council Membership Associate Ina Thigith on K-pop. Theme Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The latest episode in a new podcast series by the Pacific Council on International Policy: "Local Planet with Thomas Zimmerman," the Council's Director of Programs. Each week, Thomas will share first-person perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic from around the world, highlight ways that people are stepping up to support their communities in the face of this outbreak, and present some global pop culture recommendations to help you get through the week. In this episode, Thomas speaks with the manager of a school in Berlin about how the city is responding to the pandemic, he learns from the Director of Manufacturing Operations at SFMade about how small Northern California manufacturers are reconfiguring to meet the needs of the moment, and he discusses the comforts of classic British cinema in the time of quarantine. Theme Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A Pacific Council teleconference about democracies in times of crisis. As countries around the world respond to a pandemic, many democratically elected leaders have taken extreme, even undemocratic, measures. In many countries, including Hungary, Brazil, Israel, and France, there is concern that leaders and lawmakers may use the crisis for political gains. These uncertain times prompt the question: How do democracies fare in times of crisis? Featuring: Dr. Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy and International Development, University of Birmingham Nic Cheeseman was formerly the director of the African Studies Centre at Oxford University. He mainly works on democracy, elections, and development and has conducted fieldwork in a range of African countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Shanthi Kalathil, Senior Director, International Forum for Democratic Studies, National Endowment for Democracy Shanthi Kalathil's work focuses primarily on authoritarian challenges to democracy in the information age. Previously in her career, she served as a senior democracy fellow at the US Agency for International Development, an associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and as a consultant for the World Bank, the Aspen Institute, and other international affairs organizations. Moderator: Dr. Katja Newman, President, KSN Consulting Katja Newman is a Pacific Council member and a professor at Loyola Marymount University.

A Pacific Council teleconference on artificial intelligence's potential to disrupt geopolitics. The economic and strategic potential promised by Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made its pursuit a priority for countries around the world. The United States and China are widely viewed as the leaders in the race for AI, though significant investments in the technology have been made by Russia, Canada, France, and the UK to name a few. Join us as we explore AI's potential to disrupt geopolitics, and reshape our understanding of the world. Featuring: John Villasenor, Professor of Public Policy, Electrical Engineering, and Management, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs John Villasenor is a professor of electrical engineering, public policy, law, and management at UCLA, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a National Fellow at the Hoover Institution. Danielle Tarraf, Senior Information Scientist and Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School Danielle Tarraf is a seasoned AI leader with over 14 years of experience spanning strategy consulting, basic research, and venture capital. Since 2018, she has also been building a portfolio of funded projects aiming to position RAND in the AI sphere. Moderator: Benjamin Boudreaux, Policy Researcher and Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School Benjamin Boudreaux is a professor at Pardee RAND Graduate School and a policy researcher at RAND working in the intersection of national security, technology, and ethics. His current research focuses on ethical issues in artificial intelligence (including autonomous weapons and algorithmic fairness), conflict prevention in cyberspace, and cyber incident response.

Introducing a new podcast series by the Pacific Council on International Policy: "Local Planet with Thomas Zimmerman," the Council's Director of Programs. Each week, Thomas will share first-person perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic from around the world, highlight ways that people are stepping up to support their communities in the face of this outbreak, and present some global pop culture recommendations to help you get through the week. In this episode, we get a firsthand account of China’s strict quarantine system, we learn about the ways COVID-19 has exacerbated Los Angeles’ food security challenges from Everytable CEO Sam Polk, and we discuss how to experience Eurovision 2020 despite its cancellation. Theme Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A Pacific Council teleconference on how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact globalization. Given the nature of our highly interdependent global economy, this episode examine how our newfound isolationist tactics to combat COVID-19 will affect the global economy, to what extent, and what we can come to expect once this is over. Featuring: Meg Lundsager, Former U.S. Executive Director and Alternate Executive Director, International Monetary Fund Meg Lundsager is a Public Policy Fellow at the Wilson Center. Read more. Dr. Henry Farrell, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University Henry Farrell is an associate professor of political science and international affairs. Moderator: Dr. Abraham Newman, Director of the Mortara Center for International Studies, George Washington University Abraham Newman is a professor and director of the Mortara Center for International Studies at the George Washington University.

