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    <title>Black Professionals in International Affairs upcoming events</title>
    <link>https://www.iabpia.org/events</link>
    <description>Black Professionals in International Affairs upcoming events</description>
    <dc:creator>Black Professionals in International Affairs</dc:creator>
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    <language>en</language>
    <pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 17:12:55 GMT</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 17:12:55 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>RECRUITER/EXHIBITOR ENROLLMENT - BPIA International Affairs Graduate School and Opportunities Expo (08/25/2026)</title>
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  &lt;h3 data-start="514" data-end="563" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

  &lt;p data-start="89" data-end="555" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/Exhibitor%20Graphic%20Expo%202026.png" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;p data-start="89" data-end="555" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;ENROLLMENT OPEN - CALLING ALL RECRUITERS AND EXHIBITORS!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;p data-start="89" data-end="555" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;The &lt;strong data-start="93" data-end="165"&gt;2026 BPIA International Affairs Graduate School &amp;amp; Opportunities Expo&lt;/strong&gt; is now accepting recruiter and exhibitor registrations. Held virtually as part of &lt;strong data-start="248" data-end="275"&gt;2026 National BPIA Week&lt;/strong&gt;, this event connects organizations with a diverse national audience of students, young professionals, graduate applicants, and emerging leaders pursuing opportunities across international affairs, diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, global business, and public service.&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;p data-start="557" data-end="943" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Whether you are recruiting future students, hiring talent, or promoting educational and professional opportunities, the Expo provides a unique platform to engage directly with the next generation of global leaders. Organizations will have the opportunity to showcase their programs, answer questions, network with attendees, and build lasting connections with a highly engaged audience.&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;h3 data-section-id="5hwqbe" data-start="945" data-end="1000" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;We are currently recruiting organizations offering:&lt;/h3&gt;

  &lt;ul data-start="1002" data-end="1129" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;
    &lt;li data-section-id="1n1e12k" data-start="1002" data-end="1043"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1004" data-end="1043"&gt;Undergraduate and Graduate Programs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li data-section-id="37wb8i" data-start="1044" data-end="1061"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1046" data-end="1061"&gt;Fellowships&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li data-section-id="17oyk1" data-start="1062" data-end="1080"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1064" data-end="1080"&gt;Scholarships&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li data-section-id="6scyz7" data-start="1081" data-end="1098"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1083" data-end="1098"&gt;Internships&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li data-section-id="1jwy2cu" data-start="1099" data-end="1129"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1101" data-end="1129"&gt;Leadership Opportunities&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
  &lt;/ul&gt;

  &lt;p data-start="1131" data-end="1180" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1131" data-end="1180"&gt;Recruiter &amp;amp; Exhibitor Enrollment is Now Open.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;p data-start="1131" data-end="1180" style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;a href="https://pci.jotform.com/form/262126139951155" target="_blank" class="stylizedButton buttonStyle002"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;ENROLL TODAY&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.6px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;div style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6705873</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6705873</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>(Virtual) “KEEPING IT REAL” Series: The Conversations Our Community Needs to Have (Hosted by Professional Development Committee) (08/27/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/Keeping%20It%20Real%20BPIA%20Events%20Flyers.png" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h1&gt;“KEEPING IT REAL ” Series&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;The Conversations Our Community Needs to Have&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;BPIA Monthly Professional Development Series&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Every 4th Thursday of the month&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Google Meets:&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://meet.google.com/ndw-zwtc-fer&amp;amp;sa=D&amp;amp;source=calendar&amp;amp;usd=2&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw3WV6vJCD-Pax2HfIHcVrWN"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;" color="#1F1F1F" face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font color="#0B57D0"&gt;meet.google.com/ndw-zwtc-fer&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
  &lt;li data-section-id="38q70j" data-start="0" data-end="80"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="" color="#1F272B"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2" data-end="39" data-is-only-node="" style=""&gt;August 27, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM ET&lt;/strong&gt; — &lt;strong data-start="42" data-end="80" style=""&gt;Durags, Bonnets &amp;amp; the “Real World”&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="fxy1wn" data-start="81" data-end="153"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="83" data-end="123" data-is-only-node=""&gt;September 24, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM ET&lt;/strong&gt; — &lt;strong data-start="126" data-end="153"&gt;You Work Hard. So What?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="joe7m9" data-start="154" data-end="242"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="156" data-end="194" data-is-only-node=""&gt;October 22, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM ET&lt;/strong&gt; — &lt;strong data-start="197" data-end="242"&gt;Maybe They Just Don’t Like You. Now What?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="xf5o2j" data-start="243" data-end="333" data-is-last-node=""&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;" face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="" color="#1F272B"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="245" data-end="284" data-is-only-node="" style=""&gt;November 26, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM ET&lt;/strong&gt; — &lt;strong data-start="287" data-end="333" data-is-last-node="" style=""&gt;Is It Time to Quit—or Are You the Problem?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font face="Google Sans, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" color="#1F272B"&gt;&lt;u style=""&gt;Series Description&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Professional development isn't just about résumés, networking, and landing the next job. Some of the most important lessons about navigating college, careers, and professional spaces are the ones no one formally teaches us.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keeping It Real&lt;/strong&gt; is BPIA's monthly professional development series creating space for candid conversations about the realities Black students and professionals encounter as they navigate academic and professional environments.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;From cultural expression and professional presence to workplace politics, advancement, conflict, and knowing when it's time to move on, these conversations tackle the questions we often discuss privately—but rarely address openly in professional development spaces.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;No corporate jargon. No pretending. Just real conversations, practical guidance, and perspectives you can actually use.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Sessions are held virtually every fourth Thursday of the month from &lt;strong&gt;6:30–7:30 PM ET.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For questions, you can email professionaldevelopment@iabpia.org&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6803002</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6803002</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>[UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENT] "Beyond the Game: Sports Diplomacy and Africa's Growing Global Influence" - BPIA DialogueHouse Discussion (08/28/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Policy%20Discussion%20Logo.png"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="74" data-end="123" align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="74" data-end="121" style="font-size: 0.9em;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://iabpia.org/event-6791332" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;font&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 30px;"&gt;REGISTER HERE&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="74" data-end="123" align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;span data-start="74" data-end="121"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Discussion Topic:&amp;nbsp;“&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 16px;" color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Beyond the Game: Sports Diplomacy and Africa's Growing Global Influence"&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="74" data-end="123" align="center" style="font-size: 12.961296px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="74" data-end="121"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 11px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="74" data-end="121"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1257" data-end="1276"&gt;Date &amp;amp; Time:&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Friday, July 31, 2026 from 12:00pm - 1:00 pm ET&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="74" data-end="123" align="center" style="font-size: 12.961296px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong data-start="74" data-end="121" style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;font&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font&gt;Location (Zoom):&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9794618227?omn=83241778032"&gt;https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9794618227&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="font-size: 12.961296px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Open to&lt;/strong&gt;: The BPIA Community At-Large&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://iabpia.org/event-6791332" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/August%20DialogueHouse.png" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;div id="id_u3JynL1" class="WaLayoutPlaceHolder placeHolderContainer"&gt;
  &lt;div id="id_1y1DLPp" class="WaGadgetOnly WaGadgetContent gadgetStyleNone"&gt;
    &lt;div class="gadgetStyleBody gadgetContentEditableArea" style="padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 20px; padding-left: 20px;"&gt;
      &lt;h2 data-section-id="1m5k6b3" data-start="0" data-end="20"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;About the Session&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

