Emerging Leaders Tackle Today's Global Challenges

PAST EVENT VIDEO

Roundtable

The Council's Emerging Leaders class of 2018 draws from professional and personal experiences to share short, dynamic presentations on an array of today’s critical issues and trends.

An Emerging Leader from the class of 2018 speaks on-stage at a podium

Speakers

Amrith Aakre
Lauren Bean Buitta
Joel Braunold
Josh Ellis
Adrienne Irmer
Shermin Kruse
Benjamin Levy
Lisa Reijula

Event Date

May 16, 2018

About This Event

How should the next generation of leaders approach the interconnected challenges of the 21st century? Debates over global challenges—from dousing the fires of populism and securing US elections, to tackling water scarcity and assisting in conflict zones—are dominating news cycles and impacting our lives. In a unique programming offering, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Emerging Leaders class of 2018 will draw from professional and personal experiences and share a series of short, dynamic presentations on an array of today’s critical issues and trends.

From Election Hacking to Water Scarcity

Each year, the Council selects a highly competitive cohort of Chicago’s up-and-coming professionals to participate in its Emerging Leaders Program. Emerging Leaders become part of a network of globally fluent individuals who will continue to raise the bar for Chicago as an influential international city. Hear several members of class 2018 present their policy prescriptions on:

Cultural Competency Training for Law Enforcement
Securing US Elections
Leveraging US Funds in Conflict Zones
Managing Water Conflict
Compulsory Voting in the US
Immigration Restrictions Hurt Healthcare in the US
Bridging Divisions in the US through Mandatory Service
Increasing Exports from Chicago to the World

About the Speakers

Amrith Aakre

Director, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Previously, Amrith Kaur Aakre was the legal director of the Sikh Coalition, where she coordinated legal and policy initiatives to protect the civil rights of all Americans, create community empowerment, and continue efforts to engage communities for positive opportunities. Aakre was part of a group of student activists at George Washington University who cofounded the Sikh Coalition after 9/11.

Lauren Bean Buitta

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Girl Security

Lauren Bean Buitta is founder and CEO of Girl Security, a nonpartisan, non-profit organization closing the gender gap in national security through learning, training, and mentoring support.

Joel Braunold

Managing Director, S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace

Before his role at the S. Daniel Abraham Center, Joel Braunold was the executive director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace. He works regularly with the US State Department, USAID, the National Security Council, and Congress on the needs of the peacebuilding community. Outside the US, he has worked with national governments and multilateral institutions across Europe and the Middle East.

Josh Ellis

Founder, SUM

In his former role as vice president at the Metropolitan Planning Council, Josh Ellis directed many of MPC’s urban and regional planning initiatives, most notably through Great Rivers Chicago, Transform Illinois, Stormwater Management, and Water Supply Management.

Adrienne Irmer

AVP for External Affairs, Illinois Institute of Technology

A proud native of Chicago’s South Side, Adrienne Irmer has been a passionate champion of social causes for over 16 years. Her professional work has crossed all sectors, including electoral campaign work at all levels of government. Irmer previously served on the legislative staff of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and with the Cook County Bureau of Asset Management.

Shermin Kruse

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, My Reality Cubed

Shermin Kruse is also a TEDx speaker; an accomplished negotiator, facilitator, and mediator; the author of the critically acclaimed, best-selling novel Butterfly Stitching; a contributor to the Huffington Post; a director of the ACLU of Illinois; cofounder and director of Pasfarda Arts and Culture Exchange; a director of Heshima Kenya; and a mother of four.

Benjamin Levy

Gastroenterologist, Mount Sinai Hospital

At Mount Sinai Hospital Benjamin Levy serves as the head of gastroenterology education for residents and medical students from several international medical schools. He founded a gastroenterology clinic for refugees resettling in Chicago, and also serves on the American College of Gastroenterology's Patient Care Committee where he is organizing a colon cancer screening campaign.

Lisa Reijula

Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee

Lisa Reijula designs and implements strategic programs to help businesses overcome barriers to export, such as grants to offset financial risk, an intensive strategic plan development cohort, and pitch competitions for small businesses.