A Pacific Council teleconference on the state of the Afghanistan War and how the conflict will evolve in the years ahead. There are soldiers in Afghanistan today who were not even alive at the time of the 9/11 attacks. The war in Afghanistan has lasted longer than World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War combined. Recently, the Trump administration forged a peace deal with the Taliban and Afghan government. However, defensive airstrikes in the first few days of March threaten to dismantle the resolutions. Conflict in the Middle East is known for surges of violence and failed reconciliation attempts, but the United States is still hoping to break this pattern. As the Washington Post reported in its Afghanistan Papers last fall, the war has been plagued by problems since the beginning and many officials painted an inaccurately rosy picture of how the war was going. Why has getting out of Afghanistan been more difficult than leaving Vietnam or Korea? How can we expect to see this conflict evolve in the coming years? What is the most probable outcome of ending U.S. engagement in Afghanistan? Featuring: Scott Smith, Senior Expert for Afghanistan Peace Processes, U.S. Institute of Peace Scott Smith is a senior technical advisor on Afghanistan at the U.S. Institute of Peace. He was previously the director of USIP's Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs between 2012 and 2016. From 2017 to 2019, he was the director for political affairs at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Vanda Felbab-Brown, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, Brookings Institution Dr. Felbab-Brown is an expert on international and internal conflicts and nontraditional security threats, including insurgency, organized crime, urban violence, and illicit economies. Felbab-Brown is the author of “Aspiration and Ambivalence: Strategies and Realities of Counterinsurgency and State-Building in Afghanistan” (Brookings Institution Press, 2013). Moderator: Thomas Zimmerman, Director of Programs, Pacific Council on International Policy Thomas Zimmerman started his career working in Kabul, Afghanistan, with American Councils for International Education. After working on Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign, Thomas joined the Pakistan Desk at the Department of Defense before moving to the White House to serve as Special Assistant to the National Security Advisor.

A Pacific Council teleconference on how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact technology and vice versa. As the restaurant, hospitality, and airline industries take a major hit to their business, established tech companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have seized the opportunity to yet again demonstrate their value to individuals and businesses alike. As the fallout from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to unfold, how are these companies responding? As their products become more ubiquitous in our everyday life, what impact will this have on the future of work? Featuring: Madinah S. Ali, President & Co-Founder, Safe PC Cloud Madinah S. Ali is the President & Co-Founder of Safe PC Cloud, also known as Atlanta GA Computer Services, one of the leading consumer, small-office, and home-office (SOHO) Information Technology (IT) & Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Daniel Ives, Managing Director, Equity Research, Wedbush Securities Daniel Ives is a a Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst covering the Technology sector at Wedbush Securities since 2018. Dan has been on Wall Street for two decades covering the software and the broader technology sector. Moderator: Malia Mason, CEO & Co-Founder, Integrum Malia Mason is CEO and co-founder at Integrum and president and co-founder of WiCyS SoCal.

A teleconference on how climate change disproportionately affects women. According to the UN, about 80 percent of people displaced by climate change are women. This level of disruption has consequences for global markets, political systems, and migration patterns. Gender equality is one of the UN's top 5 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but how does inequality impact environmental sustainability? How is a company or country's ability to respond to climate change impacted by gender issues? How can California stay at the forefront of these gender and climate change issues at an economic and governmental level? Featuring: Samantha Harris, Global Lead, Climate and People, BSR Samantha Harris drives the climate resilience pillar of BSR’s climate change practice, which includes how businesses can act at the intersection of people and climate change. She leads BSR’s foundational research and strategy on the intersection of climate and women’s empowerment. Emilia Reyes, Program Director, Public Policy and Budget for Equality and Sustainable Development, Equidad de Género Emilia Reyes was one of the gender negotiators from the Mexican delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Her role at Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia (Gender Equity: Citizenship, Work and Family) includes advocacy work in partner with the Mexican Climate Finance Group. Moderator: Jesse Medlong, Sustainability Lawyer and Climate Diplomat, DLA Piper Jesse Medlong is a Pacific Council member and a sustainability lawyer and climate diplomat at the San Francisco office of the global law firm DLA Piper.