      &lt;h2 style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

      &lt;p data-start="22" data-end="373"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;Sports have long served as more than a form of entertainment—they are a powerful tool for diplomacy, cultural exchange, and global influence. From international tournaments to athlete-led advocacy, sports create unique platforms for countries and communities to strengthen relationships, shape narratives, and project their values on the global stage.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

      &lt;p data-start="375" data-end="759"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;For Africa, sports diplomacy represents an emerging pathway to expand global influence, strengthen soft power, and reshape perceptions of the continent. Across football, athletics, basketball, and other sporting arenas, African athletes, organizations, and governments are increasingly using sports to build international partnerships, promote development, and amplify African voices.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

      &lt;p data-start="761" data-end="1022"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;At the same time, questions remain about how African countries can leverage sporting success beyond competition, address structural challenges within the sports ecosystem, and translate global visibility into sustainable economic, diplomatic, and social impact.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

      &lt;p data-start="1024" data-end="1330"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Our August session,&amp;nbsp;&lt;span data-start="1037" data-end="1115"&gt;“Beyond the Game: Sports Diplomacy and Africa’s Growing Global Influence,”&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;will explore how sports contribute to Africa’s role in international affairs and how governments, athletes, and institutions can harness sports as a strategic tool for diplomacy, development, and global engagement.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

      &lt;p data-start="1332" data-end="1591"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;Through an interactive discussion, participants will examine the intersection of sports, foreign policy, identity, and economic opportunity, while exploring how Africa can use sports to strengthen its global position and influence international conversations.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

      &lt;p data-start="1593" data-end="1743"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BPIA's DialogueHouse Discussion Series creates a community-centered space for members to thoughtfully engage with the global issues shaping our world.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

      &lt;p data-start="1745" data-end="1947"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;This discussion is designed as a low-lift, open dialogue space that encourages shared learning, diverse perspectives, and meaningful exchange across global diplomacy, governance, policy, and leadership.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

      &lt;h2 data-section-id="nprpy5" data-start="1949" data-end="1970"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What We’ll Explore&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

      &lt;h2 style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

      &lt;ul data-start="1972" data-end="2535"&gt;
        &lt;li data-section-id="1oj6omh" data-start="1972" data-end="2046"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;The role of sports as a tool for diplomacy and international influence&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="1ajseis" data-start="2047" data-end="2133"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;How African athletes and sporting events shape global perceptions of the continent&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="132q8c7" data-start="2134" data-end="2217"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Sports as a pathway for economic development, youth empowerment, and investment&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="8m7i7f" data-start="2218" data-end="2286"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;The connection between sports, soft power, and national branding&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="1pyan8" data-start="2287" data-end="2375"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;How African governments and institutions can strategically leverage sports diplomacy&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="q5kkwv" data-start="2376" data-end="2465"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Opportunities and challenges in building a stronger global sports ecosystem in Africa&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="1wfc9qn" data-start="2466" data-end="2535"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Lessons from successful sports diplomacy efforts around the world&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
      &lt;/ul&gt;

      &lt;h2 data-section-id="bdo9e" data-start="2537" data-end="2557"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who Should Attend&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

      &lt;h2 style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

      &lt;ul data-start="2559" data-end="2818" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""&gt;
        &lt;li data-section-id="1nnkdxi" data-start="2559" data-end="2593"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Students &amp;amp; young professionals&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="1x36190" data-start="2594" data-end="2644"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Policy and international affairs practitioners&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="koue9f" data-start="2645" data-end="2697"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Sports professionals, advocates, and enthusiasts&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="1wpepej" data-start="2698" data-end="2742"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Development and governance practitioners&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

        &lt;li data-section-id="y6m7uy" data-start="2743" data-end="2818" data-is-last-node=""&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Anyone interested in Africa’s global influence, diplomacy, and leadership&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
      &lt;/ul&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;div class="gadgetStyleBody gadgetContentEditableArea" style="font-size: 12.961296px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 20px; padding-left: 20px;"&gt;
      &lt;ul data-spread="false"&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;

      &lt;h3 style="font-size: 12.961296px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 12px;" face="Helvetica"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sign up today and add your voice to the conversation.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

      &lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Register here:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;font&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://iabpia.org/event-6791332" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span data-placeholder-token="true"&gt;[Link Here]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

