America-Ireland Youth Conference 2023: Creating Waves
Day 1 | Climate Change and Poverty: Who Foots the Bill?
Moderated by Ali Ahmad – Climate Change Specialist, The World Bank
Panelists:
Jelena Collins – McGill University / Co-founder, Chicago Youth Climate Coalition
Eoin Cummings – M.Sc. student, Queen's University
Amelia Medved – Graduate, Fordham University
Jack O’Connor – Graduate and Student Sustainability Coordinator, University of Limerick
Day 2 | 25 Years on from the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement: What’s Next?
Moderated by Lynette Fay – One of Northern Ireland’s most recognizable print and broadcast journalists, who covers current events, women’s issues and mental health on both radio and television.
Panelists:
Ryan Connor – M.A., Georgetown University
Emma Murphy – Students’ Union President, Queen's University Belfast
Kevin O’Connor – Graduate student, University College Cork
Rachel Stromsta – Program Officer, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
Day 3 | Reproductive Rights Across the US and the Island of Ireland
Moderated by Aideen Kane – co-director and producer of “The 8th” a feature documentary about the historic repeal of the 8th Amendment outlawing abortion in Ireland, in 2018
Panelists:
Ciara O. Flynn – University of Limerick
Caitlin Holland - University College Cork
Marcella Labellarte - University of Baltimore School of Law
Alexa Mohsenzadeh – Graduate, Emory University / University of Galway (Class of 2024 George J. Mitchell Scholar)
Take a look at last years conference below
Ireland Today 2022: The Inaugural America-Ireland Youth Conference
Day 1 - Gender Based Violence: A road to Understanding
Identify the causes of gender-based violence in American and Irish Cultures and forge a road to solutions.
Moderated by Nisha Varia – until recently Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch, Women's Rights Division
Panelists:
Kyle Friedler (he/him) - University of Illinois Chicago, MA Public Administration student
Raven Hodges (he/they) - The Intelligence Project Research Analyst, Southern Poverty Law Center
Roisin Keenan (she/her) - President of Queen’s University Belfast’s feminist and equality society
Stephanie Nilva (she/her) – Attorney, Executive Director of Day One, graduate of Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Day 2 - Shifting Landscapes: The Value of Peace
"The aim of this conversation is to touch on global conflicts, like Ukraine/Russia, Palestine/Israel, election violence in Kenya, etc., and discuss how peace can be achieved by reflecting on the Irish Peace Process."
Moderated by Sarah Crowe - Senior Communications Consultant with multiple UN agencies.
Panelists:
Dr. Brendan Ciaran Browne (he/him) - Trinity College Dublin - Asst. Prof. Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation
Sarah Nanjala (she/her) - Notre Dame, Master of Global Affairs student
Ryan Conner (he/him) - Georgetown - Walsh School of Foreign Service, MA in European Studies student
Casey Donahue (he/him) - Georgetown, MA in History + MS in Foreign Service student
Eóin Cummings (he/him) - Queen's University Belfast, President of QUB Politics Society
Day 3 - Tackling Climate Change Together
“The aim of this conversation is to discuss the reality of climate change and realistic steps and measures young people of both cultures can take to shift the tide in our favor.”
Moderated by Claire Byrne – Green Party Politician and Climate Campaigner, Dublin City Council Member
Panelists:
Marissa Kuriakos (she/her) - Oberlin College, Environmental Studies major, sophomore
Maeve Richardson (she/her) - Co-Chair of University College Cork’s Student Green Campus Committee & Communications & Engagement Officer UCC Students’ Union 2021/22
Jelena Collins (she/her) - Oak Park River Forest High School, Senior; Executive Director & Co-Founder of Chicago's Youth Climate Coalition
Tiarnán Burns (he/him) - Undergraduate student at Queen's University Belfast, founding member of QUB Politics Society