A Pacific Council teleconference on how to combat disinformation and misinformation during a pandemic, with perspectives from different media environments around the world. Featuring: Jeanne Bourgault, President and CEO, Internews Ida Jooste, Global Health Media Advisor, Internews Moderator: Marissa Moran, Chief Communications Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy

A Pacific Council teleconference about the Los Angeles Port in the midst of coronavirus closures. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti recently directed all restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters, and other businesses to close until at least March 31. As the busiest container port in North America, activity at the Port of LA serves as an important barometer for economic health. Featuring: Gene Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles Gene Seroka is the executive director of the Port of LA, the busiest container port in North America. Nominated by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on May 27, 2014, the Port of Los Angeles has experienced historic, record-breaking performances since his appointment. Moderator: Nastasha Everheart, Director of Strategy, Pacific Council on International Policy Nastash Everheart facilitates vision-setting at the highest tiers of leadership, develops the Council’s impact agenda, and creates, implements, and measures institution-wide strategic plans.

A teleconference on rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The story of the Saudi Arabia-Iran conflict is a struggle for hegemony in the Middle East that is increasingly inflamed by religious differences. This was further complicated at the beginning of 2020 with the United States’ assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, which threatened to escalate into armed conflict. Now the United States and Saudi Arabia are in talks on how to resolve the conflict with Iran. The Trump administration has made some attempts at conflict mediation, with little success. Which actors should mediate in instances like this one? What is the way forward for the region? In the long term? Six months? One year? Two years? How does the emphasis on religious divides complicate this issue? Can diplomacy occur outside of the realm of religion or does religion need to be a focal point of any solution moving forward? Is this a regional cold war? Iran and Saudi Arabia have smaller proxy conflicts, but no overt direct war. If it is a regional cold war, what lessons can be applied from the U.S.-USSR Cold War? Featuring: Dr. Banafsheh Keynoush, President, Mideast Analysts Banafsheh Keynoush is a Pacific Council member, a foreign affairs scholar, and an advisor to American private sector companies and policy centers in the Middle East. She has three decades of work experience in high-stake international diplomacy, and in policy and communications roles with the US private sector. Her book, Saudi Arabia and Iran: Friends or Foes? was published by Palgrave Macmillan in February 2016. Antonella Caruso, Adjunct, RAND Corporation; and LAMEDINA International Dialogue Institute Antonella Caruso is a Pacific Council member and a political analyst of North Africa and the Middle East and an adjunct at the RAND Corporation. Moderator: Dr. Jerrold D. Green, President & CEO, Pacific Council on International Policy Jerrold Green is an expert on U.S.-Iran relations.

A teleconference on the global spread of the coronavirus. As the coronavirus outbreak spreads throughout Asia and the rest of the world, scientists have emphasized the need for greater cooperation and transparency. So far, 82 have been confirmed dead with more than 2,700 infections in China. Many countries, including the United States, have issued travel warnings and evacuation plans. The 110 possible cases in 26 U.S. states and the continued global spread of the disease is already impacting financial markets, tourism and travel business, and influencing investor sentiment. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently expanded its travel warning to all of China and a top U.S. health official urged Beijing to admit disease experts into the country. What can be done by the international community to stop the spread of the coronavirus? How does the current state of U.S.-China relations impact cooperation between the two countries as they work to stop the disease? Featuring: Dr. Ben Oppenheim, Scientist, Metabiota Dr. Ben Oppenheim is an applied political economist with 14 years of experience in international development, security, and global health. He currently works as a senior Scientist at Metabiota working within the Product Development group; his first product, a novel index measuring sovereign preparedness for pandemic disease outbreaks, is used by a leading global re-insurance company to design and price risk transfer policies. Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire, Professor, La Jolla Institute for Immunology Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D. is a Professor of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. Her research explains, at the molecular level, how and why viruses like Ebola and Lassa are pathogenic and provides the roadmap for medical defense. Her team has solved the structures of the Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, Bundibugyo and Lassa virus glycoproteins. Moderator: Lorraine Schneider, Program Manager in Training & Exercise Design, Global Crisis Management, The Walt Disney Company Lorraine Schneider is a Pacific Council member and an emergency manager with experience in preparedness, response and recovery. She currently works as a Program Manager in Training & Exercise Design for The Walt Disney Company's Global Crisis Management team.

