Join Franklin Street Policy Group for a cocktail hour on Monday, October 21st to meet and mingle with policy-minded folks and indulge in your best barstool quarterbacking on the global economic roller coaster.
The killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has riveted the world’s attention on the Fourth Estate, rallying the public, titans of industry, and media sector veterans alike. We’ll discuss how the circumstances of Mr. Khashoggi's death have spotlighted the increased physical dangers to journalists and galvanized a resurgence in public support for a free press and for the bolstering of democratic institutions.
At our next policy salon, we'll discuss how popular television shapes our understanding of domestic and global issues and what that means in a world where fact and fiction are increasingly difficult to tell apart.
Franklin Street Policy Group and the the NYU/SPS Center for Global Affairs present an interactive session with social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and development practitioners. You might have the fix to end world hunger, but if you haven't figured out how to pay your bills, no one will ever hear about it.
To keep your summer happy hour game on geopolitical point, jump into the wayback machine with Franklin Street to 2012 as we humbly toast Mitt Romney for being right all along about Russia being our biggest threat.
Alliances (read: geopolitical relationships) first wrangled, then sustained global economic progress and relative stability after two devastating World Wars. The end of the Cold War ushered in a brave new world of threats, notably from non-state actors (Al-Qaeda, ISIS), technology (cyber, biochemical), and climate change. To address these challenges, cooperation among allies with shared values and goals is no less critical
China is poised to retake its historical position as ‘The Middle Kingdom’ — that is, a preeminent global economic and political leader. But unlike in China’s ancient heyday, it takes the stage among competing power players and within a global liberal order that is frequently at odds with its domestic modus operandi.
Behind the headlines of squabbling policymakers and contentious CEOs are deeply interconnected yet disaggregated threats. Though the sources and targets of these threats may seem disparate, the impact is global and requires a unified response with cohesive solutions from all the players at the table.
Could the new protectionist trend spur local job creation, bolster national security, and protect our pocketbooks? Or are we walling off our wallets and more by limiting cross-border trade and movement?
The latter 20th century liberal world order that brought relative stability, enabled democracy’s spread, moved poor nations toward greater wealth, and precipitated technological progress has hit a rough patch. Is 2016 the year the bubble burst or are we at the cusp of an inevitable evolution to the next cycle? We’ll discuss whether we are indeed in crisis, what actions leaders should take to ensure continued progress toward shared prosperity and rights, and civil society’s role in shaping Liberal World Order 2.0.
2017: Out with the old, in with the…? As we ponder how a new administration will shake things up at home, populist movements abroad promise substantial change. The Brexit vote, rejection of constitutional reform in Italy, rise of right-wing parties in Europe, and Sanders' and Trump's popularity are all indicators of a growing lack of faith in leaders, political systems, and government.
The divide between rural and urban areas is starker than ever across social, political, and economic markers. This division influences everything from the pace of economic development in China to sectarian strife in the Middle East to political pivots in the U.S.
From China’s new Silk Road initiative that connects dozens of cities across three continents to urban behemoths like Lagos and Mumbai in the developing world, cities are more connected, concentrated, and influential than ever. Our special speaker, Col. Patrick J. Mahaney, will anchor our discussion with his expertise on megacities, the focus of his role as Senior Military Fellow of the U.S. Army’s Strategic Studies Group.
All roads may lead to Guangzhou someday thanks to China’s ambitious land and maritime Silk Road redux that reaches as far as London and Djibouti. China's vast and complex connector initiative could trigger major shifts in the global balance of power with ripples across trade, enterprise, development, environment, and human security.
Summer has sailed on despite what the weatherman (and climate change) tell us. It's back to business! This year, the must-have color for autumn is: Equality.
So that our drinking actually does our bodies and our souls good, we’ve partnered with the NYC Veterans Alliance, a nonpartisan, grassroots coalition dedicated to connecting NYC veterans and organizations, advocating for improved policies that affect veterans and their families, informing the NYC veterans community and the public about policies and news affecting them, and empowering veterans to speak up and take action.
From Brexiteer to Bregretter, what does the walk of shame look like when half the country is scuttling home, disheveled from a night of impetuous decision-making, wondering how they ended up in such a mess?
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
This month Selim Sazak, Ben Homer, and Miki Noguchi will lead a discussion on the role of frontier market entrepreneurship and private sector development in spurring economic activity in under-resourced and fragile communities. They will focus particularly on creating employment opportunities for refugees.
Our discussion this month will inform an op-ed that Selim, Ben, and Miki will be co-authoring on the topic as part of a larger initiative.
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
The policy salon meets the First Monday of each month for an issue-driven discussion on the concerns of the day. The salon is an opportunity for participants to gain a multi-sector perspective, foster connections, and expand their knowledge.
