Rachel Bowen Pittman, Executive Director of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), issued the following statement today on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:

“The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s invasion and subsequent attacks on Ukraine. Russia’s military offensive on another sovereign nation contradicts the fundamental principles of the United Nations and is a clear violation of the UN charter. We echo the UN Secretary-General’s call for Russia to end its assault and bring its troops back home. 

“We know all too well the destructive impact of war, and innocent civilians always pay the highest price. Amid the escalating violence, more than 500,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes to seek refuge in neighboring countries with millions more impacted and expected to be in need of humanitarian assistance in the coming days and months. 

“As UN partners scale up humanitarian operations on the ground in Ukraine and at its borders, UNA-USA stands committed to helping the Ukrainian people caught in the middle of this conflict. 

“Our thoughts are with the millions of people in Ukraine impacted by this egregious act of violence. This conflict must come to an end – immediately."

###
​
Take Action

Here are three actions you can take right now to support Ukraine:

1. Donate to OCHA’s Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) and other UN agencies, like UNHCR and UNICEF, working on the ground in Ukraine and at its borders to provide critical support and assistance to people in Ukraine.
2. Ahead of tonight’s State of the Union address, send a message to your Members of Congress urging them to support full funding for the UN and its agencies to ensure they can continue to carry out their life-saving work around the world, including in Ukraine.
3. Participate in a peaceful protest. Find one close to you here. 

We want to thank Anna Mahalak, Dr. Adam Nykamp, Caglar Iscioglu, Chinita Allen, Patrick Wallace and the participants who joined us for a productive launch of our Sustainable Coffee Talks series last week. We discussed The Pandemic's Impact on K-12 Education: Challenges and Opportunities after COVID-19 and the obstacles parents, students, teachers, and the community face. Progress is ongoing, and many are implementing changes to address educational goals, effective communication, and public health.

Specific solutions include:

Synergy:
It is essential to create synergy. We must work together towards a common goal and keep communication consistent and meaningful.

Management:
Proper teams and management structure is essential. Individuals must be responsive and dependable.

Trust:
Establishing trust and credibility is vital within the Education sector.

Communication:
Half of the World's population is bilingual, and Georgia's state supports biliteracy and dual language immersion programs.
​
Science:
Science and children. Twin is an Ed-tech startup that addresses the World's problems and provides solutions through science.

The next step is to inform others and learn about additional ways to advocate and increase community engagement. Please visit our website or email us at info@una-atl.org

​

​
​

June 2020, the United Nations of Atlanta welcomed a new president to lead the chapter and a new board member who will manage the chapter's public relations. Tiffany Irene Coulibaly, a member of the organization since 2010, who has served in multiple board positions and served on the National Council of UNA-USA, will spearhead the chapter as its new president for the next three years. Valencia Jackson a communications professional with UNICEF will hold the position as the chapter's new VP of Communications for the next two years. Both incoming members will be officially announced during the chapter's annual Meeting Membership Day, Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 6pm EST. 

Advocates, 

Our nation has been at protest for far beyond the nearly 100 days that have passed since George Floyd's murder; for generations, our neighbors, community members, friends, and loved ones have struggled for justice, support, and their inherent right to life. 

Last week's violence and heartbreak in Kenosha, Wisconsin is a tragic reminder that our work to advance universal human rights and dignity is far from over.

UNA-NCA's Advocacy Team has produced a new report on the UN, the US, and Anti-Racism, documenting the UN's role in the global fight against racism. This report offers a foundation from which we can thoughtfully deliberate the future we hope to collaboratively forge.

Access the report here. 

UNA-USA Atlanta Chapter stands with the coalition of civil rights leaders that wish to ensure a fair and just investigation is conducted in the possible human rights violation and tragic killing of Ahmaud Arbery. 

Through our partnership that was launched with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNA-USA has empowered thousands of Americans across the country to Stand Up for Human Rights. Through advocacy, programming, and community events, our network of chapters confronted some of the most pressing human rights challenges facing their communities.

If you would like to know more about the efforts as it pertains to Ahmaud Arbery, please reach out to the Coalition of Civil Rights Leaders who are involved on a day to day basis in this matter. 

