The statewide observance of the International United Nations Day will bring together civic leaders, international educators, and outstanding students to discuss Birmingham’s role in the struggle for international human rights at the United Nations Day Banquet at The Club on Thursday, October 16. Mayor William Bell will be in attendance to briefly address the chapter on his recent trip to Geneva as a delegate to the UN’s Human Rights Conference Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The featured speaker at this year’s observance is G. Douglas (Doug) Jones, JD, a champion for civil rights in Birmingham and Alabama. He will be speaking on “BIRMINGHAM AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: INSPIRING THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD.” Miss Lauren Coughlin, a student at Troy University, will be honored with the Dorothy G. Baker Campus Leadership Award in recognition for the founding of the Troy University Model UN and Model Arab League in January 2011. She has also served as the Secretary-General of Troy Model UN during her time at Troy.
Dr. Lucille (Sis) Hare Levin is the 2014 recipient of the UNA-USA Distinguished Educator Awards. This award will be presented in recognition of her exceptional national and international endeavors focused on violence reduction and prevention. Dr. Levin has taught at UAB and Samford University and has led numerous workshops at universities around the country. Dr. Levin played a crucial role in discussions which led to escape of her husband from Hizbollah captors in Lebanon. This event is described in her best-selling book, Beirut Diary: A Husband Held Hostage and a Wife Determined to Set Him Free.
The Greater Birmingham Chapter is one of the leading chapters in the United Nations Association-USA. Participation brings together people with varied backgrounds who have an interest in world affairs. The Greater Birmingham Chapter, chartered in May 1992, has as its mission the creation of programs and activities that stimulate public discussion of international affairs and encourage support for a better United Nations. More information is available on the
Facebook page: UNA-USA Greater Birmingham Chapter. For information about attending a chapter meeting or becoming a member email chapter president Ilse Diasio at idiasio@aol.com or Suzanne Baker at csbaker@uabmc.edu.
