Hi all,
My apologies for not pressing ‘send’ yesterday for the Neighbor Tuesday post. Neighboring happens all week though, right?! As many of you know, I’m here in NYC this week at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) - which is why I’m late in posting. Also, my husband came with me for Day 1 - he said came to carry my bags and we’ve done a ton of walking, so I’m thankful for that! It’s also nice to have him here for a day with me.
I’m taking part in a few events on universal health coverage at the UN and attending many of the side events happening this week. Tomorrow is the biggest day which happens at the UN itself and includes an advocacy meeting on children with congenital anomalies and the big meeting on universal health coverage in the afternoon. If you want to watch that meeting live, click here. (The official title is (Panel 2) High-level meeting on universal health coverage - General Assembly, 78th session). I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s events, and will be sure to post way too many photos on my FB and IG accounts if you want to follow along. Also, I will never get over the view of the flags in front of the building.
For today’s post, I want to write about my initial thoughts on UNGA. They might be disjointed since I’m still here and absorbing *all the things* about this week. But here we go:
I attended a side event yesterday on the missing populations in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals were set in 2015 to reach by 2030 and include 17 global goals like no poverty, clean water, etc. The panel yesterday highlighted several key populations that can easily be missed in these goals, like providing healthcare to LGBTQ populations or maternal and reproductive care to mothers or rural communities in poverty. These “hidden” populations are where the health need is though. I was struck by one panelist who said, “If you want to know what health conditions need to be paid attention to in countries, look at the people on the streets.” In other words, look at what the poorest of the poor are dealing with and start there. The discussions were incredibly on-the-ground honest and raw, which were refreshing here at UNGA with lots of big-picture ideas. The panelists also included activists from 4 different countries who are working hard to bend the arc of justice in their own communities. It reminded me that there are neighbor-champions all over the world doing the hard, quiet, and persistent work of neighboring. I want to be friends with all them.
I attended another side event later in the day that felt like a whiplash from the previous one. It was in a super swanky venue with lots of security to even get in and tons of food. The panelists included major philanthropists and leaders of big organizations with lots of money. The discussions focused mainly on bigger-picture ideas, but lacking on specific plans. To their credit, they only had 2 hours to cram everything in. But, this meeting was so different than the first one. The venue was different, the panelists and ideas were different, and even the audience was.
Here’s the deal. I think we need both events, for sure. I just wish they would be together or have a diverse set of voices at each. The first event with the activists talked about needing more funding and money to keep going, while the second one seemed to not include those voices but had the money. I think we need both perspectives - but together. I recognize that is happening at some places already, like USAID. USAID has done a great job at including on-the-ground champions with the communities they work in, and letting them lead the way. So has Mercy Ships and I’m sure many others. I think neighboring takes both types of people, especially when we look at global health work.
There are also tons of activists and protestors here raising their voices and signs on a myriad of topics. We need them too.
Which one are you? Be that. Let’s just do that with others.
Ok, I’m off to another full day of joy and walking. =)
-Emily
You may have missed hitting "send", and even so here I am 6 days later finding your post lost in my inbox. Sometimes, life is just like that and wow has it been like that in our household lately. In other "news", how have I missed that your husband is a redhead?! I am too, and come from generations of them (both of my parents are redheads :)).
This line caught my attention: "It reminded me that there are neighbor-champions all over the world doing the hard, quiet, and persistent work of neighboring. I want to be friends with all them." Yes!!!! Hmm, which one am I? I'm not sure, I've never been great at categorizing myself. I'm definitely not the 2nd group, or at least I don't like being in that group, though I've found myself over and over as a "leader". Though I've never been good at "only" leading and not also working alongside those I'm leading. I prefer to be feet on the ground and with my hands getting dirty doing the work. While more and more I'm learning to use my voice and the place of privilege I have, to help others and encourage (influence?) those around me to do similarly. Thank you for sharing and the beautiful work you do!