2021: Our Year in Review

As 2021 comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to recognize all that we’ve accomplished together over the last 12 months. Despite the ongoing challenges we encountered this year, our members continued to speak up in support of the lifesaving work of the United Nations and its agencies.

Take a look back at UNA-USA’s year in review to see how YOU are actively working to make a difference.

Thanks again for being an integral part of our movement and for making this year so impactful. From all of us at UNA-USA, we wish you and your family a safe and healthy holiday season. See you in 2022!

We grew our movement.

Our members are the most integral piece of our movement. This year, we increased the number of communities advocating for the UN and the Sustainable Development Goals with formation of 30 new chapters!

Not yet a UNA-USA member? Join our movement today for only $25 to speak up for a strong U.S.-UN partnership! (P.S. Those under 26 join free!)

We launched our #MySDGDream campaign.

Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, UNA-USA’s #MySDGDream initiative invites everyone, everywhere to share their dreams and ideas for achieving the Global Goals in their lives and communities.

What’s YOUR dream? Let us know.

We kicked off our Global Engagement Summit with a celebration of America’s reentry to the Paris Agreement—with a few special guests.

That’s right, we started our Global Engagement Summit with a monumental moment: UN Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth Cousens, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and UN Secretary-General António Guterres joined us live to officially mark the United States’ rejoining the Paris Agreement, reaffirming our country’s commitment to bold climate action. Watch the celebration on-demand here.

We launched our Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (DEAI) Taskforce.

UNA-USA members are dedicated stewards of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but we recognized that we needed to take our work even further. That’s why, in April, we announced the formation of our Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (DEAI) Taskforce. Read our announcement letter to UNA-USA members here. (Also, be on the lookout for our DEAI toolkit early next year.)

We connected with Members of Congress during our Week of Action.

Like last year, we hosted our 2021 Week of Action virtually—but that didn’t stop our members from connecting with their lawmakers to advocate on behalf of the United Nations! In addition to speaking up for full U.S. funding for the United Nations, our members took action in support of bolder climate action, LGBTQIA+ rights, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, and so much more. Watch our Week of Action sessions on-demand.

UNA-USA’s Youth Observer Cynthia Yue Launched our Youth Priorities Report.

In the fall, UNA-USA Youth Observer to the United Nations Cynthia Yue embarked on a listening tour to hear directly from young people about their concerns, hopes, and visions for the future. These priorities help to inform Cynthia’s platform of engagement during her tenure as Youth Observer and ensure that UNA-USA is serving as a liaison between American youth and the United Nations. Read the report to discover Cynthia’s key findings.

We formed new partnerships.

Earlier this year, we formed a partnership with Colgate-Palmolive, who served as UNA-USA’s signature sponsor for our 2021 Week of Action and the SDG Project Pitch. Additionally, UNA-USA entered partnerships with the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and the Western Area of The Links, Incorporated, which covers 10 states—Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington. Take a look at our partners.

President Biden wrote a letter to UNA-USA members in recognition of UN Day.

In honor of UN Day in October, President Biden wrote a letter to UNA-USA’s 20,000 members to thank them for their advocacy in support of a strong U.S.-UN partnership.

Organizations like the United Nations Association of the USA and the United Nations Foundation support the vital importance of the United Nations and the United States’ leadership within it.

Read President Biden’s full letter here.

Thank you for an incredible year! I look forward to making an even greater impact together next year.