      &lt;p data-start="74" data-end="123" align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px; background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6791332</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6791332</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>3rd Annual Garden of Legends Fundraising Gala Reception (08/29/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/Cabo%20Verde.jpeg" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h1 data-start="282" data-end="343"&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B" style="font-size: 36px;"&gt;3rd Annual Garden of Legends Fundraising Gala Reception&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p data-start="345" data-end="380"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="345" data-end="354"&gt;Date:&lt;/strong&gt; Saturday, August 29, 2026&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="382" data-end="413"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="382" data-end="391"&gt;Time:&lt;/strong&gt; 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="415" data-end="507"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="415" data-end="428"&gt;Location:&lt;/strong&gt; Washington, DC &lt;em data-start="444" data-end="507"&gt;(Private venue. Location shared upon confirmed registration.)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;An Evening Celebrating Excellence&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="556" data-end="651" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="556" data-end="651"&gt;BPIA cordially invites you to an evening celebrating leadership, legacy, and global impact.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="476" data-end="737"&gt;As the signature opening celebration of &lt;strong data-start="516" data-end="543"&gt;2026 National BPIA Week&lt;/strong&gt;, the &lt;strong data-start="549" data-end="608"&gt;3rd Annual Garden of Legends Fundraising Gala Reception&lt;/strong&gt; offers an unforgettable evening where diplomacy, culture, and celebration come together against the backdrop of Washington, D.C.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="739" data-end="1091"&gt;Set beneath the evening sky, guests will enjoy an elegant rooftop reception at the Wharf featuring music, meaningful conversations, light hors d'oeuvres, and a vibrant atmosphere as leaders from across government, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, academia, and the international affairs community gather to celebrate excellence and build lasting connections.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1093" data-end="1511"&gt;Throughout the evening, BPIA will proudly honor an extraordinary class of awardees whose leadership, vision, and service continue to shape communities, institutions, and the world. More than a celebration, the Garden of Legends Gala Reception is an opportunity to connect with remarkable leaders, celebrate extraordinary achievements, and invest in the next generation of changemakers who will shape our global future.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1513" data-end="1766"&gt;Whether reconnecting with longtime colleagues or forging new relationships, guests can expect an evening filled with inspiration, meaningful conversations, and moments that reflect the spirit of excellence, community, and global impact that define BPIA.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 20px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" color="#000000" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Event Highlights:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
  &lt;li data-start="641" data-end="677"&gt;&lt;span data-start="643" data-end="677"&gt;BPIA Global Awards Celebration&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="678" data-end="706"&gt;Rooftop Cocktail Reception&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="707" data-end="754"&gt;Stunning Waterfront Views of Washington, D.C.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="755" data-end="767"&gt;Music&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="768" data-end="794"&gt;Professional Photography&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="795" data-end="817"&gt;Light Hors d'Oeuvres&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="818" data-end="836"&gt;Cash Bar&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="837" data-end="911"&gt;Distinguished Guests from Diplomacy, Government, Business &amp;amp; Philanthropy&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="912" data-end="959"&gt;Meaningful Networking &amp;amp; Relationship Building&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="960" data-end="1018"&gt;Exclusive Opening Celebration of 2026 National BPIA Week&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p data-start="136" data-end="186"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="136" data-end="147"&gt;Attire:&lt;/strong&gt; Elevated Cocktail • Black Tie Optional&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Please Note:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span&gt;The event location will not be shared publicly. Only registered guests whose names appear on the official guest list will be permitted entry. There will be no on-site registration or walk-ins. For security and capacity reasons, individuals who are not on the official guest list will be turned away at the door.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;Space is limited. Reserve your place today and join us for an unforgettable evening of recognition, connection, and celebration.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;Pre-registration is required. No on-site registration or walk-ins will be permitted.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;For sponsorship information - email sponsors@iabpia.org or visit www.iabpia.org/nationalbpiaweek&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/V2%20Sponsors%20Flyer.png" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6761155</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6761155</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>(Interest Form) Join the 2026 BPIA Elections &amp; Annual Meeting Subcommittee (08/30/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/Join%20the%20Elections%20Subcommittee.png" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 50px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 36px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Join the 2026 BPIA Elections &amp;amp; Annual Meeting Subcommittee&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 50px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;BPIA is now accepting expressions of interest to serve on the&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;2026 Elections &amp;amp; Annual Meeting Subcommittee&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;, operating under the Governance Committee.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;The subcommittee plays an important role in supporting a&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;fair, transparent, organized, and timely BPIA election cycle&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;, including nominations, candidate review, member voting, election communications, and the Annual Meeting.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2IuVbN50qCc8E1kvAyz4D6b12wnniMgSOQOEFW0NzFOLG5g/viewform?usp=sharing&amp;amp;ouid=103567864502411442636"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;font color="#1155CC" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;COMPLETE ELECTIONS SUBCOMMITTEE INTEREST FORM&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Deadline August 30, 2026 at 11:59pm ET&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Key Information:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Sign-Up Deadline:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;August 30, 2026&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Time Commitment:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Approximately 1–2 hours per week, September–December&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Meetings:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Virtual, with recurring meetings throughout the election cycle&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Who Can Apply:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Participation is open broadly to the BPIA community&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Selection:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;The Governance Committee will review interested participants and select members of the subcommittee&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Expectations:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Members must maintain professionalism, impartiality, discretion, and strict confidentiality throughout the election process.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h3 style="line-height: 28px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 17px;"&gt;Interested in Running for BPIA Leadership?&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Individuals who are interested in running for a&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;BPIA Board or leadership position are still welcome to apply to serve on the Elections &amp;amp; Annual Meeting Subcommittee.&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Candidacy does not automatically prevent participation.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;However, any subcommittee member who becomes a candidate must&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;recuse themselves from all vetting, evaluation, scoring, recommendations, discussions, and decisions concerning the position(s) for which they are running&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;This is a great opportunity to contribute directly to BPIA's governance and help ensure a strong and well-administered election and leadership transition process.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Interested individuals should submit the Elections Subcommittee Interest Form by August 30.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;For questions, contact&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;governance@iabpia.org&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 19px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;Best,&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;BPIA Governance Committee&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6797571</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6797571</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>#WEAreBPIA Social Media Campaign Day (09/01/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;div align="center"&gt;
  &lt;a href="https://canva.link/5tigaax6cg25m4u" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/Screenshot%202026-08-01%20at%208.41.55_AM.png" width="495" height="615" border="0" alt=""&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important;" align="center"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;a href="https://canva.link/5tigaax6cg25m4u" target="_blank" class="stylizedButton buttonStyle002"&gt;DOWNLOAD CAMPAIGN TEMPLATE HERE&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px;" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important;" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Ubuntu, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px;"&gt;#WEAreBPIA: Social Media Campaign&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="43" data-end="84"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="43" data-end="84"&gt;September 1 | National BPIA Week 2026&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="86" data-end="297"&gt;Each year on &lt;strong data-start="99" data-end="114"&gt;September 1&lt;/strong&gt;, the BPIA community comes together to celebrate &lt;strong data-start="163" data-end="177"&gt;#WEAreBPIA&lt;/strong&gt;, our annual Founders' Day celebration honoring the people, purpose, and legacy that continue to shape our organization.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="299" data-end="730"&gt;More than a social media campaign, #WEAreBPIA is an opportunity for members, alumni, partners, volunteers, and supporters to reflect on our shared journey while looking toward the future. Throughout the day, participants are invited to use their personalized &lt;strong data-start="558" data-end="586"&gt;BPIA Spotlight Framework&lt;/strong&gt; to share their stories, celebrate their accomplishments, and highlight what being part of the BPIA community means to them across social media.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="732" data-end="1030"&gt;Whether you have been with BPIA for decades or recently joined our network, your voice is part of our story. Together, we celebrate the leaders who built this organization, recognize those advancing its mission today, and inspire the next generation of Black professionals in international affairs.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3 data-section-id="zsjl2x" data-start="129" data-end="151"&gt;How to Participate&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;ol data-start="153" data-end="559"&gt;
  &lt;li data-section-id="hal6c8" data-start="153" data-end="207"&gt;&lt;a href="https://canva.link/5tigaax6cg25m4u" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Download&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; the official &lt;span data-start="178" data-end="206"&gt;BPIA Spotlight Framework&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="vbz97s" data-start="208" data-end="309"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="211" data-end="242"&gt;Make a copy of the template&lt;/strong&gt; before editing. Please do &lt;strong data-start="269" data-end="276"&gt;not&lt;/strong&gt; edit the original file directly.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="17de3cj" data-start="310" data-end="414"&gt;Personalize your copy with your photo, accomplishments, career highlights, or what BPIA means to you.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="1hxalsf" data-start="415" data-end="559"&gt;Share your completed spotlight on &lt;strong data-start="452" data-end="467"&gt;September 1&lt;/strong&gt; using &lt;strong data-start="474" data-end="488"&gt;#WEAreBPIA&lt;/strong&gt; and tag &lt;strong data-start="497" data-end="508"&gt;@iabpia&lt;/strong&gt; so we can celebrate your story with our community.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;

