A look back on what we've been up to this fall and looking ahead towards winter and early spring | | | | |
UNA-USA Pasadena's NEW Website 🔗
UNA-USA Pasadena Chapter: Join the Movement to Support the UN
Welcome to our fall issue of the UNA-USA Pasadena's newsletter! We have upgraded our website to better keep our members and community engaged.
Search our website by clicking HERE by typing in
una-pasadena.org 🔎
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What UNA-USA Pasadena has been up to | | |
On Saturday, September 13th, UNA-USA Pasadena had the honor of hosting Daniel (Danny) Petersen for the afternoon to celebrate the upcoming International Day of Peace 2025. Danny joyously engaged members in discussions and demonstrations on how drumming acts as a tool for public diplomacy and intercultural governmental relations.
Photos taken by Madeleine Delbridge, UNA-USA Pasadena intern
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Drumming for Peace
An afternoon with Danny Petersen
| Pictured: Danny (Center) with UNA Pasadena members in a drum circle | | | |
The Quiet Diplomat: a night with Ban Ki-moon 🎥
On Friday, September 26th, UNA Pasadena joined UNA-USA LA among other UNA-USA SoCal Chapters in welcoming former Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon for a screening of "The Quiet Diplomat" followed by a Q&A session.
| Pictured: Ban Ki-moon (Center) on stage with UNA-LA President Shruthi Mathur (Right) | | |
"The screening of "The Quiet Diplomat" was a wonderful event that was well attended. The discussion with Ban Ki-moon and the director of the film, Charles Lyon’s, led by the event’s planner Shruthi Mathur, the President of UNA-USA LA, following the film was fun, and informative. Ban Ki-moon enjoyed discussing his experiences as Secretary-General of the UN and was full of fun and humorous stories."
Noelle Newton, UNA Pasadena general member
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Starting the school year off strong, UNA-USA Pasadena came to Blair High School's back to school night on August 27th. UNA-USA intern Elizabeth Blakeslee stood as representative, talking to students, parents, and teachers about our up and coming PUSD high school UNA-USA Chapters. | | UNA-USA Pasadena Chapter President Ann Diederich and intern Filiz Fish continued on to Pasadena High School's back to school night also, on September 4th. Ann and Filiz were pleased to report an immense amount of interest as well in starting PUSD UNA-USA Campus Chapters. | |
Many thanks to Jennifer Hall Lee, the UNA-USA Pasadena Board's Education Chair and President of PUSD's Board of Trustees, for coordinating these outreach efforts.
We encourage you to email unapasadena@gmail.com with any questions or inquiries
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities 🗓️
| | Attend our Next Monthly Meeting! | | | | |
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UN Day '25: Meeting the Moment and Building our Future Together featuring Arn Chorn-Pond
UN Day Celebration
The UN Day Celebration will be held on Sunday November 2nd, from 1:00-3:00 pm, at the Lineage Performing Arts Center (920 E Mountain St, Pasadena, CA 91104) in a new partnership with UNA-USA Pasadena.
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Reservations are required. Fill out the RSVP form here.
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Registrants will receive an email with logistics and location information within 24 hours of the event.
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The event will be catered by Flavors from Afar, a part of TIYYA, a nonprofit that supports programming newly arrived refugees.
- Video entries from the video challenge will be screened and prizes awarded to the winner(s) during the event
Musician and Cambodian humanitarian and human rights activist Arn Chorn-Pond will be our guest of honor, and will be interviewed by UNA-USA Pasadena President Ann Diederich.
You are welcome to join us on November 3rd, 2025 from 6:00-7:00 pm at Polytechnic School in Pasadena for an event featuring musician and Cambodian humanitarian and human rights activist Arn Chorn-Pond. We will learn more about Arn's work and the mission of CLA, his courage during imprisonment amidst the Khmer Rouge regime, his escape and move to the U.S., his talent, and commemorating 50 years since the Khmer Rouge.
📍Location: Polytechnic School, 1030 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106
🕧Date and time: November 3nd, 2025, 6:00-7:00 pm
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Video Challenge: How to enter 🎞️
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Submit a keynote video to UNA-USA Pasadena about your work on a Sustainable Development Goal or your local work to advance the mission of the United Nations
- Your video must....
