Carlos Stewart :
More than 1,000 participants gathered in New York City on Friday, April 10, 2026, for the Global Engagement Summit (GES) 2026, a flagship event organized by the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) that brought together advocates, students, policymakers, and community leaders for a full day of dialogue on global issues and international cooperation.
The summit began at the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel, located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, where attendees convened for the morning session. The opening plenary, held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:35 a.m., featured remarks from Farah Salim Eck, Managing Director of UNA-USA, alongside other prominent voices in international engagement. The session set the tone for the day, focusing on the evolving role of multilateralism and the importance of sustained global partnerships.
Participants then engaged in a series of breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics, including United Nations agencies, career pathways, women’s leadership in peacekeeping, and strategies to “think global and act local.” These discussions reflected the summit’s broader mission of equipping attendees with both knowledge and practical tools to contribute meaningfully to global advocacy.
Following the morning program, attendees transitioned to the United Nations Headquarters, entering through the UN Secretariat Building at 405 E 42nd Street, where the afternoon session took place in the iconic UN General Assembly Hall. The program resumed at 3:00 p.m., featuring high-level discussions on U.S.-UN partnerships, global sports diplomacy, leadership transitions within the UN system, and the implementation of the Global Digital Compact.
The summit also served as a platform for community leaders and advocates to connect on a broader scale. Among those present was Imam Muhammad Shahidullah, Vice President of the UNA-USA Queens Chapter, whose participation reflected the growing involvement of local community voices in global conversations.
Throughout the day, the event emphasized the importance of civic engagement, cross-cultural dialogue, and collective responsibility in addressing global challenges. From discussions on digital equity to the future of international leadership, GES 2026 underscored the value of bringing diverse perspectives into one space.
As the summit concluded with a closing plenary and networking opportunities, including an affinity group gathering later in the evening, the message remained clear: meaningful change requires collaboration across borders, sectors, and communities. By connecting local advocates with global institutions, the Global Engagement Summit 2026 reinforced its role as a vital forum for shaping the future of international cooperation.
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