&lt;p data-start="732" data-end="1030"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3 data-section-id="15239xm" data-start="1032" data-end="1065"&gt;Honoring Barbara C. Patterson&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1067" data-end="1199"&gt;Founders' Day also pays tribute to &lt;strong data-start="1102" data-end="1126"&gt;Barbara C. Patterson&lt;/strong&gt;, whose vision established the foundation for what BPIA has become today.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1201" data-end="1699"&gt;Recognizing the need for greater African American representation and leadership in international affairs, diplomacy, and global engagement, &lt;strong data-start="1341" data-end="1433"&gt;Barbara C. Patterson founded Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) in 1989&lt;/strong&gt;. An accomplished international educator, she established the first International Programs Office at the University of the District of Columbia, taught at the College of West Africa in Monrovia, Liberia, and served as Associate Dean of Students at Howard University.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1701" data-end="1920"&gt;BPIA made its public debut in &lt;strong data-start="1731" data-end="1748"&gt;November 1990&lt;/strong&gt; with the landmark symposium, &lt;strong data-start="1778" data-end="1825"&gt;"A Salute to African American Ambassadors,"&lt;/strong&gt; setting the stage for decades of leadership, professional development, and community building.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1922" data-end="2234"&gt;Today, as BPIA enters its &lt;strong data-start="1948" data-end="1961"&gt;37th year&lt;/strong&gt; of service and global impact, we proudly honor Barbara C. Patterson's enduring legacy while reaffirming our commitment to expanding opportunities, strengthening our community, and preparing the next generation of Black leaders to shape the future of international affairs.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6785091</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6785091</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 21:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>[Attendee Registration] BPIA WEEK: 2026 BPIA International Affairs Graduate School and Opportunities Expo (09/02/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 16px;" align="center"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/BPIA%20Graduate%20School%20and%20Opportunities%20Expo%20.png" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 30px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;font style=""&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 30px;"&gt;2026 BPIA International Affairs Graduate School and Opportunities Expo&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Date&lt;/strong&gt;: Wednesday, September 2, 2026&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Time&lt;/strong&gt;: 5:00 - 7:00 PM EDT&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Location&lt;/strong&gt;: Virtual (Zoom) [Link Shared Upon Registration]&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 data-start="152" data-end="210" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Discover Your Next Opportunity in International Affairs&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="212" data-end="525" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Whether you're exploring graduate school, searching for a fellowship, pursuing internships, or planning your next career move, the &lt;strong data-start="343" data-end="415"&gt;2026 BPIA International Affairs Graduate School &amp;amp; Opportunities Expo&lt;/strong&gt; brings together organizations from across the international affairs community to help you take the next step.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="527" data-end="823" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;As part of &lt;strong data-start="538" data-end="560"&gt;National BPIA Week&lt;/strong&gt;, this virtual expo is designed to connect students and professionals with the academic, professional, and leadership opportunities that shape careers in diplomacy, foreign policy, international development, national security, global business, and public service.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Event Details&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;
  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Attire: Business Professional&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Format: Virtual - Camera on preferred&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Zoom Background: &lt;a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/119MNlktkeJyxNzmxNGswHJQVtgRP6uIG/view?usp=sharing"&gt;Download Here&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What to Expect&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul data-start="1832" data-end="2455" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;
  &lt;li data-section-id="18tkiyw" data-start="1832" data-end="2001"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1834" data-end="1867"&gt;Professional Panel Discussion&lt;/strong&gt; featuring leaders across international affairs, diplomacy, business, government, and global development &lt;em data-start="1972" data-end="2001"&gt;(panelists to be announced)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="1jhkmno" data-start="2002" data-end="2112"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2004" data-end="2043"&gt;Interactive Virtual Exhibition Hall&lt;/strong&gt; with organizations, employers, universities, and fellowship programs&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="uoggmb" data-start="2113" data-end="2222"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2115" data-end="2150"&gt;Direct Networking Opportunities&lt;/strong&gt; with recruiters, admissions representatives, and organizational leaders&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="bvdke" data-start="2223" data-end="2354"&gt;Information on &lt;strong data-start="2240" data-end="2354"&gt;careers, internships, fellowships, graduate programs, scholarships, and professional development opportunities&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="1ap8ud7" data-start="2355" data-end="2455"&gt;Connections with institutions and professionals from across the United States and around the world&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h2 data-start="830" data-end="864" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Explore Opportunities Including&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="866" data-end="1101" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="869" data-end="906"&gt;Undergraduate &amp;amp; Graduate Programs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br data-start="906" data-end="909"&gt;
Meet admissions representatives from leading universities offering undergraduate, master's, doctoral, executive education, and certificate programs in international affairs and related fields.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1103" data-end="1258" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1106" data-end="1121"&gt;Fellowships&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br data-start="1121" data-end="1124"&gt;
Learn about prestigious domestic and international fellowship opportunities designed to develop the next generation of global leaders.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1260" data-end="1461" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1263" data-end="1303"&gt;Scholarships &amp;amp; Funding Opportunities&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br data-start="1303" data-end="1306"&gt;
Discover scholarships, tuition assistance, grants, and financial resources available to students pursuing international affairs and public service careers.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1463" data-end="1654" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1466" data-end="1481"&gt;Internships&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br data-start="1481" data-end="1484"&gt;
Connect with organizations offering internship opportunities to build practical experience in diplomacy, government, nonprofit, research, and international organizations.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1656" data-end="1767" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1659" data-end="1670"&gt;Careers&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br data-start="1670" data-end="1673"&gt;
Meet employers and organizations recruiting talent across the international affairs ecosystem.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1769" data-end="1970" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1772" data-end="1813"&gt;Leadership &amp;amp; Professional Development&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br data-start="1813" data-end="1816"&gt;
Explore mentorship programs, professional associations, networking opportunities, conferences, and leadership initiatives that can accelerate your career.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 data-start="1977" data-end="1998" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Who Should Attend?&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="2000" data-end="2024" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;This event is ideal for:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul data-start="2026" data-end="2256" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;
  &lt;li data-start="2026" data-end="2050"&gt;Undergraduate students&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2051" data-end="2070"&gt;Graduate students&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2071" data-end="2089"&gt;Recent graduates&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2090" data-end="2127"&gt;Early- and mid-career professionals&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2128" data-end="2145"&gt;Career changers&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2146" data-end="2177"&gt;Faculty and academic advisors&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2178" data-end="2256"&gt;Anyone interested in pursuing or advancing a career in international affairs&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h2 data-start="2263" data-end="2291" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Organizations You'll Meet&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="2293" data-end="2330" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Participating exhibitors may include:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul data-start="2332" data-end="2585" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;