- 60-90 seconds
- Highlights the UN’s work, its SDGs, and clearly advocates and supports it
Email unapasadena@gmail.com with any questions 📨
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YWCA: 23rd Women's Racial Justice Breakfast
For over two decades the YWCA has held the Women's Racial Justice Breakfast to "foster deep learning and inspire action for racial justice". This year, President and CEO of the Weingart Foundation Joanna S. Jackson will be featured as the keynote speaker.
UNA-USA Pasadena will be there as a Community Advocate Sponsor. If you would like to attend this breakfast as a UNAUSA Pasadena member, please contact us at unapasadena@gmail.com by no later than 10/13.
October 23rd, 2025, 8:00 am
Hilton Pasadena, 168 S Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
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Monday October 20th, 2025
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS 🎫
Reception: 6:30 pm 🥂
Program: 7:30 pm 🕣
Location: TBA
NOTICE:
Registered members of UNA Pasadena eligible for a discount on tickets!
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How We Live Now: Environment, Culture, & Finding A Way Forward 🌎
Come along to an event combining both literature and the environment. Ehrenreich will showcase his book, “Desert Notebooks: A Road Map for the End of Time” (Middle Right), focused on questions about the future of the earth and the role of humans. Fragoza will showcase her book, “Eat the Mouth that Feeds You” (Bottom Right), that focuses on the experience of Latinos navigating the challenges they face living in Southern California. This event will be one that is both riveting, thoughtful, and eye opening for all who attend.
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Welcome to all new Members of the UNA-USA Pasadena Chapter!
Thank you to all our news members of UNA-USA Pasadena Chapter, we're so grateful for your support and involvement.
Elissa Hawkins
Millie Lubin Gonsalves
Francoise Balabanian
Tammy Silver
Noelle Newton
Peter Chang
Gena Delbridge
Nancy Annick
Antoinette Petersen
Robyn Petersen
Daniel Petersen III
Daniel Petersen
Elizabeth Blakeslee
Welcome to our local UNA-USA community
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Not a member yet? Get your UNA-USA Pasadena membership today! 📨 | |
Membership Types
➡️ Standard: $50
The standard membership makes up the backbone of our movement. Gain access to all of our events, opportunities, and networking.
➡️ GenUN: FREE
Ages 14–17. As a GenUN member, you’ll gain access to incredible benefits that help you grow as a leader, connect with others, and take action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
➡️ Young Professional: $25
Members ages 18 to 30 may choose this membership to unlock benefits related to advancing their career and professional portfolio.
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Why become a member?
Being a member of UNA-USA Pasadena comes with many benefits, including...
- UN career development opportunities and skill building
- Opportunities to serve as a UNA-USA delegate at high-level UN events
- Discounts on tours of UN Headquarters in New York City
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Subscriptions to PASSPORT and UNA-USA Today publications, and more!
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Keeping our members informed
What the UNA-USA Pasadena is reading right now 🗞️
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Delegates Walk Out on Israel, Trump’s Escalator-Gate & More
"Delegations in the UN General Assembly walked out of the Hall amid loud applause just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the rostrum to speak, Sept. 26, 2025."
Damilola Banjo
September 30, 2025
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Special Report: Kyrgyzstan Joins Anti-Nukes Treaty; UAE, Africa’s Finances, Art @UNGA
"Talk of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation was heard in several chambers and corridors during the General Assembly high-level week, marking 12 years since September 26th was designated by the UN as International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons."
Maria Luisa Gambale
September 29, 2025
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The UN Can Survive Without the US
"The political landscape at the UN has shifted dramatically under the Trump administration. The US has pulled back billions of dollars of financial contributions to the UN. The US now routinely denounces the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — the central organizing principle for the UN’s work over the past decade."
Opinion by Chris Lu
September 18, 2025
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UNA-USA Leadership Summit 2025: St. Louis, Missouri 🇺🇳🎙️
UNA-USA Pasadena is excited to announce that we will be represented by 6 delegates attending the UNA-USA Leadership Summit in St. Louis, Missouri! The event will feature various discussions, presentations, and forums attended by students and community leaders from across the U.S.
Follow us on all our socials (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, see website details above) to stay up to date!
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November 13th-16th, 2025
Hyatt Regency Hotel at The Arch, St. Louis, Missouri 📍🗺️
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Stay Up-to-Date with What We're Working On
We constantly have lots of fun events and opportunities for you all, so don't miss out and give our socials a follow!
Instagram 📷
@unausapasadena
LinkedIn 💼
@UNA-USA Pasadena Chapter
Facebook 🌐
@United Nations Association Pasadena Chapter
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