WHAT'S INSIDE
  1. Webinars
  2. Interview
  3. Weekly Focus
  4. News
DIGITAL TRANSATLANTIC DIALOGUE
To perpetuate more than two centuries of shared ideals and friendship; to build lasting, practical working ties; and to advance solutions to problems of shared concern.
You do not need a Zoom account to join. Registered guests will receive a link to join in the days leading up to the event. You can find the full list of descriptions and recordings of our webinars on our website.
FRIENDS OF FIRST RESORT: TODAY'S TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONSHIP?
Public policy | Open to the public

Date: Wednesday, April 21 at 1:00 pm ET
Description: Our guest speakers will examine the current state of the transatlantic partnership.
Speaker: Scott Cullinane is the Executive Director of the US-Europe Alliance, a bipartisan non-profit organization founded in 2019 dedicated to mobilizing citizens of the United States to advocate for the enduring strategic and economic alliance between the US and Europe.
Moderator: Christian Loubeau is a Manager of International Operations and Business Continuity at the Ford Foundation for Social Justice & a 2020 Young Leader.
YOUNG LEADERS & THE ARTS
Young Leaders | Private event

Date: Tuesday, April 27 at 1:00 pm ET
Description: Young Leaders and alumni, in participation with their French counterparts, are invited to come together to discuss the current state of the arts and culture sector, how careers in the arts have both evolved and been impacted by Covid-19, and the outlook for the arts in 2021 in both France and the US.

Moderator:
  • Cindy Carcamo '13, Arizona Bureau Chief and a National Correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.

Participants:
  • China Moses '13, Professional vocalist, songwriter, music producer, and television and radio host.
  • Elizabeth Askren '14, Conductor and Artistic Director.
  • Lane Harwell '14, Program Officer, Creativity and Free Expression at the Ford Foundation, and former dancer.
  • Marina Chiche '20, French violinist, soloist and chamber musician.

While this cafe will feature participants with backgrounds and expertise in the arts, Young Leaders and alumni from all sectors are encouraged to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Katie DeMallie at kdemallie@frenchamerican.org.


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The Young Leaders Café series is exclusive to Young Leaders and alumni. Featuring a different topic of interest every one to two months, it is an informal online gathering for individuals from different class years to see each other on screen, share thoughts, and learn something new.
INTERVIEW
Interviews with members of our growing community of leaders and experts (Young Leaders, Transatlantic Forum members, Cyber Security experts, Translation Prize winners, Immigration Journalism Fellows, and more)
Entrepreneur, Venture Investor, and Author; Co-founder of Next Billion Ventures & 1998 Young Leader

Q. In 2013, you released a book entitled, “Startup Rising: The Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the Middle East,” which is in its fourth edition. When asked about the source of inspiration for this work, you explained that it “started with your own bias,” saying, “the narrative in the West – especially in the United States – about the Middle East is so based on political instability,” neglecting the region’s entrepreneurial passion and growing technological expertise. What is the state of this narrative eight years down the road? What innovations and developments have you seen spring from the Middle East since you wrote your book, and have you seen a shift in Western perception to match these developments? 

"What has happened in the Middle East is part and parcel to what has happened globally. Two thirds and more of all people on earth with a mobile phone have a smart device now – more computing power in each of their hands than all of NASA had to put a man on the moon. This has unleashed a level of collaboration, learning, engagement without precedence and bottom up. It is as if billions of new customers have appeared in a matter of years who are looking to buy things, who have access to banking/finance/credit, enhanced education, and healthcare. New generations of entrepreneurs are offering answers and consumers now have choices between local and regional tech innovations, in addition to those rising in foreign countries. The old “American Playbook” was this: if new populations had access to technology, American enterprises would show up and win. The Instagram, Intel, WhatsApp of anywhere was pretty much Instagram, Intel and WhatsApp! (...)"


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To celebrate 40 years of the Young Leaders program, we are showcasing the accomplishments of our alumni from the 1980s to the present day. Past and present Young Leaders have made their mark on innumerable sectors and tackled many exciting issues. We look forward to sharing these profiles with you throughout our anniversary year.
WEEKLY FOCUS
Police shooting protests, Derek Chauvin trial, Black Lives Matter
"After President Biden abandoned a campaign promise to establish a police oversight commission during his first 100 days in office, administration officials have provided few details about how far he will go to combat racism in policing. (...)"

"The spark comes just before the boom. Every time the cops throw a flash-bang grenade, protesters sprint and cry out. They take cover and protect one another while retreating in tiny increments across the street. (...)"

"Daunte Wright was driving in his car through Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, two days ago when police officers pulled him over and later fatally shot him. This isn’t the first time cops have used excessive or fatal force against a Black person. In fact, just 10 miles away from where Wright died, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was on trial for murder after kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes last summer. (...)"

"Prosecutors called their last witness Monday after 11 days of testimony designed to bolster their argument that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd by kneeling on his neck and back for more than nine minutes. (...)"
NEWS
Important content on transatlantic relations
Congressional French Caucus members recently meet with French Ambassador Philippe Etienne and CEOs of French companies operating in the U.S. to discuss France’s economic footprint in the United States and the 2020 edition of the France-U.S. economic report.

"The United States and France share one of the longest economic and trade relations, which started in 1778 when the two countries signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and France. Since then, this bilateral relationship has remained truly active and mutually beneficial.

In 2019, the U.S. and France traded close to US$139 billion in goods and services, a 7.7% increase over the previous year. French and American companies have also invested close to US$400 billion in each other’s countries. When French companies invest in innovation abroad, their prime destination is the United States. Conversely, U.S. investments are the main source of foreign direct investment in France. (...)"
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