A Night of Art, Dialogue, and Global Partnerships
On the evening of September 16, 2024, an eclectic group from academia, activism, and the arts gathered to celebrate two significant inaugurations at the Policy School. The event marked the inauguration of the newly revamped Policy School space and fostered collaborations between the School and global institutions like the United Nations.
The evening commenced with a vibrant reception in the open space at the School, a dynamic hub for dialogue and collaboration. This space showcased works by renowned Rwandan artist and environmental advocate Innocent Nkurunziza. His participation as part of the Northeastern University delegation, led by Policy School Director Maria Ivanova, at the fourth session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC4) in Ottawa, Canada in April 2024, underscores the vital role of art in environmental advocacy. Innocent’s artwork vividly captures the urgent global conversation on plastic pollution, demonstrating how creativity can fuel innovative solutions.
Several of Innocent’s works, currently on loan, are displayed throughout the Policy School. Guests had the unique opportunity to hear directly from the artist, who joined the event remotely. Innocent shared his creative process and his use of sustainable materials, such as tree bark, to portray visions of a cleaner, more resilient world.
The second half of the event featured a pivotal moment for the Policy School’s global partnerships, particularly with the United Nations. Maria Ivanova facilitated discussions that highlighted these collaborations, including co-op placements for Northeastern University graduate students with the United Nations. Two students – Manushi Sharma and Nidhi Polekar – are currently working with the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) in New York, contributing to research on Effective Multilateralism andon Global Governance of AI and AI Ethics and Policy.
Maria Ivanova welcomed a team from the UN Association of Greater Boston (UNAGB) for the dialogue in their SDG Perspective Series at the Policy School in partnership with the Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict, led by Prof. Gordana Rabrenovic, and with Prof. Julie Garey, Director of the MA in International Affairs program at the Policy School.
The event culminated in a powerful discussion titled “SDG 16: Peace, Justice, & Strong Institutions: Lessons from Global Conflicts.” Moderated by Maria Ivanova, the panel featured distinguished participants from three countries on three continents:
- Bulgaria: Dr. Angel Angelov, Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in New York
- Colombia: Dr. Natalia Escobar-Pemberthy, Policy Associate, Boston University, The Institute for Global Sustainability
- Rwanda: Dr. Anatole Manzi, Assistant Professor at the University of Global Health Equity, Deputy Chief Medical Office, Learning and Quality Health Systems Strengthening, Partners in Health
The panelists offered reflections on how their respective cultures have experienced, avoided, or recovered from conflict, reflecting on cultural resilience and the role of institutions in fostering peace. After the discussion, Maria Ivanova applauded their commitment to collective optimism, a phrase invoked by panelist Anatole Manzi, to explain how Rwanda charted a path forward in the aftermath of genocide. This “collective optimism” exuded by the panelists, Ivanova stated, “not only inspired all of us but also infused our space with a powerful energy that will continue to resonate in our community.”
