Our Voices Matter: Insights from the United Nations General Assembly as a +SocialGood Connector

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude and complexity of the problems we’re facing today. This overwhelming feeling can sometimes lend itself as an easy excuse to give up and wait for other players to have a greater role in creating a more equal and just world. However, moving the world to where we want will take action and collaboration from everyone.

This past September, New York welcomed more than 90 global leaders to the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. As a +SocialGood Connector (a fellowship through the United Nations Foundation) I had the humbling experience of leveraging my voice and reflecting the voices and perspectives of my community alongside my 12 other +SocialGood Connectors. We were able to take part in the Social Good Summit, the SDG Media Zone, and the UN Solution Summit during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) week.

Some of the amazing speakers I had the opportunity to listen to, learn from and connect with were- Trisha Shetty, Kathy Calvin, Diya Mirza, Jayathma Wickramanayake, Cathy McCain, Sarah Spiker, Jay’len Boone — among several others. This experience allowed me to see the impact through a global lens and through the perspectives of so many diverse voices. Some of the insights I’ve been able to carry back to my community have been:

1. Representation Matters: Outside the halls of the United Nations, I had the opportunity to connect with corporate leaders, community activists, political figures, youth advocates and everyday citizens — but not every voice was represented. The solutions we’re building towards have to reflect the narratives of many lives. How can we create these solutions when girls are still being left behind in the education crisis? When we’re not including the voices of indigenous communities and when thousands still lack access to basic healthcare resources? As we set ambitious goals, we must ensure we’re bringing in all the voices to the decision-making table. A bigger “we” will require a larger table to include everyone. Without the representation of all genders, races, communities, there are stories that are missing and without equal representation, we won’t be able to achieve our goal of leaving no one behind. As we enter the decade of delivery, it will be even more important to adhere to all the voices to ensure we’re bringing the right solutions across all groups.
2. The Power of Partnerships — Forming New Partnerships to Accelerate Action: “Our impact is unimaginably amplified when we work together” (Asha Curran, CEO of Giving Tuesday — Social Good Summit). We’ve seen that progress is possible when we act as an international community — especially across borders, industries and different walks of life. UNGA created the platform to host international players who are tackling change within their countries. By having visibility into their work and understanding their challenges, we’re able to forge new partnerships that allow us to bolster action and accelerate change. There is no point in reinventing the wheel — the issues I’m facing in my community are reflected and being tackled alternative innovative solution in other countries. This platform has allowed me to learn so much from the human experience, and collaboration will be key to adapt and forge a new path forward.
3. Our Platform Matters: We all play a role in highlighting the voices of our community. While there is much work to do as we enter the decade of delivery, I left UNGA and Global Goals Week with a renowned sense of hope through my interaction with so many fiery advocates who reflect a multitude of cultures and communities. Even more, I left with a sense of deeper ambition and can-do attitude to dig deeper into my work and amplify the voices of my community. I have the power and platform to share their grassroots efforts, highlight their challenges and provide them with an elevated platform to find a spectrum of solutions. While the social impact sector can often be isolating, it’s humbling moments and experiences such as this that make me feel that we’re going to be able to tackle these complex issues together. It is within our reach.