Connecting Globally, Locally

Established in 1953, UNA-NCA is one of the oldest and largest chapters of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA). In 2010, the UN Foundation and UNA-USA announced that they formed a strategic alliance to strengthen the U.S.-UN relationship.

With the support of more than 2,000 members, volunteers, and supporters in the greater Washington area, UNA-NCA works to build public knowledge, strengthen U.S.-UN relations, and aid the UN in achieving its goals.

Advocacy

Our members seek to inform elected officials, particularly Congress and legislative staff, about global issues, and support ratification of essential treaties and resolutions that advance the goals of the UN charter.

Education

UNA-NCA is committed to furthering awareness of the UN in the Washington, DC area. The Global Classrooms program is a curriculum resource with supported conferences and trainings that allow students to step into the shoes of world decision-makers. This commitment extends to our Graduate Fellows Program, which helps exceptional graduate students develop an understanding of UN issues, policies, and organizations while assisting them in preparing for global careers and view the world through a UN lense.

Outreach

With a diverse membership with deep and wide-ranging experience and backgrounds, UNA-NCA hosts virtual coffee chats, workshops, and conferences, as well as member-driven programs on the United Nations and related foreign policy issues. The chapter partners with local organizations and stakeholders in the community to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Networking

UNA-NCA brings together residents in DC, Maryland, and Virginia with a united vision of bettering our world. Regardless of age, there are opportunities to share, learn, and connect. Our Young Professionals (UNA-NCA YP) program is a premiere opportunity to gain career experience and connect with others.

Driven by a grassroots approach, a passion to make a difference, and a deep and unique history shaped by diverse perspectives, UNA-NCA provides unique value to the Washington, DC area, supporting global engagement.

Creating Global Citizens

Mission

Serving the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, UNA-NCA strives to:

• Increase public understanding and support of the United Nations.
• Encourage constructive US leadership in strengthening the United Nations.
• Prepare present and future leaders to work for a better world, both globally and locally.

Vision

As a steward of our local community, our nation, and our interconnected world, we need to think globally and act locally.

• A public fully aware of the benefits of global cooperation through the UN in partnership with civil society and the private sector.
• Tomorrow's leaders well prepared to work through the UN for a better world.
• Opinion-makers and policy-makers fully informed and committed to US leadership to improve the effectiveness of the United Nations.

Strategic Plan

Independently incorporated in 1953, the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) is the largest and most active of 120 chapters of UNA-USA, a program of the UN Foundation.

The successes of UNA-NCA are attributable to the dedication of a small staff and an enthusiastic and hardworking cadre of volunteers and supporters.

UNA-NCA's 2014-2016 Strategic Plan (.pdf) provides a roadmap that will enable UNA-NCA to prioritize the activities that advance our core mission, to increase our financial and staffing capacity to respond to unmet demand for the UN-related programs we uniquely provide, to promote synergies among the students, young professionals, and experienced leaders who constitute our membership, to achieve greater efficiencies and coordination among the many program activities we offer, and to expand our reach through partnerships with other internationally-focused organizations in the national capital area that share common objectives.

From the President and Board Chair

The United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) has emerged strong and able as we advance the value proposition of the United States as an important leader and partner within the United Nations. As you read through the latest Annual Report, UNA-NCA is experiencing a dynamic and exciting transformation, benefiting its members, partners, and stakeholders, as well as the greater world.

The organization adeptly pivoted to on-line programming and operations due to the pandemic as we all learned new ways, while holding both accountability and attention on to engage in social justice efforts and conversations to move us all forward.

Our programs attract internationalists from across generational divides, drawing from the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia regions and beyond. Our new and proven programs reflect progress and the promise of the United Nations over this past year, including:

Coffee Chats that included celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations with US Representative Jamie Raskin, as well as chats on climate migration, global health, LGBT human rights, and more.

Global Classrooms DC with Model UN, which served more than 800 middle and high school students with spotlight speakers US Secretary of State Blinken and UN Secretary General Guterres. Partnerships with UN Agencies such as IOM, ILO and UNEP along with PAHO strengthened the impact and breadth of these convenings.

Graduate Fellows Program, bringing a UN lens on cutting edge issues, served 33 local graduate students from 15 nations.

Advocacy efforts focused on racial justice, the Sustainable Development Goals, and DC Statehood – with new energy on DC for CEDAW, which connects the human rights treaties with local government. Advocacy Fellows strengthened our membership’s outreach of US members of Congress.

UN Day celebrations commemorated the 75 birthday milestone with member consultations, and a high level program on climate and building a more sustainable future featuring UNDP Assistant Administrator Ulrika Modeer; Dr. Robert Orr, Dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland; and Sr. Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Climate.

Human Rights Awards honored those who have built human rights legacies in the UN system, the U.S. Department of State, academia, and our local community – impacting the lives of many people.

Undergirding all this progress are UNA-NCA members who offer their time, engagement, and resources to make this small organization a mighty one. Our members work in a spectrum of sectors and many are students and under 40 years of age.

We invite you to get engaged – consider how you can contribute to our Committees and Events – with your presence and your resources.

We welcome the new Board Members to UNA-NCA as we continue to provide ground breaking programming and advocacy to advance the United States in its support of the United Nations and its core principles.

Lastly, we are thrilled to launch this new website, through the focused work of Vice Chair for Communications, Sultana Ali and Managing Director of Programs and Membership, Andrew Doll, along with other staff and volunteers. We think you will find it easy to navigate and engage in the association!

Sincerely,

Paula Boland 
President

Jill Christianson
Chair, Board of Directors

Meet Our Volunteer Leaders

African Affairs Committee

Tanishia Bailey, Lydia Daniels

DC for CEDAW

Karen Mulhauser

Human Rights Committee

Alex Remmel, Luciana Vosniak

International Law Committee

Renee Dopplick

Peace and Security Committee

Ryan Brenner, Abbey Ogunwale

Sustainable Development Committee

Keegan Mobley, Caroline Sorge

Young Professionals
Nadjad Nikabou Salifou, Lanice Williams