UNITED
NATIONS
ASSOCIATION
OF THE UNITED
STATES OF
AMERICA
BE SOCIAL
April is National Volunteer Month, so it’s
a good time to get
involved. Follow an
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and Twitter—some
even have their own
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advance notice about
events, and to score
an invite, sign up to
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Civicstudiesbeginearlyfor middle and high school students in the Global Classrooms program,
an initiative started by the United
Nations Association of the United
States of America (UNA-USA) to
bring the Model United Nations
experience to inner-city youths. In
Tampa, Tokyo and more than 20
other cities, participants are introduced to important international
concerns. Simulating the U.N. General Assembly, students take on the
roles of ambassadors and delegates,
prepare speeches, debate a range of
issues, and learn about negotiation
and conflict resolution.
A nonprofit organization based
in Washington, D.C., the UNA-USA
gives the public a sort of backstage
pass to the United Nations, illuminating the vital work being done, why
it affects Americans and how to get
involved. The organization, which
has 11,000 members in more than 125
chapters across the country, “makes
the United Nations very accessible to
those who are curious and interested
in learning more about what’s happening internationally,” says executive director Patrick Madden.
Membership perks include par-
ticipation in national conference calls
on topics such as relief efforts in the
horn of Africa as well as an invite to
a private daylong gathering at United
Nations headquarters in New york
City. The UNA-USA’s annual meeting
for members (this year June 10–12)
is held in Arlington, Va., in conjunc-
tion with Advocacy Day (June 12) on
Capitol hill, offering a chance to meet
with congressional representatives to
discuss the U.N.
