PDX International Vision: an evening with the Director of the Office of International Relations for the City of Portland

Noah Siegel: Director of International Relations for the City of Portland

Did you know that the City of Portland has an Office of International Relations? What are the Mayor's international responsibilities?

Recently, the Mayor has focused on economic development as an important part of Portland's international engagement. To that extent, Noah Siegel, the Director of International Relations, has been tasked with developing international strategies for the city. In addition to overseeing Portland's nine sister city relationships, and other cultural and educational activities, Mr. Siegel coordinates the city's international trade and investment efforts, working closely with partners at the PDC and the State of Oregon.

Before joining the Mayor's Office, Noah Siegel served as a political and economic officer at the U.S. Foreign Service. With a focus on the Middle East, Mr. Siegel served tours in Yemen and Israel, and worked at the State Department in Washington, D.C. His specific areas of expertise included international banking, economic development, and democratic reform. Mr. Siegel speaks fluent French, Hebrew and Arabic.

Having been in the position for almost a year, what are the successes and challenges encountered by the City in developing its international footprint? What are the goals of the International Relations Office? Is Portland large/ significant enough to have an international strategy?

Date and time:  Wednesday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m.

Location: City Hall, 1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Rose Room, Portland, Oregon

Cost:  $5 WAC members; $7 non-members

Registration number is limited to 30, so sign up today!

http://worldoregon.org/events/registration/yp_international_pdx.php

 

The Greek Economy and European Sovereignty (YP Discussion Group)

The Greek Economy and European Sovereignty (YP Discussion Group)

The World Affairs Council, Young Professionals invite you to our fortnightly discussion group:

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 | 7:00 p.m.

Madison's Grill, 1109 SE Madison St. (Map)

Greece's mistakes have played a large part in its current economic meltdown, but options for addressing the problems have been severely limited by membership in the EU and other outside forces. In this instance, is a bailout the correct response, or would a more traditional default be appropriate? What are the consequences for the other troubled European economies? If Germany is expected to lead the bailout effort, will they demand more control over the budgets of the other EU countries in the future?

UN Wire Job Board site

Click here to see the UN Wire Job Board; there are also other industries listed on this SmartBrief Job posting site. Rose

Doing Business in China; A Role for Oregon Companies

Thursday, May 20, 7:00 PM

As the recent reshuffle of global finance and the changes it will bring to business come more into focus, there is little doubt that trade between US and China will continue to shape the political and economic landscape. Oregon is poised, both geographically and strategically, to play an important role in this relationship. What does trade with China mean for the economy of Oregon? What does Oregon investment in China mean on the ground? The event is a panel discussion followed by Q&A- this is a wonderful opportunity to hear about a very relevant topic from local experts:

Professor Rossitza Wooster, Portland State University, Department of Economics

Marian Hammond, State of Oregon

Akana Ma, Ater Wynne

Karl Mundorff, Bio-Reaction Industries

Read More and Register

Building Social Business

Saturday, May 22, 2:00 PM

Muhammad Yunus
Founder, the Grameen Bank

When he founded the Grameen Bank in 1984, Muhammad Yunus challenged the conventional banking principles of credit worthiness and collateral. He showed that providing micro credit to poor women in the rural villages of Bangladesh was good for the bank and for the communities served. Now Yunus is suggesting a similar revolutionary take on capitalism — demonstrating that businesses that strive to serve humanity, rather than maximizing share holder value, can be profitable. He sees in the current financial crisis, the opportunity to show that social business may reveal the real promise of free-market enterprise.

Read More and Register

How a changing media landscape is shifting our view of the world

Wednesday, May 19th 12:00 to 1:30 PM
Talk begins at 12:30 PM

Michael Mosettig
Senior Producer, The PBS Newshour

While many traditional news organizations (newspapers, magazines, and broadcast television) have significantly cut the number of their internationally based correspondents, non-traditional news media has grown exponentially. How has the changing media landscape affected what news is covered? How can we judge the credibility of the news? Has global information, social media and 'unfiltered' news had an impact on international policy making? Is it changing our perspective of the world?

Read More and Register

Building Haiti Back Better

Wednesday, May 26th, 12:00-1:30 PM

Robert Maguire, PhD

Trinity University, Washington D.C. and US Institute of Peace

The earthquake that devastated Haiti was both cosmic and deeply personal for Robert Maguire who lost many friends and colleagues. Yet, he now sees the massive challenge of rebuilding Haiti as a unique opportunity to address and reverse the terrible imbalances that underlie and perpetuate its deeply entrenched poverty.

Read More and Register

Chinese Development (YP Discussion Group)

Chinese Development (YP Discussion Group)

The World Affairs Council, Young Professionals invite you to our biweekly discussion group:

Wednesday, 12 May 2010 | 7:00 p.m.

Madison's Grill, 1109 SE Madison St. (Map)

In the last 30 years, development in China has lifted more than 500 million people out of abject poverty. While incredible, this change has brought with it challenges for the Chinese and the rest of the world. The environmental impact of this development is massive and growing, and the Chinese Communist Party has not matched the growth with civic or political reform. The popular narrative in the US blames Chinese development for taking American jobs, and currency manipulation for artificially inflating their advantage. Does development in China justify the negative consequences? Should the US be doing more to protect domestic business?

Doing Business in China: A Role for Oregon Companies

Doing Business in China: A Role for Oregon Companies
Thur, May 20
7pm

Portland State University
Smith Student Union (1825 SW Broadway)
Room 236 (Cascade Room)

*Registration Required: http://www.worldoregon.org/events/registration/yp_china_panel.php

As the recent reshuffle of global finance and the changes it will bring to business come more into focus, there is little doubt that trade between US and China will continue to shape the political and economic landscape. Oregon is poised, both geographically and strategically, to play an important role in this relationship. What does trade with China mean for the economy of Oregon? What does Oregon investment in China mean on the ground? The event is a panel discussion followed by Q&A- this is a wonderful opportunity to hear about a very relevant topic from local experts:

Professor Rossitza Wooster, Portland State University, Department of Economics
Marian Hammond, State of Oregon
Akana Ma, Ater Wynne
Karl Mundorff, Bio-Reaction Industries