Meredith Crowley on the Pacific Council on International Policy by The UK in a Changing Europe

Dealing with changing Federal policy in immigration affairs departments in major US cities… Dr. Linda Lopez, Chief of Immigrant Affairs to LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, joins the pod to discuss how Cities can still connect immigrants to the promise of the American dream at the local level, even while the Administration attempts to water that dream down at the national level. Recorded on location at the 2018 Concordia Summit in New York. Linda currently serves in a senior leadership role with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti focused on policy guidance impacting underserved communities in Los Angeles in areas of immigration, public safety, and community building. Previous leadership roles include University of Southern California, American Political Science Association and National Science Foundation. Established track record in developing innovative projects and successful implementation with diverse set of stakeholders. She regularly consults with non-profits, and other municipalities on policy design and implementation. She has also worked with the UN, UNICEF, and Red Cross on humanitarian relief at the local level. Media: Linda has extensive experience speaking at international and domestic conferences on topics focused on education and access, technology and services, migration and security, and innovative public private partnerships with the philanthropic and private sector. Sampling of speaking engagements and panels include: Smart Cities New York (2018), Concordia (2017),Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resiliency Athens Network on Refugee Populations (2016), German Marshall Fund Strategic Planning Conference(2017),Truman Security Project (2018) Pacific Council on International Policy (2018), Open Society Foundation (2018) panel on how global cities are integrating immigrants and refugees, Atlantic Live Dialogues (May 2018)

Finding Allah in the Qur'an - Jack Miles Smithsonian Associates, Interview Series Welcome to the Not Old Better Show, I'm your host Paul Vogelzang, and this is episode number 299 As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living, series, our guest today is Jack Miles. Jack Miles is a distinguished professor emeritus of English and religious studies at the University of California, Irvine, and senior fellow for religion and international affairs with the Pacific Council on International Policy. He is the winner of a 1996 Pulitzer Prize for his book God: A Biography and a recipient of Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships. Jack Miles' newest book is titled, “God in the Qur'an.” Today on The Not Old Better Show we'll be talking with Jack Miles about the Muslim faith, Allah, Islam, and we'll try to answer questions in a way for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to better understand and interpret the beliefs of a people and the deity whom they worship. Familiar to our Not Old Better Show audience will be the theme of understanding, why this is important to other religions, perhaps even reading other scriptures and seeing their point of view. To learn more about this show, please go to: https://notold-better.com For information about this, and all, Smithsonian Associates presentations, tickets, and other details, please go to: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/finding-allah-in-quran

Jennifer Hill speaks with past White House Social Secretaries, Lea Berman & Jeremy Bernard, about their new book: “Treating People Well.” Lea and Jeremy share the tips that had them be successful at the White House and beyond. They offer advice for landing an internship at the White House and the reasons why some people were not hired at the White House. treatingpeoplewellbook.com/about-1/ Lea Berman served as White House Social Secretary from 2004-2007, was Chief of Staff to Second Lady Lynne Cheney from 2002-2003 and previously, Social Secretary to the Vice President. She has worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Georgetown University, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and ran her own fundraising and event planning business. She is the creator of the blog America's Table, and lives in Washington, DC. Jeremy Bernard was the first male and first gay White House Social Secretary. He has been the senior advisor to the US Ambassador in France and also the White House Liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). He has worked on various political campaigns, including the 1992 Clinton for President Campaign and the 1993 and 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committees, and was appointed by President Clinton to the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Arts of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy.

