The Public Service Project

The Public Service Project

di Cait Dallaire
Stagione 3
On Policy and Public Affairs with Jeffrey Levy
Jeffrey Levy served the public in the U.S. federal civil service for 31 years, through 21 years at EPA and 5 each at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department. With a background in Physics and Environmental Policy, his digital communications career came as a surprise. His impulse to embrace the web as a powerful tool for connecting the American public with the agencies that serve them became a life and career defining choice, and now one year into retirement, Jeffrey is sharing stories from the early days of the interwebs; insights into the role (and value) of public affairs work; and deep reflections on ethics, integrity, and personal redlines. His wisdom and sincerity are unmatched.
On Human Rights and Civilian Security with Uzra Zeya
Uzra Zeya is President and CEO of Human Rights First, and former Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Human Rights, and Democracy - the pillar tasked with advancing human rights, strengthening the rule of law, supporting refugees, elevating the fight against corruption, and combatting transnational crime and human trafficking. Her distinguished diplomatic career has included assignments in France, India, Syria, Egypt, Oman, and Jamaica, as well as roles advising Secretaries of State Rice and Clinton. In this episode, Uzra shares a bit about the family that raised her, and the experiences (like motherhood) that shaped her. She reflects on the challenging decisions she's faced in her life and her career, and offers her thoughts on what it means to be an American today, and always. Access Human Rights First's recent report (referenced in the show) here: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/human-rights-first-and-raices-release-new-report-exposing-systemic-due-process-violations-and-cruelty-at-dilley-ice-family-prison/
On Youth and Social Movements with Sarah Sladen
Sarah Sladen is a Senior global leader with 20+ years developing and implementing strategies at the intersection of social impact, youth and community development, economic opportunity and wellbeing across government, philanthropy, and civil society. As a current Senior Fellow at Georgetown University and the most recent Senior Advisor for Youth at USAID, Sarah knows what she's talking about when it comes to implementing a Positive Youth Development framework, leading everything from training and coalition-building to grant-making, and so many other tasks that I will probably never understand. As the granddaughter of a South African anti-apartheid activist and the child of parents with a serious case of wanderlust, Sarah brings a unique perspective to all the big questions: How are young people impacted by conflict and politics? How are brains shaped by trauma? How useful and responsible is the CVE lens? And how can we all live our best lives? It's a special gift to spend time with Sarah, and to trace the threads of conscience and courage in her family across time and place.
On Dignity and the Rising Tide with Christina Sass
Christina is a powerhouse. She has spent over two decades tackling challenges in global development through an ever-sharpening focus on youth employment. She's here today to share the why and the how - from her father's improbable capture of the American dream, to her own journey as a co-founder and CEO. She believes with a fiery passion that identifying and upskilling young talent and aligning their potential to the needs of industry is the most direct way to solve for so many problems that derive from high youth unemployment. Her methods reveal her business savvy, but her mission comes straight from her life and her love of philosophy. She's committed to helping raise the tide and lift all ships.
On Philanthropy and Enlightened Self Interest with Gil Gillenwater
Gil Gillenwater is the founder of the award-winning Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation, which has reimagined border philanthropy, empowering communities through reciprocal giving and shared dignity since 1987. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards for volunteerism and philanthropy, and one of his projects was selected by former President Bill Clinton as a featured initiative at Clinton Global Initiative, a gathering of the world’s leading thinkers, philanthropists and changemakers. Gil is an Arizona native, a lifelong student of Eastern philosophy and meditation, a black belt in Kenpo Karate, and a wilderness adventurer reaching 75 countries. His time spent studying with remote Tibetan lamas and mystics inspired a philosophy of enlightened self-interest that now guides his approach to social change with Rancho Feliz. Gil is joining the show to share his personal philosophy around Service, including the parts he thinks we generally misunderstand. He's telling is what he means by "enlightened self-interest," why he thinks we fall victim to misguided compassion, and how he is reimagining development with dignity. Learn more about Rancho Feliz here: https://ranchofeliz.com/ And check out Gil's new book, Hope on the Border: https://ranchofeliz.com/hope-on-the-border/
On Culture and Conflict (and sexy policy work) with CJ Pine
CJ Pine is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, teaching about the United Naitons Security Council. He previously worked as a civil servant at the U.S. Mission to the UN, and at the State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. CJ is here to dispel myths about peace studies, explain how (and why) countries negotiate at the UN, and tell us all about his childhood misadventure selling lemonade in China. His experiences as a "third culture kid" shaped the way he looks at the world, and approaches conflict management. This is a master class in multilateralism and a delightful chat with a person whose brilliance is only surpassed by his kindness.
On Courage and Vocation with Ambassador Barbara Leaf
Ambassador Barbara Leaf is a career public servant with over 3 decades of experience, most recently serving as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, where she was responsible for the U.S. relationship with 18 countries from Morocco to the Arabian Peninsula. She's a frequent guest on media outlets as an expert on the Middle East, but she's here to speak candidly about her life and career. She shares a bit about her childhood, reflects on experiences (and moments of career malaise) that taught her important things about herself, and describes how healthy relationships with other countries directly benefit Americans. In a parallel universe, she may have opened a little book shop, but it's hard to even imagine her not crossing the globe and meeting with foreign dignitaries. She is whip smart, serious about her work, and refreshingly open about the reality of life in the Foreign Service.
On Fatherhood, Friendship, and Fine Living with Dr. Corey Holmes
Dr. Corey Holmes is a diplomat, an academic, a father, an author, a friend. He is here to talk less about his achievements (there are many!) and more about the questions, observations, and new discoveries that are shaping this chapter in his life. We discuss male friendships and vulnerability, the divine (and exhausting) experience of fatherhood, the exercise of writing, and the moments that shift your course in life. His book (Golf, Cigars, and Scotch: Balancing Fatherhood, Friendship, and Fine-Living) is a tribute to his friends and a gift to his son. It's available through Kindle Unlimited, and in Paperback and Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Golf-Cigars-Scotch-Fatherhood-Fine-Living/dp/1535601418
On Democracy and Subnational Diplomacy with Jon Temin
Jon Temin works across government, research and the non-profit sector to advance democracy, good governance, conflict resolution, and US-Africa relations. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University SNF Agora Institute, where he is researching the future of U.S. democracy assistance. Previously, he was the Director of the Africa programs at Freedom House and at the US Institute of Peace, a member of the US Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff, and Vice President of Policy & Programs at the Truman National Security Project. He shares his thoughts on what makes good writing, what we should know about truth and reconciliation, why the crisis in Sudan has not received the attention it deserves, and why he's spending his time thinking about sub-national diplomacy and democratic resilience.
On History and Context with Amanda Van Dort
Amanda Van Dort is a McCain Institute American Democracy and Technology Fellow, and an Adjunct Professor for Johns Hopkins and GWU teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on issues related to Women, Peace, and Security. She's also a former diplomat, most recently serving the Department of State as Chief of Staff in the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, building on her background advancing the rights of women globally and addressing the needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Amanda is spending her post gov era hitting the books and thinking big thoughts on the roots of American democracy, revisiting documents drafted by the founding fathers, and studying their cultural influences to better understand not just what they said, but what they meant. We're talking about her path into government service, her thoughts on what it means to go "back to basics," her elevator pitch for why gender matters, and our shared assessment of whether the public education system prepares kids to engage with the most critical questions of our time. Links to a few of Amanda's top reads: First Principles by Thomas Ricks: Buy on Thriftbooks Our Declaration by Danielle Allen: Buy on Thriftbooks Sex and the Constitution by Geoffrey Stone: Buy on Thriftbooks
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