Each June, the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) convenes chapter leaders, new members, and youth activists in Washington, D.C to empower and engage UNA-USA members with skills and knowledge regarding the U.S.-UN relationship. The 2023 Leadership Summit—UNited for Impact—will feature three days of programming and advocacy. The first two days of the Summit, available to virtual and in-person attendees, will provide participants with a deeper understanding of key international issues and the advocacy process. This will be followed by in-person Capitol Hill meetings on Tuesday, June 6 where advocates will reinforce the importance of U.S. funding for the UN with their Members of Congress.Â
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*Virtual participants can support their UNA peers in DC by joining our Virtual Day of Action on Tuesday, June 6th. Click here for more details.
All in-person attendees must participate in the events on Sunday, June 4, Monday, June 5, and Tuesday, June 6. The Summit will be held at the Hamilton Hotel (1001 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005) on June 4 and 5. If you are unable to participate in all 3 days of programming in-person, please register for a virtual ticket.
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The 2023 Leadership Summit is open to UNA-USA members only. If you are not a member, please join our movement of over 20,000 advocates across the U.S. before registering for Leadership Summit. Young Professionals ages 18-30 may join at a reduced rate, and those under 26 join free!Â
In-person programming on June 4th and June 5th will be at the Hamilton Hotel. Breakfast and lunch will be provided both days, along with optional post-program events in the early evening with refreshments/appetizers. You'll attend educational breakout sessions, connect and network with UNA-USA members from across the country, attend inspirational plenaries, and learn how to become a leader in making change happen. On June 6th—our Lobby Day—in-person attendees will travel to Capitol Hill for meetings with their representatives where they can apply their skills and take action to make the case for the UN.
Note: * indicates programming available to Virtual participants.Â
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Whether you're participating virtually or in-person, there are so many reasons to join the 2023 UNA-USA Leadership Summit - UNA-USA's most important advocacy moment of the year! This is a chance for you to deepen your understanding of the United Nations, especially in the context of crisis and humanitarian need, and then take real action as an advocate to make a lasting impact in your community, country, and world. Not only that, but you will be able to work on professional development as you refine transferable skills and develop your personal portfolio of knowledge and abilities. You'll be able to connect with like-minded individuals across the country and enjoy exclusive opportunities to network with representatives from UN agencies and the U.S. Department of State.
If you are attending the Leadership Summit in-person, you will be asked to confirm that you have been vaccinated and boosted, and can show proof if necessary (photo of card or actual vaccination card). We are currently abiding by guidelines set by the CDC and encourage attendees to check their vaccination status by those guidelines as well. Presently, masks are optional in the D.C. area. If the status changes, the Leadership Summit policy will adjust accordingly to ensure the safety of all attendees.
We are thrilled to announce that we have secured a discounted rate at the Hamilton Hotel for your stay during Leadership Summit 2023. Attendees who are interested in staying should book using the link below. We are currently offering two options – a Studio King room and Classic Two Doubles rooms to the first 30 attendees at $269/night.Â
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Book your stay at Hamilton Hotel HERE
Registration for Leadership Summit closes on Monday, May 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET for the in-person event. This is to ensure we have adequate time to schedule meetings with your Members of Congress who often have very busy schedules that require advanced notice. Virtual registration will close at 5:00 pm on Saturday, June 3.
If you would like to apply to be considered for a scholarship in order to help you participate in-person, please complete this form. Please note that UNA-USA cannot guarantee scholarships, and if you should be granted a scholarship, you will be contacted separately. While we encourage in-person attendance, if financial constraints are of concern we encourage you to consider attending virtually for free instead. As an additional reminder, members under the age of 26 attend at a reduced cost as well!
Advocacy, specifically meeting with our Members of Congress, is one of the most IMPORTANT actions we can take. By bringing the need for full UN funding to the attention of congressional offices, we are giving a voice to the voiceless. After all, UNA-USA is a movement of Americans who believe that our interests and values can best be advanced by standing with the planet’s only truly universal institution: The United Nations. We stand up for the UN, so the UN can keep standing up for the world. That’s why your presence at the US Capitol is critical.
Last year, we used Advocacy Associates to log onto a website and view our congressional meetings. Since we are in-person, how will we view our congressional schedule?
This year, we are using Advocacy Associates again. However, we will view our congressional meetings on their app instead of website. Don’t worry, we will provide training during Leadership Summit! But you are more than welcome to watch a quick video to get a better understanding of the app: bit.ly/3LBhUaHÂ
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***If you cannot download the app, you will also have access to a web portal with the information for your congressional meetings. You are more than welcome to bring your I-pad and pull up the page. Please email Maria Amalla at mamalla@unfoundation.org for any more questions.Â
Please see the following link for an extensive list of items: bit.ly/40dIH1a.
I am bringing minors to Leadership Summit and want them to be as prepared as possible. What numbers can I share with them in case of an emergency at the Capitol?
Please see the following link for a list of phones numbers to call when reporting an emergency within the Capitol Complex: https://www.uscp.gov/contact-us.
Yes, however the last day to obtain a refund is Friday, May 19th. Email membership@unausa.org for help.
If you have any additional questions regarding the event itself or technical questions about registration, please contact membership@unausa.org.Â
In-person prices range from $95 for youth members to $195 for regular paid members, and virtual tickets are free. We strive to make Leadership Summit accessible to as many as possible, so please choose the ticket that suits your needs and limitations!