This episode is powered by Jumpstart:HR, LLC - HR Outsourcing for Small Businesses and Startups http://www.jumpstart-hr.com   Americans are giving to charity more than ever. In light of the most recent natural disasters and the holiday season approaching, there’s a new sense of urgency to charitable giving. But how many of us really know how our donations are being spent – and that they’ll make a difference?   Before making donations, donors should do their research to ensure they’re choosing wisely. Evaluators such as Charity Navigator offer charity ratings and in-depth analysis of U.S.-based charities, with criteria including financial management and accountability. Givers should also understand the cause they’re trying to support, and look for charities that effectively address the causes they’re passionate about.   I'm chatting with Thomas Tighe, CEO of Direct Relief – one of the nation’s highest rated and most reputable NGOs. He can share tips on charitable giving, explain red flags, suggest questions that people should ask when making a gift, and offer recommendations for charities.   Direct Relief Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/DirectRelief/ https://twitter.com/DirectRelief Get Social:  Joey Price //  IG - www.instagram.com/joeyvpriceHR   T - www.twitter.com/joeyvpriceHR FB - www.facebook.com/joeyvprice    Listen:  iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-life-coffee-entrepreneurship-life-hacks-personal/id1031048631?mt=2 Podbean - www.businesslifeandcoffee.podbean.com SoundCloud - www.soundcloud.com/businesslifeandcoffee    Connect:  Twitter - www.twitter.com/bizlifecoffee  Instagram - www.instagram.com/businesslifeandcoffee Facebook - www.facebook.com/businesslifeandcoffeee   Website - www.businesslifeandcoffee.com    About Thomas: Thomas Tighe has served as President and CEO of Direct Relief, a nonprofit humanitarian medical organization, since October 2000. Direct Relief, established in Santa Barbara in 1948 and funded entirely with private support, provides medical material assistance to locally run health programs around the world and in the U.S. Since Tighe’s arrival, the organization has provided cash grants of more than $40 million and furnished more than $4 billion essential medicines, equipment, and supplies to support health services for low-income people in 88 developing countries and in all 50 U.S. states, where the organization conducts the country’s largest nonprofit charitable medicines program. During this tenure, Direct Relief has been named among the world’s most innovative nonprofits by Fast Company, has been rated by Forbes as being 99 percent efficient or better in fundraising since 2001, won the Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation, the CECP Director’s Award, the Esri President’s Award for GIS innovation, the Office of the Surgeon General’s National Leadership and Partnership Award, and become the first U.S. nonprofit to obtain VAWD accreditation and a license to distribute Rx medications in all 50 U.S. states. From 1995 to 2000, Tighe served as Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer of the Peace Corps, overseeing day-to-day operations of the agency’s worldwide programs and a resurgent growth of the agency to a 27-year high. From 1993 to 1995, Tighe served as Associate General Counsel of the Peace Corps, negotiating bilateral agreements to initiate Peace Corps programs in South Africa and China. From 1989 to 1993, he served as Associate Counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, conducting oversight and developing legislation related to veterans’ mental-health care, special disability programs, drug and alcohol treatment, and services for homeless veterans. Tighe also handled collateral duties related to foreign aid and the Peace Corps. A 1982 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Tighe received a J.D. in 1985 from the University of California, Hastings College of Law and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in May 2003. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer teacher in rural Thailand from 1986 to 1988. He was selected for the Aspen Institute’s 2003 class of Henry Crown Fellows, is on the editorial advisory board for Pacific Standard Magazine, and is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. He was named Executive of the Year in 2006 by the South Coast Business and Technology Forum and is a visiting professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s graduate program in Global and International Studies.

Sherry Lansing in conversation with Stephen Galloway at Live Talks Los Angeles, May 1, 2017 discussing his book, "Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker." The talk took place at the Moss Theatre in Santa Monica, CA. Sherry Lansing has worked in the motion picture business for almost 30 years where she was involved in the production, marketing, and distribution of more than 200 films, including Academy Award winners Forrest Gump (1994), Braveheart (1995), and Titanic (1997). Throughout her film career, she earned a reputation as a trailblazer, a visionary leader, and a creative filmmaker.  In 1980, she became the first woman to head a major film studio when she was appointed President of 20th Century Fox.  Later, as an independent producer, Lansing was responsible for such successful films as Fatal Attraction, The Accused, School Ties, Indecent Proposal, and Black Rain.  Returning to the executive ranks in 1992, she was named Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures and began an unprecedented tenure that lasted more than 12 years (1992 – 2005), during which the studio enjoyed enormous creative and financial success. She founded The Sherry Lansing Foundation (SLF) in 2005, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cancer research, health, public education, and encore career opportunities.  Among the SLF’s initiatives is the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program, founded by Lansing to transition corporate professionals and military veterans into top quality California public school math and science teachers.  Lansing is also a co-founder of the Stand Up To Cancer initiative, which funds collaborative, multi-institutional cancer research “Dream Teams.”  She serves on the  University of California Board of Regents, as a trustee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, where she co-founded the Scholarship Fund for deserving “Littles Sisters and Brothers.”  In December 2004, Lansing was appointed to the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.   Lansing additionally serves on the boards of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems, the Carter Center, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the W.M. Keck Foundation, the Lasker Foundation, and the Pacific Council on International Policy.  She also serves on the Executive Committee of Friends of Cancer Research and is Honorary Chair of STOP CANCER, a nonprofit philanthropic organization which she founded in partnership with the late Dr. Armand Hammer.   Lansing graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Northwestern University in 1966.   Stephen Galloway is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who serves as the executive features editor for The Hollywood Reporter. Among his honors, he was named 2013 journalist of the year at the National Entertainment Journalism Awards. He has interviewed a who’s who of Hollywood including Steven Spielberg, Denzel Washington, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt and George Clooney. He also created the Reporter’s acclaimed roundtable series, featuring the likes of Clint Eastwood, Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino, James Cameron, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. In 2014, he was named the Cosgrove Visiting Artist at Loyola Marymount University, where he continues to host the interview series The Hollywood Masters. Born in the United Kingdom, he holds an M.A. from Cambridge University and is a graduate of the American Film Institute’s Center for Advanced Film and Television Studies.