  &lt;li data-start="2332" data-end="2359"&gt;Colleges and Universities&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2360" data-end="2378"&gt;Graduate Schools&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2406" data-end="2435"&gt;International Organizations&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2436" data-end="2468"&gt;Think Tanks &amp;amp; Research Centers&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2469" data-end="2504"&gt;Fellowship &amp;amp; Scholarship Programs&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2505" data-end="2530"&gt;Nonprofit Organizations&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2531" data-end="2558"&gt;Professional Associations&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2559" data-end="2585"&gt;Private Sector Employers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h2 data-start="2592" data-end="2606" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Why Attend?&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;ul data-start="2608" data-end="3011" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;
  &lt;li data-start="2608" data-end="2666"&gt;Explore academic and professional pathways in one place.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2667" data-end="2745"&gt;Connect directly with admissions representatives and organizational leaders.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2746" data-end="2805"&gt;Learn about funding opportunities for graduate education.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2806" data-end="2868"&gt;Discover fellowships, internships, and career opportunities.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2869" data-end="2947"&gt;Expand your professional network across the international affairs community.&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-start="2948" data-end="3011"&gt;Find resources to support every stage of your career journey.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h2 data-start="3018" data-end="3046" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Interested in Exhibiting?&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3048" data-end="3354" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Graduate schools, universities, fellowship programs, scholarship providers, government agencies, employers, nonprofits, think tanks, and professional associations are invited to showcase their programs and opportunities to a talented audience of emerging and established international affairs professionals.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3356" data-end="3505" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;To learn more about exhibiting, sponsorship opportunities, or organizational participation, register as an exhibitor at www.iabpia.org/nationalbpiaweek&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 data-start="3512" data-end="3529" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Register Today&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3531" data-end="3727" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Join us virtually on &lt;strong data-start="3552" data-end="3584"&gt;Wednesday, September 2, 2026&lt;/strong&gt;, from &lt;strong data-start="3591" data-end="3610"&gt;5:00–7:00 PM ET&lt;/strong&gt;, and discover the programs, opportunities, and connections that can help shape your future in international affairs.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3729" data-end="3783" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="3729" data-end="3745"&gt;Learn more about National BPIA Week Programming:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br data-start="3745" data-end="3748"&gt;
&lt;strong data-start="3748" data-end="3783"&gt;&lt;a data-start="3750" data-end="3781"&gt;www.iabpia.org/nationalbpiaweek&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;QUESTIONS? Email bpiaweek@iabpia.org&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6785096</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6785096</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>2026 BPIA Global Affairs Forum: "Leadership in a Changing World" (09/04/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/Screenshot%202026-08-11%20at%2012.44.19_PM.png" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="line-height: 30px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 30px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2026 BPIA Global Affairs Forum: "Leadership in a Changing World"&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 30px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Time&lt;/strong&gt;: 12:00 PM ET - 5:00PM ET&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Location&lt;/strong&gt;:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;strong&gt;United Nations Association - National Capital Area Office&lt;/strong&gt; 2300 N Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h1 data-section-id="p5bj01" data-start="246" data-end="263"&gt;About the Forum&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p data-start="265" data-end="604"&gt;The &lt;strong data-start="269" data-end="303"&gt;2026 BPIA Global Affairs Forum&lt;/strong&gt; is the flagship policy conference of &lt;strong data-start="341" data-end="363"&gt;National BPIA Week&lt;/strong&gt;, bringing together diplomats, policymakers, business executives, scholars, international organization representatives, students, and emerging leaders for an afternoon of dialogue on the future of global leadership and international affairs.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="606" data-end="1059"&gt;As the international landscape continues to evolve, today's leaders must navigate shifting geopolitical dynamics, technological disruption, economic competitiveness, and new approaches to diplomacy. Through engaging panel discussions and cross-sector conversations, the Forum will examine the ideas, partnerships, and leadership needed to strengthen America's role in the world while preparing the next generation of international affairs professionals.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1061" data-end="1360"&gt;Whether you are an established practitioner or exploring a career in international affairs, the Forum offers a unique opportunity to learn from distinguished experts, engage with peers across sectors, and participate in meaningful conversations shaping the future of diplomacy and global leadership.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h1 data-section-id="rno5af" data-start="1367" data-end="1381"&gt;Forum Themes&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;ul data-start="1383" data-end="1707"&gt;
  &lt;li data-section-id="10epnl3" data-start="1383" data-end="1454"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1385" data-end="1454"&gt;Diplomacy in the 21st Century: The Future of U.S. Foreign Affairs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="quwtiv" data-start="1455" data-end="1542"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1457" data-end="1542"&gt;Can America Stay Competitive? Innovation, Talent &amp;amp; the Race for Global Leadership&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="ieefub" data-start="1543" data-end="1611"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1545" data-end="1611"&gt;Beyond the Game: Sports Diplomacy &amp;amp; America's Global Influence&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="t5psr0" data-start="1612" data-end="1707"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1614" data-end="1707"&gt;The Future of the International Affairs Profession: Preparing Tomorrow's Global Workforce&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h1 data-section-id="1vpoo32" data-start="1714" data-end="1734"&gt;Who Should Attend?&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1736" data-end="1827"&gt;The Forum welcomes participants from across the international affairs community, including:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul data-start="1829" data-end="2332"&gt;
  &lt;li data-section-id="9z5xvx" data-start="1829" data-end="1874"&gt;Diplomats and Foreign Service professionals&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="1so1r9j" data-start="1875" data-end="1914"&gt;Government officials and policymakers&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="14ia0rg" data-start="1915" data-end="1974"&gt;International organizations and multilateral institutions&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="zai0at" data-start="1975" data-end="2032"&gt;Business executives and corporate affairs professionals&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="pnqnsx" data-start="2033" data-end="2074"&gt;Think tanks and nonprofit organizations&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="4ayj85" data-start="2075" data-end="2111"&gt;Faculty, researchers, and scholars&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="jst3ip" data-start="2112" data-end="2149"&gt;Undergraduate and graduate students&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="mejec" data-start="2150" data-end="2191"&gt;Young professionals and career changers&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="12ch5vp" data-start="2192" data-end="2332"&gt;Anyone interested in diplomacy, foreign policy, international development, peacebuilding, trade, global business, or international affairs&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h1 data-section-id="uwgfns" data-start="2339" data-end="2355"&gt;What to Expect&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;ul data-start="2357" data-end="2630"&gt;
