Tracy Gray, president of UNA-Atlanta, delivers the keynote address to open UNA-Atlanta’s United Nations Day celebration at Georgia State University’s Office of International Initiatives on October 24, 2025.
By Tracy Gray, President
The United Nations Association of the USA, Atlanta Chapter, proudly hosted its UN80 Birthday Celebration at Georgia State University's Office of International Initiatives, commemorating 80 years of the United Nations’ enduring mission for peace, development, and human rights.
In my keynote remarks, I reflected on the UN’s remarkable legacy and its urgent mandate to evolve for the 21st century. “The need is great, and the goal is clear,” I emphasized, calling for a stronger, more agile, and accountable UN that delivers for people worldwide.
I highlighted Secretary-General António Guterres’s UN80 Reform Initiative, launched in March 2025, which seeks to strengthen the UN system across three major areas:
I also reaffirmed the Atlanta Chapter’s mission to advocate for full U.S. support of UN peacekeeping and funding, noting that “internationalism, empathy, and solidarity are needed now more than ever.”
The inspiring program set the tone for a year of reflection, recommitment, and collective action—honoring 80 years of global cooperation and envisioning the next 80.
The United Nations Association of the USA, Atlanta Chapter, proudly hosted its UN80 Birthday Celebration at Georgia State University's Office of International Initiatives, commemorating 80 years of the United Nations’ enduring mission for peace, development, and human rights.
In my keynote remarks, I reflected on the UN’s remarkable legacy and its urgent mandate to evolve for the 21st century. “The need is great, and the goal is clear,” I emphasized, calling for a stronger, more agile, and accountable UN that delivers for people worldwide.
I highlighted Secretary-General António Guterres’s UN80 Reform Initiative, launched in March 2025, which seeks to strengthen the UN system across three major areas:
- Efficiency and modernization of management and operations,
- Mandate implementation to reduce duplication and increase impact, and
- Structural and program realignments for greater coherence and responsiveness.
I also reaffirmed the Atlanta Chapter’s mission to advocate for full U.S. support of UN peacekeeping and funding, noting that “internationalism, empathy, and solidarity are needed now more than ever.”
The inspiring program set the tone for a year of reflection, recommitment, and collective action—honoring 80 years of global cooperation and envisioning the next 80.