The great leadership gurus usually tell a story of virtue rising to the top. They advise us to think positive, treat everyone with respect, and follow our moral compass. But we don’t have to look far to see leaders who turn this wisdom on its head. Negativity, disrespect, and divisiveness seem to be the order of the day. Were the experts wrong? Is good leadership dead? Surely there must be a more realistic way to understand the whims of the masses—and make straight their path once more. In this episode, we get a more realistic take on leadership from the contrarian guru Rob Asghar. Mr. Asghar is a special advisor to the president of the University of Southern California, a University Fellow at USC’s Center on Public Diplomacy, and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. He is the author, most recently, of the book USC: A Transformation, 2010-2015, and before that, he authored the book Leadership Is Hell: How to Manage Well and Escape with Your Soul.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES! The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy's commencement ceremony with keynote by Austin Beutner. In addition to celebrating our graduates’ many accomplishments, we were excited to welcome this year’s commencement speaker, Austin Beutner. Austin Beutner is the former Publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune, and the first Publisher to serve in both roles. Earlier in his career, he worked at The Blackstone Group, and at age 29 became the firm’s youngest partner. He left Blackstone to serve in the U.S. government, where he led efforts to help Russia transition to a market economy after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He went on to found Evercore Partners and as President and Co-CEO built the firm into one of the leading independent investment banks in the world. In 2010, he accepted a $1 annual salary to serve as First Deputy Mayor and Jobs Czar for the City of Los Angeles. He currently serves on the Boards of CalArts, The California Nature Conservancy, The Los Angeles Fund for Public Education, the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation, the National Park Foundation, the Pacific Council on International Relations and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation; and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2012, he created Vision To Learn, a nonprofit that provides free eyeglasses to children in low-income communities in California, Delaware, Hawaii and Iowa.

Sep. 5, 2015. Donald Lopez Jr., Jane McAuliffe and Jack Miles discuss "The Norton Anthology of World Religions" at the 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Speaker Biography: Donald S. Lopez Jr. is the Arthur E. Link distinguished university professor of Buddhist and Tibetan studies at the University of Michigan. He has a doctorate in Buddhist studies from the University of Virginia and specializes in late Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. Lopez has delivered numerous lectures and written extensively on Buddhism. His published books include "From Stone to Flesh: A Short History of the Buddha," "Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed" and "Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West." Most recently, Lopez edited and contributed to "The Norton Anthology of World Religions." Speaker Biography: Jane McAuliffe is the director of National and International Outreach at the Library of Congress, where she previously served as the director of the John W. Kluge Center and head of the Office of Scholarly Programs. She is a distinguished scholar specializing in Islamic studies and was the eighth president of Bryn Mawr College. Previously, McAuliffe served as the dean of Georgetown College at Georgetown University and worked at Emory University and the University of Toronto. Her published books include "Qur'anic Christians: An Analysis of Classical and Modern Exegesis," "Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an" and "Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an." Most recently, she edited and contributed to "The Norton Anthology of World Religions." Speaker Biography: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Miles is a distinguished professor of English and religious studies at the University of California at Irvine and a fellow for religious affairs with the Pacific Council on International Policy. His work has been featured in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and other publications. His published books include "God: A Biography" and "Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God." Most recently, Miles was the general editor of "The Norton Anthology of World Religions." For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6967