  &lt;li data-section-id="162n0sk" data-start="2357" data-end="2391"&gt;High-level keynote conversations&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="1hds7hf" data-start="2392" data-end="2418"&gt;Expert panel discussions&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="1pzabvw" data-start="2419" data-end="2459"&gt;Networking with leaders across sectors&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="bj2pd" data-start="2460" data-end="2506"&gt;Cross-sector collaboration and idea exchange&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="14y7m3k" data-start="2507" data-end="2630"&gt;Insights into the future of diplomacy, global competitiveness, sports diplomacy, and the international affairs profession&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h1 data-section-id="1bxisiu" data-start="2637" data-end="2656"&gt;Event Information&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p data-start="2658" data-end="2895"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2658" data-end="2667"&gt;Date:&lt;/strong&gt; Friday, September 4, 2026&lt;br data-start="2693" data-end="2696"&gt;
&lt;strong data-start="2696" data-end="2705"&gt;Time:&lt;/strong&gt; 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT&lt;br data-start="2728" data-end="2731"&gt;
&lt;strong data-start="2731" data-end="2744"&gt;Location:&lt;/strong&gt; United Nations Foundation Headquarters&lt;br data-start="2783" data-end="2786"&gt;
&lt;strong data-start="2786" data-end="2798"&gt;Address:&lt;/strong&gt; 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006&lt;br data-start="2859" data-end="2862"&gt;
&lt;strong data-start="2862" data-end="2873"&gt;Attire:&lt;/strong&gt; Business Professional&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h1 data-section-id="1o4mttn" data-start="2902" data-end="2928"&gt;Registration Information&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p data-start="2930" data-end="3128"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2930" data-end="2985"&gt;Advance registration is required for all attendees.&lt;/strong&gt; Due to venue security protocols, &lt;strong data-start="3019" data-end="3057"&gt;registration is required for entry&lt;/strong&gt;, and on-site registration or walk-in attendance will not be permitted.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3130" data-end="3349"&gt;Attendance is limited. Once maximum registration capacity has been reached, registration will close and a &lt;strong data-start="3236" data-end="3248"&gt;waitlist&lt;/strong&gt; will be opened. Individuals on the waitlist will be contacted if additional space becomes available.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3351" data-end="3477"&gt;All approved registrants will receive a confirmation email with event logistics and additional information prior to the Forum.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h1 data-section-id="1xn6s78" data-start="3854" data-end="3866"&gt;Questions?&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3868" data-end="3963"&gt;For sponsorship, partnership, media, accessibility, or general event inquiries, please contact: bpiaweek@iabpia.org.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3868" data-end="3963"&gt;----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="3868" data-end="3963"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 data-section-id="14ns0ex" data-start="0" data-end="22"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="3" data-end="22"&gt;Keynote Speaker&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;h3 data-section-id="1odr7wa" data-start="24" data-end="59"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="28" data-end="57"&gt;H.E. Mathilde Mukantabana&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p data-start="60" data-end="121"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="60" data-end="121"&gt;Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the United States&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="123" data-end="483"&gt;Her Excellency &lt;strong data-start="138" data-end="162"&gt;Mathilde Mukantabana&lt;/strong&gt; serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the United States. A distinguished diplomat, educator, and advocate for international cooperation, Ambassador Mukantabana has dedicated her career to advancing diplomacy, strengthening U.S.–Africa relations, and promoting peace, education, and inclusive development.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="485" data-end="873"&gt;Prior to her diplomatic appointment, Ambassador Mukantabana was a professor of history at Cosumnes River College in California, where she specialized in African history and international affairs. Throughout her career, she has championed initiatives that foster economic partnership, educational exchange, women's leadership, and deeper engagement between Africa and the global community.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="875" data-end="1249"&gt;As Rwanda's chief diplomatic representative to the United States, Ambassador Mukantabana has played a leading role in advancing bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, innovation, education, regional security, and multilateral engagement. Her leadership continues to strengthen partnerships that contribute to sustainable development and international collaboration.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1251" data-end="1607" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""&gt;During the &lt;strong data-start="1262" data-end="1296"&gt;2026 BPIA Global Affairs Forum&lt;/strong&gt;, Ambassador Mukantabana will deliver the keynote address and will be presented with the &lt;strong data-start="1385" data-end="1435"&gt;2026 BPIA Global Leader in Peacebuilding Award&lt;/strong&gt; in recognition of her distinguished leadership, unwavering commitment to diplomacy, and contributions to advancing peace, international cooperation, and global engagement.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6785105</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6785105</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>BPIA Week September First Friday Celebration: CBC Edition (09/04/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;&lt;font style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bpia-week-september-first-friday-block-party-celebration-cbc-edition-tickets-1996357535128?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" class="stylizedButton buttonStyle002"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;CLICK HERE TO REGISTER&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;" align="center"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bpia-week-september-first-friday-block-party-celebration-cbc-edition-tickets-1996357535128?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/September%20First%20Friday%20Save%20the%20Date.png" alt="" title="" border="0" width="478" height="598" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px; line-height: 27px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF" style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B" face="Verdana" style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;BPIA September First Friday Block Party Celebration:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;strong style=""&gt;&lt;strong data-start="98" data-end="145" style=""&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B"&gt;CBC Edition&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;Join Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) for our &lt;strong data-start="138" data-end="201"&gt;September First Friday Block Party Celebration: CBC Edition&lt;/strong&gt; for an unforgettable evening of connection, celebration, and community.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;As we look ahead to &lt;span data-start="541" data-end="568"&gt;2026 National BPIA Week&lt;/span&gt;, we invite you to gather with professionals, leaders, students, diplomats, and members of the broader international affairs community for an evening designed to strengthen relationships and celebrate the power of our community.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;As we look ahead to &lt;strong data-start="295" data-end="322"&gt;2026 National BPIA Week&lt;/strong&gt;, this special gathering is an opportunity to connect with fellow professionals, expand your network, strengthen relationships, and celebrate the energy and impact of the BPIA community.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;Whether you are reconnecting with familiar faces, building new relationships, or joining us for the first time, come experience a welcoming and engaging space where our community comes together, and our connections continue to grow.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3 data-start="1673" data-end="1690" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B" face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Event Highlights:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;ul style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;
  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 17px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Networking &amp;amp; Social Mixer:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Connect with professionals in foreign affairs and related fields&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 17px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Inspiring Conversations:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Insights on leadership, advocacy, and navigating global challenges&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 17px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#1F272B"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Celebratory Atmosphere:&lt;/font&gt; &lt;font color="#000000"&gt;Music, drinks, and a vibrant community&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 17px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;Date: Friday, September 4, 2026&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 17px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;Time: 6:00 PM–8:00 PM EDT&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;
    &lt;p style="line-height: 17px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;Location: Park at 14th 920 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;More Details Forthcoming.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6785300</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6785300</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>2026 African Diaspora Day On The Hill (09/16/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;div align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;