This month's discussion will follow our April 27th workshop on extending digital inclusion in fragile communities, from fully-resourced but under-accessed areas of urban and rural America to growing but struggling informal settlements in developing countries. We will discuss the ideas generated at the workshop and solicit new solutions for expanding digital capacity and access in these special needs environments.
Here are suggested readings to guide our discussion:
Failures of our Global Imagination
How technology is critical in fragile communities for accessing essential services, such as clean water, as well as information about health, employment, and educational resources.
Bridging a Digital Divide that Leaves Schoolchildren Behind
As more schoolwork requires students to use resources on the Internet, children whose families cannot afford access are being left behind in communities across the U.S.
The Digital Inclusion of Women and Girls
Columbia alumnus Jason Riffe discusses how lack of access to relevant technologies restricts girls and women from professional development, a livable wage, and a strengthened community in Port-au-Prince’s Cité Soleil.
Getting to Equal: How Digital is Helping Close the Gender Gap at Work
Accenture report on how digital access is a key enabler of women to achieve parity in the workplace
Additional articles will be posted on our Facebook page.
Civic Hall
156 Fifth Ave.
2nd Floor
This workshop will focus on extending digital inclusion in fragile communities, from fully-resourced but under-accessed areas of urban and rural America to growing but struggling informal settlements in developing countries. Help us think through barriers and solutions to expanding digital capacity and access in these special needs environments.
Click here to join our community and receive invitations.
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
This month's topic:
Suggested readings:
Are Domestic Politics Evil?
The seemingly opposed but inherently linked face-off between domestic political pressures versus "National Interest" on a global stage.
Putin and Politics Are Behind Obama's Decision to Send Troops to Syria
When military moves seem too small to make a difference, there's usually another (political) reason for them.
The Big 5 and the Sad State of Foreign Policy in 2016
How the most recent leading candidates might "do" foreign policy if they ended up in the Big Seat.
Check our Facebook page for additional readings.
Venue:
General Assembly NYC
GA New York City (East)
902 Broadway, 4th Floor
New York NY 10010
Click here to RSVP.
This is a public event and a partnership with Serval Ventures.
We’ve all heard of the Warby Parker and Tom’s Shoes success stories of the “Doing Well by Doing Good” world, but what does the social enterprise model look like when it’s in its boot-strapping first years? How do social enterprises stay on mission when budget choices need to be made between measuring impact and keeping operations going? Could a social mission be the special sauce in a small enterprise’s success?
We'll examine these questions and dig into some real challenges with a featured panel of social entrepreneurs, who will share their lessons learned and startup stories. Participants will also have the opportunity to convene in small groups with the entrepreneurs to exchange one-on-one perspectives and gain from a whole-group knowledge exchange.
Jenn Shaw is the COO and Cofounder of ConBody, a fitness studio that offers prison-style bootcamps and encourages community members to push themselves in ways they cannot imagine – both physically and emotionally. ConBody is a re-entry program in gym clothing that employs formerly incarcerated individuals who are reintegrating into the community. Jenn is also Founder of BellaMinds, which creates educational programs that empower women to learn, create, and lead with technology.
Manal Kahi is the CEO and Cofounder of Eat Offbeat, which delivers authentic and home-style ethnic meals that are conceived, prepared, and delivered by refugees resettled in NYC. Eat Offbeat introduces adventurous eaters to new “off-the-beaten path” cuisines through ready-to-heat artisan meals, delivered to their door. By ordering from Eat Offbeat, customers help to create opportunities for talented refugees resettled in the NY area and contribute to making them feel valued and welcome. Manal holds an MPA from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.
Cuthbert Ayo Onikute is the CEO and Founder of Dechets a l'Or, or Garbage to Gold, which addresses social and economic issues in secondary cities of West Africa. Dechets a l'Or takes an innovative approach to waste management that generates revenue for communities, improves cities’ environmental footprint, and promotes public health by reducing pathogens that cause disease. Ayo completed a MSc in Urban Planning with a focus on International Development and Planning at Columbia University. He has worked on urban development challenges in Guinea, India, and NYC.
Georges Clement is the Cofounder of JustFix, an application that allows residents in exploitative and neglectful housing situations to better track, organize, and take action in order to ensure that their fundamental rights as tenants are being met. Georges is also the Cofounder of UniFi Scholars, a non-profit provider of financial education for low-income high school students focused on helping them articulate their projected return on investment of college.
Click here to RSVP.
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
The policy salon meets the First Monday of each month for a rigorous, issue-driven discussion on the concerns of the day. The salon is an opportunity for participants to gain a multi-sector perspective, foster connections, and expand their knowledge.
This month's topic:
Suggested reading and viewing:
You bring the ideas, we'll make sure there's good food and great company!
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
This month's salon will be led by member Debi Spindelman, who is considering the issue for future PhD work. This will be her first public exploration of the topic.
