Each year, the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) convenes chapter leaders, new members, and youth activists to empower and engage UNA-USA members with skills and knowledge regarding the U.S.-UN relationship. The 2024 UNA-USA Mobilization Summit, which will be held via Zoom Events, will feature 4 hours of programming aimed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of key international issues and the advocacy process.
For those registered before August 14th, you'll have the opportunity to participate in virtual meetings with your members of Congress on September 13, 2024. More information, including exact times and the link to join the meetings, will be sent closer to the event. Training and preparation will be provided during the Summit. Thank you for using your voice and engaging with congressional offices on the importance of UN funding prior to the 2024 election is critical. We cannot accommodate last minute requests to participate in virtual congressional meetings as meetings must be planned well in advance and according to congressional offices' busy schedules.
Please note that this event is open to U.S. citizens and residents only.
Rachel Bowen Pittman serves as Executive Director of UNA-USA, a grassroots movement of more than 20,000 Americans in over 200 chapters across the U.S. who are dedicated to supporting the work of the United Nations in communities, on campuses, and on Capitol Hill. Rachel works to maximize UNA-USA’s advocacy impact by guiding the strategic vision for the organization, overseeing membership expansion, and managing partnerships. Rachel works closely with UNA-USA’s National Council and Affinity Group leadership to spearhead new initiatives that support a strong U.S.-UN partnership.
Farah is Senior Director of Programs & Policies of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), and within this role she oversees UNA-USA’s national programs, chapter support, communications strategy, and member engagement. Farah brings with her 7+ years of experience as a UNA-USA volunteer, serving as a Chapter President (UNA Chicago) and Board Member, and as UNA-USA National Council Member for the Great Lakes Region!
Peter Yeo leads the Foundation’s strategic engagement with the U.S. Congress and Administrations to advance policy changes that support the UN’s work for global progress. Peter joined the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Campaign in 2009 with over twenty years of legislative, analytical, and management experience, including senior roles on Capitol Hill and in the State Department. Prior to arriving at UNF, Peter served for ten years as the Deputy Staff Director at the House Foreign Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA). .
Jordie Hannum has 20 years of legislative, analytical, and advocacy experience, including key roles on Capitol Hill, political campaigns, and within non-governmental organizations. As Executive Director of the Better World Campaign (BWC), he guides its legislative and advocacy efforts around U.S.-UN engagement, and helped secure support for paying off over $700 million in arrears to the United Nations. During his tenure at the UN Foundation, Hannum has testified in front of Congress on the UN’s value, its peacekeeping operations, and U.S. standing in international organizations. He has traveled to South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda researching civilian protection and written on the importance of U.S. engagement in peacekeeping.
Oscar Lopez III, a researcher, writer, and artist from the U.S.-Mexico border town of Laredo, Texas, has dedicated his career to addressing some of the most pressing issues facing marginalized communities. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, holding a B.A. in Government and a B.B.A. in Business Honors, Oscar’s work has been deeply inspired by the challenges and opportunities present in his hometown. Since January 2023, Oscar has served on the Advisory Board for the Born This Way Foundation, co-founded by Lady Gaga and Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, where he has been a strong advocate for mental health awareness and access to resources for underserved populations.
Lindsay Cobb is a longtime Shot@Life volunteer turned current Senior Campaign Associate on the Shot@Life team at the United Nations Foundation. Lindsay works with Shot@Life’s network of grassroots volunteers across the United States, supporting their advocacy efforts for global immunization programs. She also collaborates with UNA-USA members interested in global health to support cross-campaign advocacy efforts between Shot@Life and UNA-USA.
Lindsay graduated from the University of Iowa with bachelor’s degrees in global health and human physiology and was a grassroots advocacy intern/fellow with Shot@Life during her senior year of college
Rebecca Maxie is the Director of Grassroots Advocacy for the United Nations Foundation, serving as a strategic advisor for a variety of advocacy campaigns working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including UNA-USA, United to Beat Malaria, and Shot@Life. Prior to joining the UN Foundation, Rebecca spent over a decade working on or managing political campaigns and causes through leadership roles in national political consulting firms.