The Social Network Show welcomes Norman Pattiz to the December 17, 2014, episode. Norman Pattiz, founder of Courtside Entertainment Group, PodcastOne and founder and former Chairman and CEO of Westwood One shares his history--from being a leader in broadcast radio to being a leader in podcasting. Find out about PodcastOne, their popular podcasts, and the advantages of on-demand audio over broadcast radio. Norm also shares a new exciting breakthrough for the podcasts on PodcastOne. Norman Pattiz is the founder and former Chairman and CEO of radio giant Westwood One, which under his leadership was America's largest radio network and provider of news, sports, entertainment, talk and traffic programming to the broadcast industry. Westwood One owned, managed or distributed NBC radio networks, CBS News, CNN radio, the Mutual Broadcasting System, NFL Football, NCAA Basketball, March Madness, The Super Bowl, both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games and a wide variety of syndicated music and talk shows. In 2010, Pattiz, founded and launched Courtside Entertainment Group. The company produces and finances multi-platform, quality programming and is the radio home of Loveline, Bill O'Reilly, Dr. Drew, Laura Ingraham, Ron Paul and a wide variety of music super specials. Recognizing the untapped opportunities in the audio on-demand industry, Pattiz launched PodcastOne at the end of 2012. The company quickly became the leading producer and distributor in audio on-demand programming. Today, PodcastOne's popular line-up of personalities and brands include Adam Carolla, Dan Patrick, Steve Austin, Radio Lab, Freakonomics Radio, The Nerdist, Jay Mohr, Kathie Lee Gifford, Dennis Miller, Penn Jillette, Ross Tucker, Yahoo Sports, Bret Eason Ellis, WNYC, KCRW, Loveline, Dr. Drew and over 200 more of the nation's most popular podcasts. PodcastOne programs are downloaded over 120 million times every month. In 2000, Pattiz was appointed by President Clinton and reappointed in 2002 by President Bush to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors of the United States of America. The Board oversees all U.S. nonmilitary broadcasting services, including The Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Middle East Broadcasting and others. He was responsible for conceiving and launching America's Arabic language radio and television services to all 22 countries of the Middle East, plus Farsi language broadcasting to Iran reaching a weekly audience of more than 40 million listeners. Pattiz currently serves as a Regent of the University of California. He is the Chairman of the Regent's Oversight Committee of the Department of Energy Laboratories and serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Security LLC Pattiz is a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame and has been the recipient of numerous professional and leadership awards including the “Giants of Broadcasting Award” from the Library of American Broadcasting and the “Freedom of Speech Award” from the national association of talk radio hosts. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Pacific Council on International Relations. Pattiz resides in Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara and is married to the former LA Rock and Roll radio legend Mary Turner. Dr. Turner Pattiz, a Ph.D. psychologist, is the Chairman of the Board of the Betty Ford Center.

Authoritarian regimes are under siege in many parts of the world. Some have already given way and others are likely to follow. Building democracies in their place will not be easy or quick, and in some cases it will not happen in the medium term. Much has been learned about how to organize free and fair elections, but building the other institutions and the habits of democratic governance inevitably takes time. Some countries in transition face intense divisions that make democracy challenging to achieve. But the historic possibility of decisive movement from exclusionary and repressive rule toward more open, inclusionary and accountable democratic governance beckons in North and sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. Learning how unexpected transitions toward democracy were accomplished should be of great interest to those who want to understand, undertake or support democratic transitions today. Abraham F. (Abe) Lowenthal has combined two careers: as an analyst of Latin America, US-Latin American relations, comparative democratization and California’s global role, and as the founder and chief executive of three prestigious organizations—the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Latin American Program, the Inter-American Dialogue, and the Pacific Council on International Policy. He has also served as vice-president and as director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (New York), and as an official of the Ford Foundation in Latin America. He took his A.B., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Harvard University and completed one year at Harvard Law School. He is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and an adjunct research professor at Brown University’s Watson Institute. He is currently preparing a book on “Rethinking US-Latin American Relations in an Age of Transformations,” and has co-edited a symposium volume on “Scholars, Policymakers and International Affairs” to be published by Johns Hopkins in 2014. This event was chaired by Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC QC, Chancellor of ANU.

