The Global Connection

Volume 3 #2 Online • Early April 2020
During the next month or so, we will provide a series of COVID-19 related updates here, with links that might be useful, for our constituent audience. We hope you find this valuable. We believe in 'physical distancing' but social connectivity, at home and across the globe.
President's Message –
Keeping Stability During Instability
 
Dear UNA-USA members and advocates,

We on the UNA-Westchester Board of Directors hope you are staying healthy and safe during this challenging time. Some of us have been directly affected by the coronavirus, and we offer compassion and support to those of you facing unforeseen challenges in your daily lives as a result of the virus.

Because the virus is transnational in nature and affects so many people across borders, including refugees, migrant laborers and workers in the tourism industry, it has to be dealt with at a multilateral level. As a UNA-USA chapter and as individual members, we could assist in the following ways:   

1.     Build awareness and seek support by corporations, philanthropic organizations, and the public for international initiatives, including the UN Foundation-WHO Solidarity Response Fund:  WHO COVID Response Fund . This could be connected to UN 75 consultations and the UN Day commemorations. 
2.     Publicize the Covid-19 Relief Fund established on 25 March by the G20, World Bank, and IMF with about $1 trillion: Read article  HERE . It is necessary to help mobilize international resources for over 130 developing countries that are home to the majority of the world's population. The virus cannot be brought under control without concerted action by all countries.
3.     Advocate for increased support to UN agencies that address the urgent needs of children, refugees, and other vulnerable populations due to job losses and heightened healthcare needs. This includes the network of UNDP and UNICEF country offices that the international community can leverage to bolster developing countries' capacity to:
-   procure and supply essential healthcare products under WHO leadership;
-  manage the response to the coronavirus, drawing lessons from earlier crises such as Ebola, SARS, etc.
- address critical social and economic challenges.

It would be very helpful to call our senators to urge support for the United Nations and the multilateral efforts led by the UN system. Let us each make just one phone call to each senator and thereby do our part to ensure their continued support for the United Nations and all its important projects.

Senator Gillibrand: 202-224-4451
Senator Schumer 202-224-6542

J. Yuhanna Edwards
President, UNA Westchester
Secretary General António Guterres on BBC Hard Talk
And, on The Need For a Global Response, on the PBS NEWSHOUR
Worried About Shopping or Ordering Out In A Time of Crisis?
COMING UP:
  UN Agency Response and Action on COVID-19
April 8 at 1:00 PM EST
FEATURING:

Yesim Oruc, Deputy Director, UNDP, Washington Representation Office

Sarah Craven, Director, UNFPA, Washington Office

Jana Mason, Senior Advisor, U.S. Government and External Relations at UNHCR

Megan Gilgan, Deputy Director, Public Partnerships Division, UNICEF
 
This virtual session will invite leaders within various United Nations agencies to come together to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted their operations and ability to fulfill their mission, along with how each agency is addressing the pandemic. High-level representatives from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will offer insight into the many ways that the United Nations is ensuring health, wellness, and justice even during the most difficult of times. Moderated by Rachel Bowen Pittman, Executive Director, UNA-USA.
RAINA KADAVIL • NEW SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR @ UNA WESTCHESTER

UNA Westchester is on a mission to liven up our social media with exciting content, updates about our work, and pictures from our many upcoming events! Please follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook  and make an effort to share and retweet our posts to help us gain visibility! We'll also have an all new Instagram account coming soon. Former UNA-SNY intern and Boston University chapter founder Raina Kadavil will be tackling this work - if you have relevant content that you would like to share, please send it to her at  rainakadavil@gmail.com .  
MASTHEAD & SUBMISSIONS
 Editor
Patrick L. Sciarratta
Line Editor
Marcia Brewster
Online Placement
Nicole Butterfield
Social Media Editor
Raina Kadfavil

UNA WESTCHESTER LEADERSHIP
Officers
Yuhanna Edwards , President
Marcia Brewster and Lilli Schindler, Vice Presidents
Karen Rockwell El-Badry , Secretary
Colleen Gardephe, Treasurer
Joan Katen , Nominations

Directors
Tricia Baldes
Daniel Bena 
M ary Seward Downes , Membership Chair
Jan Fischer
H.E. Ambassador Bob Jalang’o
Demetrios Mihailidis
Paul Presendieu, Chair Young Professionals
Patrick L. Sciarratta, Communications Chair
Brenda L. G. Smith
Christopher Swain

Photos: Reprinted from un.org, una westchester.org, and other related sources.
Submissions for consideration to the UNA -USA Westchester Newsletter:
First, all articles must be reviewed for content and quality . Submissions for Consideration should be sent
to the Communications Chair: Patrick@vnclm.org
The article should be:
• 500-800 words – The lead paragraphs will be published in the magazine, with a link to the UNA -USA
Westchester site, and any related site, where the complete article may be viewed.
• Commentary and Event-oriented articles on a relevant tone, highlighting recently past or
upcoming events are preferred.
• In the context of the relationship between the United Nations and the Westchester community and
United States are preferred.
The article should not contain any of the following:
• Advertorial/for-profit message or endorsement of any kind
• Information unrelated to the work of the UN in some capacity
• Inappropriate information or language, specific political or religious advocacy
The article can be a:
• Personal Essay
• Op-ed
• Narrative
• And include video content
Here are some guiding topics to help you get started:
• Actions you have taken to address the issues presented/discussed at/by the UN
• How the UN has shaped or changed your thinking about national or international issues: the SDGs,
pending debates, USA – UN relations, etc.
• Your perspectives on the UNs global development goals and challenges
• Experiences with community action of any kind in relation to UN goals or challenges
• Stories about global friendships and collaborations that started at UN Conferences, etc.
• Submit articles in Word (.doc) format to this address: Patrick@vnclm.org with the subject line
“UNA USA W Newsletter: ‘Title of the Article’.” Once reviewed, it may take about 14 business days until
the article is acknowledged as received and a decision is provided as to its use in the UNA USA W
Newsletter.
• Along with the article, kindly provide a brief description about the author (1 -2 sentences), together
with relevant information such as a website link, a Twitter handle, and other contact information, if
applicable.