The United States and the United Nations: What’s at Stake and Why it Matters

We are pleased to partner with the UN Committee of New Canaan to welcome Gillian Sorensen, former United Nations assistant secretary-general for external relations as the guest speaker for the 12th Annual Anita Houston Memorial Lecture.  From this lecture, attendees will learn about the relationship between the U.S. and the U.N. and hear, firsthand, what is at stake and why today the relationship matters more than ever.  

About the Speaker: Gillian Sorensen is the former United Nations assistant secretary-general for external relations. Sorensen currently works with groups and organizations committed to peace, justice, development, refugees, and human rights. Sorensen currently serves as a member of the board of the International Rescue Committee and as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

About the Anita Houston Lecture: For more than 50 years, until her death in March of 2007, Anita Houston was so prominent an advocate for the United Nations and international cooperation among nations that she was designated by official Town Proclamation on her 90th birthday as "New Canaan's Ambassador for World Affairs." In tribute to Anita for her long service as chairperson and member of the UN Committee of New Canaan and head of her UN Study Group, friends and family started a fund for an annual lecture series on topics related to international affairs and the United Nations. 

About Our Partner: The United Nations Committee of New Canaan believes our country and the world are best served by a vital and credible UN, the continuing effectiveness and evolution of which are supported and led by the U.S. To that end, the Committee endeavors to broaden the community's awareness of U.S. foreign policy and international relations, and calls attention to the need for U.S. leadership in the various peacekeeping and humanitarian activities of the UN. Please visit https://www.uncofnewcanaan.org/