Rebecca earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of the Pacific in California, her M.P.S. in Political Management from George Washington University, and is alumna of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University.
Caroline Kleinfox manages the American Leadership on the SDGs initiative in support of local, regional, and national mobilization on the Global Goals. Caroline has worked on the SDGs in the United States context since 2016, first as director of the startup non-profit, SDG USA, and later as the Head of SDSN USA at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Prior to 2016, she managed projects centered on the Millennium Development Goals at Columbia University. Caroline holds a master’s in public administration in environmental science and policy from Columbia, and a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Smith College.
Luciano has dedicated the past decade to advancing humanitarian assistance through effective operations management, strategic planning, and resource mobilization. Currently, he serves as the Head of Operations and Interim CEO at USA for IOM, the non-profit arm of UN Migration/ International Organization for Migration (IOM) where he oversees all operational aspects of the organization. In this role, he guides a dedicated team, aligns efforts with the IOM mission, and fosters a culture of collaboration and partnerships to deliver impactful humanitarian solutions.
Robin Endres is an executive leader at the forefront of sustainable development, gender equality and women’s empowerment. With over two decades of advocacy for marginalized communities, her work spans education, gender equality, community services, and microfinancing. She has provided strategic planning, communication expertise, and guidance on aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to numerous organizations.
Recently, she co-founded BluScope Consulting, a women-owned startup committed to helping schools and businesses effectively integrate the SDGs into their curricula and practices.
Nudhara Yusuf is a Research Associate with the Global Governance, Justice & Security Program where she is the Executive Coordinator of the Global Governance Innovation Network (GGIN).
Prior to Stimson, Nudhara worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s SDG Integration Team and the UNDP Regional Bureau for the Asia Pacific’s Strategic Foresight Unit. Previously, she worked on Education and Training with the World Federation of United Nations Associations and supported the British Shadow Secretary of State for Justice in the UK’s Parliament. Nudhara is the founder and trustee of several grassroots NGOs and CSOs across India and the UK. Her research primarily focuses on the governance of and with future generations, the role of globalization, emerging technologies, and development in the shifting multilateral architecture and engaging youth and civil society in governance and multilateral institutions.
Carlos Suarez serves as President of the United Nations Association of Saint Louis and has been an active member since 2010, serving in a variety of leadership capacities. He has lead the organization’s efforts to effectively advocate for the UN, build awareness and understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and expand the impact and visibility of the organization in the region.
Professionally, Carlos is the Director of Economic Development at the International Institute of St. Louis, where his team of 5 provides access to capital for immigrant and refugee business startups, amongst a variety of programming throughout the year. The department also includes language services to organizations of all kinds – including translation and interpretation.
Maha Yaktin Quol is currently as a Government Liaison with United Nations Information Center in Washington D.C. Previously, she worked as a gender specialist at the World Bank Group. She focused on women economic empowerment with the Mashreq Gender Facility for Lebanon, Iraq and on the regional level to enact structural change for increasing female labor participation, including legislation, social norms, women peace and security and childcare activities. She also worked at UN ESCWA in Beirut and was as Vice President at Citibank N.A. and HSBC Bank PLC in retail and commercial banking in the US. She holds an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies from the Lebanese American University.
Want to be prepared for your congressional meetings on Friday? Make sure to check out the resources for your meetings.
You can find a copy of the talking points, UN data, and more here!
We are a grassroots movement of more than 20,000 Americans and US residents who believe that our interests and values are best advanced by standing with the only global institution with human rights at its core: The United Nations. Through our mission to Educate, Inspire, and Mobilize, UNA-USA empowers and emboldens members to advocate for a strong US-UN partnership on campuses, in communities, and within Congress.