Brooklyn Chapter of the United Nations Association of the U.S.A.

Happy UN Day to UNA Brooklyn Members and Other Interested Parties -

As part of our UN Day advocacy program, we’re pleased to report that the chapter is meeting with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) on Tuesday, October 26th. Congresswoman Clarke represents the 11th district, which includes the neighborhoods of Brownsville, Crown Heights, Flatbush and Park Slope. A Brooklyn native of Jamaican heritage, she is a champion to the causes of affordable housing, the rights of immigrants, and healthcare reform.

UNA member, and constituent of Congresswoman Clarke, Peg Byron, and Gabriel Levitt, UNA Brooklyn Chapter President, will attend the meeting. We’ll give Congresswoman Clarke an overview of the United Nations Association, the work of our chapter, and our chapter’s advocacy issues. A major “thank you” to board member and former chapter secretary Cristina Grisham for making this meeting possible.

UNA Brooklyn Annual Meeting

The UNA Brooklyn Chapter held its annual meeting on Thursday October 14th to take care of chapter business, such as elections, meet new members, and plan for 2011.  It was an excellent meeting. The chapter has new members who are highly dedicated and experienced and will greatly improve our efforts to promote the UNA in Brooklyn, build support for the UN, and raise awareness about our global community.

We have a lot to celebrate this UN Day. Let’s review what we’ve accomplished over the past year

• The UNA Brooklyn Chapter was re-established just over one year ago after having lost its chapter status in early 2009.
• Our membership increased from about 30 to 40 members.
• We created a chapter blog.
• We created a chapter website.
• We opened a chapter bank account.
• We developed chapter letterhead
• We organized and hosted a documentary screening about the formation and practice of the International Criminal Court.
• We helped and supported a YPIC documentary screening about the modern slave trade.
• We’ve begun advocacy efforts by developing issue briefs on issues of importance to the UNA.
• We’re meeting with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on Tuesday, October 26th.

Chapter Elections

I’m very pleased to welcome Bob Worth as our new Chapter Secretary and board members and Javier Enriquez as a new board member.
UNA Brooklyn Events 2011
We voted to hold the following events in 2011:

1.    A speaker event featuring the Latvian Ambassador to the UN, H.E. Mr. Normans Penke. This event is due to the outreach of Uldis Blukis, UNA Brooklyn Board member and former member of the Latvian Mission to the UN. Projected Date: Late January/Early February.
2.    UN day 2011 will also be “Brooklyn Celebrates the UN”. The event’s general purpose is to educate Brooklyn residents about the indispensable work of the United Nations and promote membership in UNA. We foresee the event being held at a university or community center in Brooklyn.  Gabriel Levitt undertakes to lead in the planning of this event.
3.    An event bringing attention to the UN’s work in protecting the rights of indigenous persons with a focus on Columbia perhaps other Latin American countries as well.  Javier Enriquez undertakes to lead in the planning of this event.
4.    An event dedicated to the work of the United Nations in Haiti. Carla Hung and Jay Hammond undertake to lead in the planning of this event.

Advocacy 2011

It was decided that advocacy, continual outreach to and meetings with our elected representatives in Washington, will be an ongoing initiative and critical part of the UNA Brooklyn Chapter’s work.

I’m confident that this next year will be an incredible one of the UNA Brooklyn Chapter.

Gabriel Levitt
President
UNA Brooklyn Chapter