  &lt;a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8-HhdltGWvzT3sJ6eBUI6ACMZ73o2KFTF159AXplfCHE0hA/viewform?usp=header" class="stylizedButton buttonStyle002"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 30px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;REGISTER HERE&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8-HhdltGWvzT3sJ6eBUI6ACMZ73o2KFTF159AXplfCHE0hA/viewform?usp=header"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Pictures/ADDOH%202026%20Save%20the%20Date.png" alt="" title="" border="0" width="448" height="571"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 30px;"&gt;3rd Annual African Diaspora Day on the Hill&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 data-section-id="1fbywtb" data-start="95" data-end="145"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="98" data-end="145"&gt;3rd Annual African Diaspora Day on the Hill&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="147" data-end="661"&gt;The &lt;strong data-start="151" data-end="206"&gt;Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA)&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong data-start="208" data-end="262"&gt;Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD)&lt;/strong&gt;, and the &lt;strong data-start="272" data-end="312"&gt;Congressional Black Associates (CBA)&lt;/strong&gt;, in collaboration with &lt;strong data-start="336" data-end="373"&gt;The Honorable Jonathan L. Jackson&lt;/strong&gt;, invite you to the &lt;strong data-start="393" data-end="440"&gt;3rd Annual African Diaspora Day on the Hill&lt;/strong&gt;—a premier forum convening U.S. policymakers, African and Caribbean leaders, diplomats, business executives, investors, scholars, and emerging leaders to explore the future of U.S.–Africa relations and global partnership.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 data-section-id="1apumxs" data-start="668" data-end="702"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="671" data-end="702"&gt;Tuesday, September 16, 2026&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="704" data-end="912"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="704" data-end="714"&gt;Forum:&lt;/strong&gt; 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM&lt;br data-start="732" data-end="735"&gt;
&lt;strong data-start="735" data-end="748"&gt;Location:&lt;/strong&gt; U.S. Capitol – Congressional Auditorium &amp;amp; Atrium (CVC 200)&lt;br data-start="807" data-end="810"&gt;
&lt;strong data-start="810" data-end="823"&gt;Audience:&lt;/strong&gt; Policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, professionals, students, and emerging leaders&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 data-section-id="1lndv43" data-start="919" data-end="940"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="922" data-end="940"&gt;Program Topics&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;ul data-start="942" data-end="1195"&gt;
  &lt;li data-section-id="1twp0cy" data-start="942" data-end="1009"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="944" data-end="1009"&gt;From Aid to Trade: Reframing U.S.–Africa Economic Partnership&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="hke24y" data-start="1010" data-end="1116"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1012" data-end="1116"&gt;Critical Minerals &amp;amp; Energy: Building Secure Energy and Critical Minerals Supply Chains Across Africa&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="1c8jqy8" data-start="1117" data-end="1154"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1119" data-end="1154"&gt;Governance in a New World Order&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li data-section-id="jr8p5n" data-start="1155" data-end="1195"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1157" data-end="1195"&gt;Digital Futures: Technology and AI&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h2 data-section-id="1jeypvc" data-start="1202" data-end="1233"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1205" data-end="1233"&gt;Registration Information&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1235" data-end="1290"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1235" data-end="1271"&gt;Advance registration is required&lt;/strong&gt; for all attendees.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1292" data-end="1533"&gt;Due to U.S. Capitol security procedures and limited capacity, &lt;strong data-start="1354" data-end="1400"&gt;walk-in registration will not be permitted&lt;/strong&gt;. Approved registrants will receive a confirmation email with additional event logistics and entry instructions prior to the program.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2 data-section-id="43pflz" data-start="1540" data-end="1557"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1543" data-end="1557"&gt;Questions?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1559" data-end="1638"&gt;For support opportunities, partnership, or panellist inquiries, please contact:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="1640" data-end="1660"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1640" data-end="1660"&gt;&lt;a data-start="1642" data-end="1658"&gt;addoh@iabpia.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6781655</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6781655</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>[UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENT] "Communicating Global impact: Writing for Policy and International Affairs Audiences" (09/17/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p data-start="14" data-end="92" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="14" data-end="92"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;&lt;img src="https://iabpia.org/resources/Weekahead/Comms%20Training%20Series%20Flyer%202026.png" alt="" title="" border="0"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="14" data-end="92"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="14" data-end="92" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;Communicating Global Impact:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Writing for Policy and International Affairs Audiences&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="14" data-end="92"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font face="Verdana" style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="103" data-end="130" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="103" data-end="130"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="141" data-end="166" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong data-start="141" data-end="166"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;Time: 12 – 1:30 PM EDT&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="181" data-end="228" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;Location: Virtual (Zoom)&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p data-start="181" data-end="228" style="font-size: 12.9613px;"&gt;&lt;strong style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;Effective communications are essential to advancing policy priorities, building public trust, and strengthening organizational impact. Whether working in government, international development, diplomacy, or the nonprofit sector, communications professionals play a critical role in translating complex ideas into messages that inform, influence, and inspire action.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;Join the Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) for the first session of the&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;2026 Communications Training Series&lt;/strong&gt;, where we will explore the foundations of strategic communications for policy organizations. This interactive virtual training will provide participants with practical frameworks and real-world insights for developing communications strategies that align with organizational goals, engage diverse stakeholders, and amplify policy impact.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3 style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica" style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What You'll Learn&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;Participants will learn how to:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul data-spread="false" style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;
  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Understand the role of strategic communications in advancing organizational objectives.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Develop communications strategies that support policy and program goals.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Identify and prioritize key audiences and stakeholders.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Craft clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Explore approaches to measuring communications effectiveness and impact.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h3 style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica" style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who Should Attend&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;This training is designed for:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul data-spread="false" style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;
  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Communications and public affairs professionals&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;International affairs practitioners&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Diplomats and foreign policy professionals&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;International development professionals&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Nonprofit communications staff&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Graduate students and emerging professionals&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;BPIA members and anyone interested in strengthening their strategic communications skills&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h3 style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Session Format&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;ul data-spread="false" style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;
  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Expert Presentation&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Interactive Learning Activities&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;

