Neighbor Tuesday: UNGA edition

Guess what?! I’m writing this from NYC at the UNGA79. (If you want to see my recap of last year’s UNGA, go here and here.)

I’ll be attending lots of meetings these next few days, so this will be a shorter ‘Neighbor Tuesday’ than usual. I’ll be sure to give a full recap next time though (and show the fun pictures).

This is an interesting year at UNGA for lots of reasons - Over 60 countries are holding elections this year, multiple crises and wars in the world, lots of emerging health threats, and, again, an election year. One of the biggest things happening is the Summit of the Future. It’s a once-in-a-generation type meeting around the future of all things global - diplomacy, health, climate, all-the-things. There’s a lot of talk about the vote for the resolution last night on the Summit and how it was almost thwarted. I haven’t had a chance to really read up on it, so I don’t want to comment yet. But it goes to show you that these are live events with real-time implications by the leaders at the table. I find it all fascinating - especially because good diplomacy means good health for citizens. A key question at the Summit is how to ensure a fairer future for all? So, equity is certainly being discussed.

Speaking of equity, I’m here at the Clinton Global Initiative with my collabo-friends from St. Jude talking about childhood cancer. I’ll give you more of an update after the meeting, but it’s such a privilege to be here.

I’ll have a better recap of this meeting later, but let me show you a few fun pictures. Anyone else a Nic Kristoff fan? His new book is fantastic, by the way! I heard that Samantha Powers is here and you betcha’ I brought her book to be signed just in case I run into her. If you’ve been here a while, you know she’s one of my biggest heroes. Expect a picture if I run into her. =)

Alright, friends. I’m headed to another meeting and then the plenary tonight is with Dr. Jill Biden. Tomorrow is Dr. Tedros, Jose Andres, Jane Goodall, and others. Inspiration all around!

-Emily

Also, here’s an article that I loved about the High-Level Meeting happening this week if you want to read more.