Marc Banks dbanks@naacpnet.org

Phoebe Plagens, LDF, pplagens@naacpldf.org
​(212) 965-2235

Rachel Noerdlinger-National Action Network (NAN) rnoerdlinger@mercuryll.com

Don Owens, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law(LCCRUL)
dowens@lawyerscommittee.org, (202) 934-1880

Teresa Candori, National Urban League (NUL) tcandori@nul.org
​(212) 558-5362

​ For Liberty and Justice for All: Social disparities in our nation and its impact on communities
By Cindy C. Roberts, Advocacy Committee, Member                                              
 
“Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay,” or at least that is what Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states.
 
The timing of the UDHR was monumental because of the fragile state that the world was in when leaders from different cultures and backgrounds came together to draft it.  We were still recovering from the First World War when we found ourselves in another war and millions of innocent people dying for their religious beliefs, sexual orientation or political affiliation. We as citizens of the world desperately needed an advocate.  We needed to establish fundamental and inalienable rights regardless of social or economic class that we were born into.  For the first time in history countries all over the world came together in unity to formally establish human rights and to proclaim dignity and equality of each member of the human family.
 
As a citizen of the United States, I am tempted to believe that these articles were written for “other” countries.  Countries that are vulnerable to rogue state actors, those oppressed by dictatorships and religious persecution.  It is tempting to look past my own community and look abroad with a critical eye.  However, when I wake up to the news and see that people in marginalized communities are shot while jogging, sitting in their apartment, playing video games or any other activity while exercising their rights identified in Article 24 I am forced to see the realities of the every day world that I live in and its hard to face.  When did I become “at risk” living in my own country? At least that is what statistics tell me. 
 
It is imperative that we as citizens of the world continue to promote friendly relations within and across our boarders and echo the founding principles of the UDHR.  Becoming a member of an organization that takes us out of our comfort zone is the first step to bridging social gaps or even stopping to speak to a neighbor that we typically don’t take the time to connect with is another way to foster community.  Whatever it is we do, let us not underestimate its power to inspire others.

10 high school students from across the Atlanta Metro Public School System received an opportunity of a lifetime as they embarked on the inaugural Window Seat to the World initiative, founded and sponsored by UNA-USA, Atlanta lifetime member, Mrs. Phyllis Duvall Bailey. The initiative sparked from the national partnership between Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (of which Mrs. Bailey is a lifetime member of) and the United Nations Association of the USA. Because of Mrs. Bailey's selfless act (pioneering the initiate and donating $10K) the United Nations Association of Atlanta and the Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. surprised Mrs. Bailey with a check for $1000 to go towards the Phyllis D. Bailey Humanitarian Scholarship founded in her honor.  View images of the the trip below. 

Thank you to the chaperons, students, parents and supporting donors who made this trip a reality. 

Students:
Joshua Fail
Kylei Spain
Meagan Safford
Briana Stokes
Sanna Sobers 
Taylor Sappington
Timia Burson
Zaki Roshell
Quenyaun Payne (QUE)
Devin Etheridge

Chaperons Names: 
Phyllis Bailey
Pioneer and donor of Window Seat to the World Initiative 
Dr. LaKeisha Jackson 
President of Kappa Omega
Dr. Icey Johnson 
Immediate Past President of Kappa Omega
Tiffany Irene Coulibaly 
Southeast Regional Director of United Nations Association of the USA and Co-Chair of initiative / UNA-AKA Partnership Liaison and Organizer, Atlanta 
Aisha Alvarez
VP of Fundraising to United Nations Association of Atlanta 

Supporting Donors: 
The parents of the students 
Carla Wiley and Family 
Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 
United Nations Association of the USA, Atlanta Chapter 

Clarkston Culture Fest is an annual event that “Educate, Appreciate, Celebrate” the cultural diversity of Clarkston, a city that welcomes 1,500 refugees a year from all over the world.  SDG Committee members guided children in a solar-oven making activity, teaching the attendees about solar energy and the United Foundation’s Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. Special thanks to our volunteers: Jasmine Payne, Monse Acosta, Ruhi Rahman, and Roshni Chengappa.