Today was both my first event as an independent consultant and the end of my last tie to my old job. Our Reflection and Strategy Meeting on Peaceful Societies - the culmination of months of planning and what felt like thousands of emails - was held this afternoon, and I am proud of how it turned out. The room was full - with more peace/security/disarmament people than development people! - and the mood was dynamic and honest and thought-provoking. Peggy Kerry (sister to John, NGO liaison at the US Mission) was there, and the DPR of Liberia had the final word. There might be an appetite to continue this convening with an informal listserv and hashtag and, we hope, some follow up meetings. We will see how people react after they've had a chance to process.
I'm happy I got to work with this pretty amazing group of people and organizations, on an issue I really care about and want to work on, and that the event happened (and I chaired it) even though I lack an "institutional affiliation."
Also got a good piece of advice from an experienced UN media hand: "An independent consultant should always have a business card. You never know who might want to hire you!" So I'll add business-card-making to my weekend plans, along with yoga, running, hiking, and (I hope) lying in the sun.
Photos via Twitter: @Peace_Women & @Shafferan
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