Combating stunting (a.k.a. chronic, early-life malnutrition) is thought to be primarily a humanitarian concern – “no child should starve” is presumably a platform that both Bernie and Ted could get behind. Beyond the morality of the issue, however, stunting’s negative effects on cognitive development touch multiple points across society – e.g., a capable, productive labor force is necessary for a thriving business and economic environment, and anecdotal evidence suggests that these children may be more susceptible later in life to enrollment in the criminal activity that everyone from defense secretaries to beat cops expend so much blood, treasure, and energy to counter. The long-term threat posed by stunting is not only an issue for development practitioners in poor countries, but also for policy makers in fast-developing economies like India, law enforcement in conflict-impacted areas of the U.S., and business leaders from Wall Street to Delhi.
Here are some suggested readings to guide our discussion. We recommend reading these in the order listed below.
Additional articles will be posted on our Facebook page.
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
We're excited to formally launch Franklin Street Policy Group nearly a year after we first had the idea to bring together people working in and across the security, business, and development sectors and put their collective energy and expertise to address global challenges.
A shinnenkai (sheen-nen-ka-ee) is a Japanese celebration of the New Year with friends or colleagues, with plenty of promises of collaborative work and rounds of drinks for the year ahead. Since ideas exchanged over good food, wine, and spirits is a basic premise of our business model, we thought this was the perfect way to kick off 2016.
Kampai!
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
Suggested readings:
1) Africa's Quiet Solar Revolution
A new generation of startups is bringing sun power to rural Africa and transcending the fossil fuel era.
2) Leapfrogging Infrastructure Development in Africa?
How digital innovation enables African industries to leapfrog formal infrastructure investment.
3) Oil Exploration Threatens Africa's Billion Dollar World Heritage Site
Africa's oldest national park could be worth US$1.1 Billion per year if developed sustainably rather than being given over to potentially damaging oil extraction.
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
Suggested readings:
1) Syria Isn't Bosnia. And, No, the Problem Isn't "Ancient Hatreds." The "ancient hatreds" thesis is a myth -- especially in Syria, where peace has been more prevalent historically.
2) What Ends a War: The Limits of Bosnia-Syria Parallels. Explains why Bosnia is not a good model for Syria as the same conditions cannot be met.
3) Models for Possible Syria Intervention. Useful historical perspective that discusses recent examples of Western military intervention.
Additional readings will be posted on our Facebook page.
When: Friday, Nov. 13, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
What: Franklin Street Policy Group's Inaugural Policy Scrum
Wallet: $20, includes light refreshments, workshop materials, enlightenment
RSVP and get your ticket here.
Over the course of this evening workshop, we will scrum to problem-solve the challenge, drawing from our diverse sector expertise to expose creative and nuanced solutions. After a brief presentation on the background, we’ll have a short time to ask clarifying questions before tucking into a 45-minute scrum session.
Bring your most practical and impractical ideas, the most useful inspiration may come from left of left field.
The goal is for all of us to leave the experience with a new understanding of the issue, a new idea, and/or new connection and to present Scott with actionable, integrated insights that may usefully disrupt his thinking.
We’re excited to note we’ll be working from Scott’s in-progress, as yet unpublished essay, a fascinating intellectual obstacle course of a read in itself.
About Scott S. Smith
We like to describe Scott as one part Professor Jones (minus the whip and the fedora) plus a dash of Ernest Hemingway (minus the alcoholism and misogyny) plus a heaping spoonful of Afghanistan, but he’s got a real job too. Scott is Director of Afghanistan and Central Asia programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) as well as a SIPA alum and adjunct faculty. Prior to joining USIP, Scott spent 13 years at the United Nations, focusing primarily on Afghanistan and democratization issues. He holds a B.S. in foreign service from Georgetown University and a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University, SIPA. Click here for Scott’s full biography.
Pre-readings for the scrum will be shared with registered attendees.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Please RSVP here to join us. Light refreshments will be served.
The Franklin Street Policy Group, cofounded by Miki S. Noguchi (MDP ‘14) and Carol Marie Tuite (ISP ‘14), invites you to an alumni-only workshop to get creative about actionable ways that SIPA alumni currently working or have strong interest in the global security, business, and development sectors can connect, engage, and partner with one another to advance concrete collaboration.
Our goal is to identify ways alumni can build connections across the sectors, refresh and enhance their expertise, and identify opportunities for partnerships and mutual benefit.
We want to generate and solicit ideas and feedback from the group about your needs, resources, and interests in terms of building a cohesive NYC-based community.
Special thanks to the SIPA Management Specialization for their cosponsorship of this event.
Please share this with other SIPA alum who might be interested.
Venue information is shared only with invited attendees. Click here to request an invitation, join our community, or update your profile.
How does technology enable transnational crime syndicates and terrorist groups? How can governments respond? What is the responsibility of media companies and role of corporations in addressing this complex intersection?
Suggested readings:
1) Why Containment Won’t Work Against Putin’s Russia
3) Why the Islamic State Leaves Tech Companies Torn Between Free Speech and Security
