WorldBoston

📖 Read their recap:
www.worldboston.org/event-recap-...

🎥 Watch the full conversation on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqaM...

#WorldBoston #ChatAndChowder #TheAccidentalDiplomat #StudentVoices #BostonEvents #GlobalConversations

As Business Transfer students from Bunker Hill Community College, Lee and Cristian connected directly with our featured speaker, engaged with the WorldBoston community, and captured their experience in an event recap now live on our website.

Two weeks ago, WorldBoston welcomed Lee An Reth and Cristian Mazariegos as Green Room Scholars at Chat & Chowder: The Accidental Diplomat with Paul Knott (@paulknott11.bsky.social).

Register here for in-person attendance: www.eventbrite.com/e/chat-chowd...

And register here for virtual attendance: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

It answers all the details about what it’s like to be a government official and represent the United States abroad, while also providing case studies about issues that are current today.

Glen served as strategic communications adviser for Secretary of State John Kerry, traveling with the secretary across 1.5 million miles, visiting 93 countries and all seven continents, including Antarctica. “Window Seat on the World” grew out of that experience.

As Part Two of our miniseries focusing on the professional and personal realities of day-to-day diplomatic life, this event will detail what it’s like to be a government official and represent the United States abroad, navigate unfamiliar environments, and build trust across cultures.

Join us on March 5th for Chat & Chowder and see what Secretary Kerry is talking about! WorldBoston is excited to host Glen Johnson, former strategic communications adviser for Secretary of State John Kerry, and author of "Window Seat on the World: My Travels with the Secretary of State."

"A terrific recollection of a journey, and thoughtful insight about the importance of diplomacy, brought to life by his behind-the-scenes photos. Give it a read." - John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State

And teams can begin preparing by reviewing the official study materials here: 🔗 worldaffairscouncils.org/2026awqstudy...

Start studying and get ready for an incredible competition. Good luck to all participating teams!

Registration for the 2026 Academic WorldQuest Competition is now open! Teachers can register their teams using the following link: forms.gle/KM45C8P8Tp6M...

📊 Tariffs and Trade

☕🍫 Coffee and Chocolate: A Global Perspective

☢️ Nuclear Policy Issues

🌎 Focus Country: Australia

📰 Current Events

🌎 Pop Culture and Soft Power in International Relations

⚽ The FIFA World Cup

🌍 Migration and Immigration

📜 The U.S. Constitution and Foreign Policy

🛤️ The Belt and Road Initiative

WorldBoston is excited to announce the official topics for the 2026 Academic WorldQuest Competition! This year’s topics include:

➡️ Still unsure? Feel free to register to attend any of our upcoming events for FREE to learn more about WorldBoston and our global engagement events.

Email Harrison Zeiberg at hzeiberg@worldboston.org if you are interested, and feel free to apply with a classmate!

➡️ What should you expect to do? Meet and greet our expert speaker, network with the WorldBoston community, and write an event recap that is posted to the WorldBoston website! Read our previous event recaps here: www.worldboston.org/blog/

➡️ Who is eligible? Students at universities and colleges that sponsor WorldBoston! Click here to see if your school is a sponsor: www.worldboston.org/donate/

➡️ What is a Green Room Scholar? Named for the proverbial "green room" where people wait before going on stage, this is an opportunity for college students to go behind the scenes of one of our events and interact with one of our amazing expert speakers.

Interested in international affairs and looking for a way to expand your professional network? Consider applying to be a Green Room Scholar for one of WorldBoston's many public events!

👥 Interested in becoming a resource for future IVLP groups? Email Justin Dynia at jdynia@worldboston.org to learn more about how to join the list of local organizations that host IVLP meetings!

And do not worry, our visitors had time to try locally sourced New England food at the Boston Public Market and explore the Prudential Center. Thank you to all our community partners involved in this project for supporting our Citizen Diplomacy work!

The final stop of this trip was to JA Worldwide, one of the world's largest youth-serving NGOs, to examine their programs on entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy.

Later on, the group met with the founder and owner, Robert Van Sickle, of Polkadog to discuss how a community store has grown into an international business that still maintains vital ties to the local economy.

Networking was next on the agenda, as they spent the evening at The Venture Cafe Cambridge to brainstorm, network, and collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs and innovators.

There, they considered the impact of bringing a thriving startup economy to Worcester, and more broadly making the city a hub for life sciences and innovations in a meeting with Jon Weaver, the President & CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives.

These visitors did not just stick to Boston in their time with us, since WorldBoston represents all of Eastern Massachusetts, the group visited a variety of life sciences companies, research facilities, and academic institutions at the Worcester Biotech Park.

This group started their time with us by learning about how the federal government supports small business development at the state level from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

First IVLP group of 2026 ✅

WorldBoston recently welcomed 6 visitors from Europe for a U.S. State Department-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) centered on the topic of Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses!

Each event features an expert speaker, audience Q&A, dedicated time for networking, and (of course!) a selection of chowders and beverages.

Chat & Chowder programs are an excellent opportunity to engage with expert speakers and to network with other globally-oriented participants in an informal environment.