Testimonials
What an absolute honor, participating in the 2022 Policy Center for the New South's Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders program. I had the privilege of meeting 29 incredible people from across Africa, Europe, South America, and North America. Our week-long program included the thought-provoking The Atlantic Dialogues conference, which convenes influential public, nonprofit, and private sector leaders from around the Atlantic Basin for open, informal discussions on cross-regional issues. Conversations included themes of food insecurity and its connection to civil war and interstate war, challenges posed by inflation and economic crises, the need for more youth leadership, the power of street protests, the changing and sometimes outdated role of multilateral institutions, new technologies and development, the security-development nexus in the Sahel, and fighting social inequities.
Some of my key takeaways include: (1) the need to center South-driven narratives when discussing global issues, (2) the importance of reimagining multilateral institutions (NATO, UN), regulatory regimes (NAFTA), and financial institutions (IMF, WB, WTO) that inadequately serve the Atlantic South, (3) how to embrace and prioritize a human-centric approach to transatlantic problems, and (4) the real challenge of showing respect during controversial intergenerational and intercontinental conversations.
I was especially proud to watch Morocco play in the World Cup semi-finals alongside leaders from across the African continent. The team inspired millions, including everyone in this room, and elevated conversations on Morocco's diverse Arab, indigenous, and African identities.
Thank you, Policy Center for the New South, for an unforgettable week.