  &lt;li&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica"&gt;Live Q&amp;amp;A&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;Whether you are building a communications strategy for a policy organization, supporting advocacy initiatives, or looking to strengthen your professional communications skills, this session will provide practical tools and actionable insights to help you communicate with greater purpose and impact.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;We look forward to welcoming you to the first session of the BPIA Communications Training Series as we build the communications skills needed to lead, influence, and drive meaningful change in international affairs.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6791344</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6791344</guid>
      <dc:creator />
    </item>
    <item>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <title>Free Legal Guidance For Former Federal Employees Building Small Businesses - The DC Bar Pro Bono Center (09/30/2026)</title>
      <description>&lt;p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica" style="font-size: 22px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Free Legal Guidance For Former Federal Employees Building Small Businesses - The DC Bar Pro Bono Center&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://forms.gle/HkVam9z17pDZUUq39" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(68, 113, 159); text-decoration: none; font-family: Helvetica; text-align: start;"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://forms.gle/HkVam9z17pDZUUq39" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(68, 113, 159); text-decoration: none; font-family: Helvetica; text-align: start;"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://forms.gle/HkVam9z17pDZUUq39" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 247, 154);"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Small Business Interest Form&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 247, 154);"&gt;&lt;a href="https://forms.gle/w3VgERTVeDewn8JB7" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size: 15px;"&gt;&lt;span data-wacopycontent="1"&gt;&lt;strong data-wacopycontent="1"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF" data-wacopycontent="1"&gt;Attorney Volunteer Interest Form&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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&lt;p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica" style="font-size: 24px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Event Details&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;Many former federal employees in the Washington, DC area are navigating career transitions following the loss of federal employment. While many have leveraged their government expertise to launch or grow small businesses, access to affordable legal guidance remains a significant need.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;To help address this gap, the DC Bar Pro Bono Center is exploring the launch of the&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;"Feds Helping Feds" Small Business Clinic Pilot&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;as part of its Small Business Brief Advice and Referral Clinic. If implemented, the clinic will provide free, brief legal consultations to former federal employees interested in starting or growing a small business.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;The pilot would be staffed primarily by former federal attorneys volunteering their expertise to support fellow former federal employees. Non-federal attorneys who wish to contribute are also encouraged to participate.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3 style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica" style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who Should Participate?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;ul style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;
  &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica;"&gt;Former Federal Employees&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;If you are a former federal employee who is starting or growing a small business and would like to receive legal support if the pilot moves forward, we encourage you to express your interest by completing the&lt;/font&gt; &lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://forms.gle/HkVam9z17pDZUUq39" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Small Business Interest Form.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;

&lt;ul style="font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;
  &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;&lt;strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica;"&gt;Former Federal Attorneys &amp;amp; Attorney Volunteers&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px;"&gt;&lt;font face="Helvetica" style="font-size: 12px;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;If you are a former federal attorney interested in providing pro bono legal assistance – or a non-federal attorney interested in supporting this initiative – we invite you to complete the&lt;/font&gt; &lt;a href="https://forms.gle/w3VgERTVeDewn8JB7" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;font color="#0000FF"&gt;Attorney Volunteer Interest Form.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;

&lt;h3 style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.961296px; margin-top: 0px !important;"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000" face="Helvetica"&gt;We look forward to building a supportive network where former federal professionals can help one another succeed through accessible legal guidance and community collaboration.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://iabpia.org/event-6792067</link>
      <guid>https://iabpia.org/event-6792067</guid>
      <dc:creator />
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