Born in Hunan, Mr. Liu earned degrees in Taiwan and Utah. He founded and built Tireco into one of North America's largest importers and private brand marketers of tires and tire-related products from Asia. Liu and his family endowed the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at Notre Dame University. It honors his father, Liu Fang-wu, a Chinese general who led forces in the rescue of 7,500 British and American soldiers held captive by Japanese forces in Burma. Liu serves on the board of the Pacific Council on International Policy and has been on the board of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation. In 2008, he was one of a select few to represent North American at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Born in Hunan, Mr. Liu earned degrees in Taiwan and Utah. He founded and built Tireco into one of North America's largest importers and private brand marketers of tires and tire-related products from Asia. Liu and his family endowed the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at Notre Dame University. It honors his father, Liu Fang-wu, a Chinese general who led forces in the rescue of 7,500 British and American soldiers held captive by Japanese forces in Burma. Liu serves on the board of the Pacific Council on International Policy and has been on the board of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation. In 2008, he was one of a select few to represent North American at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Ezra Vogel has published hugely influential books on both China and Japan. In his latest, he examines the key role played by Deng Xiaoping in moving China away from a thoroughly planned economy, a transition that required becoming much more open and engaged with the rest of the world. In his Nov. 9, 2011 presentation at the USC U.S.-China Institute, Vogel focused on how Deng's foreign policies were very much driven by his assessment of the desperate need China had for better trained personnel, foreign capital, and foreign technology. Distinguished Harvard sociologist Ezra Vogel offers his assessment of Deng's leadership. J. Stapleton Roy, former ambassador to China, wrote of Vogel's book, "Deng Xiaoping's skill, vision, and courage in overcoming seemingly insuperable obstacles and guiding China onto the path of sustained economic development rank him with the great leaders of history. And yet, too little is known about the life and career of this extraordinary man. In this superbly researched and highly readable biography, Vogel has definitively filled this void. This fascinating book provides a host of insights into the factors that enabled Deng to triumph over repeated setbacks and lay the basis for China to regain the wealth and power that has eluded it for two centuries." Ezra Vogel is professor emeritus of sociology at Harvard University where he taught 1964-2000. He is one of the most influential scholars of East Asia, contributing vital books on China and Japan. His China-focused titles include Canton Under Communism (1969) and One Step Ahead in China: Guangdong Under Reform (1989). His books on Japan include Japan's New Middle Class (1963), Japan as Number One: Lessons for America (1979), and Is Japan Still Number One? (2000). In addition to these seminal works, Vogel has edited a number of others, including Living with China : U.S./China Relations in the Twenty-First Century (1997). Professor Vogel is a member of the USC US-China Institute Board of Scholars. The event was co-sponsored by The Pacific Council on International Policy.

Ezra Vogel has published hugely influential books on both China and Japan. In his latest, he examines the key role played by Deng Xiaoping in moving China away from a thoroughly planned economy, a transition that required becoming much more open and engaged with the rest of the world. In his Nov. 9, 2011 presentation at the USC U.S.-China Institute, Vogel focused on how Deng's foreign policies were very much driven by his assessment of the desperate need China had for better trained personnel, foreign capital, and foreign technology. Distinguished Harvard sociologist Ezra Vogel offers his assessment of Deng's leadership. J. Stapleton Roy, former ambassador to China, wrote of Vogel's book, "Deng Xiaoping's skill, vision, and courage in overcoming seemingly insuperable obstacles and guiding China onto the path of sustained economic development rank him with the great leaders of history. And yet, too little is known about the life and career of this extraordinary man. In this superbly researched and highly readable biography, Vogel has definitively filled this void. This fascinating book provides a host of insights into the factors that enabled Deng to triumph over repeated setbacks and lay the basis for China to regain the wealth and power that has eluded it for two centuries." Ezra Vogel is professor emeritus of sociology at Harvard University where he taught 1964-2000. He is one of the most influential scholars of East Asia, contributing vital books on China and Japan. His China-focused titles include Canton Under Communism (1969) and One Step Ahead in China: Guangdong Under Reform (1989). His books on Japan include Japan's New Middle Class (1963), Japan as Number One: Lessons for America (1979), and Is Japan Still Number One? (2000). In addition to these seminal works, Vogel has edited a number of others, including Living with China : U.S./China Relations in the Twenty-First Century (1997). Professor Vogel is a member of the USC US-China Institute Board of Scholars. The event was co-sponsored by The Pacific Council on International Policy.