On Rizzy Turtles and Data Visualization with Abby Andre
Abby Andre is the Executive Director of The Impact Project, a new interactive platform to help visualize how federal employment, funding, and policy decisions affect our communities. She specializes in the art of connecting the dots, and her first step is plotting them on the map so we can all see what she sees - both data and narrative. Abby is a former DOJ Attorney, and her public service journey has been a fight for transparency, accountability, truth, and justice for every American citizen and charismatic megafauna. She is a connector, a matchmaker, a bridge, and she is using her fascinating collection of experiences and her brilliant brain to contribute to a better informed citizenry, a more accountable government, and a more resilient democracy. Not too shabby. Check out The Impact Project (a nonpartisan initiative for all Americans) here: https://theimpactproject.org
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On Scarcity and Abundance with R. Delphi Cleaveland
Delphi Cleaveland is a seasoned foreign policy professional with over 10 years of experience serving inside and outside government to advance human rights and democracy at home and around the world. She's continuing the mission of advancing and enhancing U.S. foreign policy by shifting her focus to providing public servants with the resources they need in order to live well, work effectively, and advance their policy objectives. Delphi is a ridiculously accomplished, deeply thoughtful, effervescent human being. This kind of conversation - incisive, constructive, relatable, honest, and fair - is exactly why I started this project. Listen in for Delphi's reflections on human rights, counterterrorism, the future of foreign policy, and the growing threat environment confronting public servants.
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On Hardship Posts and Third Spaces with Jared Banks
Jared Banks spent over 20 years in the Foreign Service, serving in DC, London, Geneva, Kabul, Warsaw, Brasilia, and advancing U.S. priorities on issues like critical emerging tech, science diplomacy, peacekeeping, and human rights. He's here to talk about his background as an academic, his time serving in Afghanistan as his family stayed behind, and his experience of faith communities as anchors in each new location. While its form has changed, the spirit of service has not left Jared! He's leading a Great Decisions discussion group at his local library with resources provided by the Foreign Policy Association, and in doing so, creating a safe space for learning and the exchange of ideas. Can you think of anything better for democracy? For more on the program, click the link: https://fpa.org/great-decisions/
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On the Global and the Local with Brianna Clarke-Schwelm
Brianna Clarke-Schwelm is the Executive Director of the North Carolina Global Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization striving to advance the state as a center of global health. Brianna has spent her career blending her love of rural communities (starting with the one that raised her) with her passion for access to public health as the foundation for a good life - one that includes safety, equity, and opportunity. Our conversation touches on everything from birth order and sibling dynamics, to the college courses we loved and loathed, to motherhood, sacrifice, and social safety nets. We studied topics like religion and philosophy and politics to better understand how we organize ourselves and serve each other (especially in vulnerable moments), and then we had babies and got them through a global pandemic, so in many ways, every moment of this winding conversation is circling the same question: How do we want to live, and what can we do to get there?Toward the end, Brianna tells us all about how NC is a center for global health, innovation, medicine and tech, and then she drops some wisdom about translating international experience to state and local contexts. Public servants from all walks, listen to that part twice!
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On Bridges and Ballasts: A LIVE Conversation with Jennifer Davis
I had the privilege of sitting down for the first LIVE recording of the Public Service Project at my alma mater, UNC Chapel Hill (GO HEELS!), with a fellow alum, the incomparably brilliant Jennifer Davis. Jen is currently a Distinguished Professor of Practice at the University of North Carolina, and former Senior U.S. Diplomat and Attorney. In 22 years with the Foreign Service, Jen did everything from consular services for Americans abroad, to advising at NATO, serving as Special Assistant and Executive Assistant to Secretaries Rice and Clinton, to serving as Consul General in Istanbul. Jen has been generous with her time, her energy, and her wisdom as a public servant, and she continues her service as she guides and inspires the next generation of policy professionals at the University.Nothing is off limits as we talk about Jen's early life in North Carolina, the sources of her ambition, and all the things she's reflecting on today.
We're spending some time getting to know America's public servants: who they are, what experiences shaped them, why they chose the path of service, and what they've learned along the way.
USA