UN & Global Affairs Committee
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Our Mission:
To advance UNA Boulder County’s mission by curating and convening high-quality programming, dialogue, and analysis on UN issues, global affairs, and international human rights topics: helping our community stay informed, engaged, and connected to the world.
Connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!
Our work directly advances:
SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being): Raising funds for the Kellermann Foundation to expand medical services in Uganda, improving health outcomes in underserved communities.
SDG 4 (Quality Education): Making complex global topics accessible to all through programming, briefs, and public dialogue.
SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Supporting refugee families, advocating for marginalized communities, and promoting equitable access to resources and advocacy.
SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): Promoting informed dialogue on global governance, human rights, and advocacy for equity.
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Building connections between local audiences and international issues, including refugee support and cross-community collaboration.
How We Bring This to Life:
We help UNA-BC remain a trusted local hub for global awareness by identifying gaps in services within our community and abroad where we can promote awareness, equity, and human rights advocacy. That means:
UN Day: Our signature annual event celebrating the UN’s founding, featuring community education, keynote speakers, and connections between global issues and local action.
Topic Research & Briefs: We identify timely, credible UN and SDG-connected topics and frame them for local relevance; turning complex global issues into accessible community conversations.
Speaker & Panel Events: We curate and convene experts, academics, and practitioners to share perspectives on UN priorities, human rights, and emerging global challenges.
Refugee Sponsorship & Direct Support: We’ve sponsored a refugee family from Afghanistan, connecting them to food, clothing, legal navigation support, and ongoing resources; helping ease the stress of a new culture, language barriers, and an unfamiliar system.
Global Health Fundraising: We raise funds for the Kellermann Foundation to expand medical services in Uganda, making a tangible financial impact where it’s making a difference.
Issue Framing: We produce topic briefs and discussion guides that help community members understand why global issues matter, right here in Colorado.
Cross-Committee Collaboration: We work closely with Education & Learning on program design and with Communications on promotion to ensure our events reach and resonate with the community.
Events
Past Events & Initiatives:
UN Day 2024: Featured a community education panel and keynote speakers from the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, raising awareness about trafficking in Colorado.
UN Day 2025 (UN80): Celebrated the 80th anniversary of the United Nations with an intimate event connecting high-level global commitments to local “boots on the ground” work
UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) Panel: Hosted a virtual panel discussion featuring speakers accelerating gender equality and empowering women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions with a gender lens.
Documentary Screenings: Presented “Shadow Games"“(2024) at the SIE Film Center in Denver, a documentary showing the “dark side” of Europe through the eyes of young boys seeking refuge; and “My Sweet Land” (2024) in partnership with the CU Armenian Association.
Afghan Refugee Family Sponsorship: Successfully sponsored a refugee family from Afghanistan, connecting them to food, clothing, legal navigation support, and ongoing community resources: helping them feel relief from the stress of navigating a new culture, societal norms, and language barriers.
Bill Kellogg Speaker Series (collaboration): Supported monthly public programming at the Boulder Public Library featuring experts on UN-aligned topics.
Upcoming Events & Initiatives:
UN Day 2026: Planning the next annual celebration: theme and details coming soon!
Kellermann Foundation Fundraiser: An fundraising event to increase the availability of medical services in Uganda, supporting global health and community well-being.
Emerging Issues Programming: Developing programs on timely global topics, from climate and security to human rights and multilateral reform.
Discussion Series Expansion: Growing our roster of expert speakers and panelists from Colorado and beyond.
Topic Brief Library: Building a collection of accessible, one-page briefs on key UN and global affairs issues for community education.
CSW 2026: Planning continued engagement with the Commission on the Status of Women, including panels and community discussions.
Curious about the world? Passionate about the UN?
If you’re a global affairs buff, a thoughtful listener, or someone who just wants to understand how the world works, we’d love to have you on the UN & Global Affairs team. Help us bring the world to Colorado: one conversation at a time. Click “Join Now” below to connect!
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