Sandija Bayot’s Post

What a meaningful and successful powHER hour - fundraising wine pairing dinner organized by Dress for Success Houston! As the Corporate Guild member, representing the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston , honored to be a voice for the women and families of Dress for Success Houston in our community. Thank you Lauren Levicki Courville for your leadership and another great opportunity. It was an amazing evening with a taste of Texas, with Farm to Table local culinary dishes from the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts , Houston and a wine presentation from William Chris Wine Company , the only Texas winery in the Top 100 World’s Best! J. Landa , thank you for your fabulous jewelry design and offerings. William Chris Vineyards Sharon Beemer

You HAVE to show up and HAVE A SEAT at the table! As the President of the FBI Houston Citizens Academy Alumni Association, honored to participate in the quarterly planning meeting with Douglas Williams, Special Agent in Charge - Houston Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and to discuss ways of partnering and increasing greater community engagement opportunities. Association’s board members and lifetime members joined in to further elevate their role within the FBI Houston Citizens Academy Alumni Association. New class of Citizens Academy starts soon. To learn more, please reach out to me. Join the conversation! FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association Richard Schwalberg

What an honor to participate at “Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future” dinner hosted by THE White House Historical Association and be part of the announcement about “THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE: A WHITE HOUSE EXPERIENCE !” with address 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue! This cutting-edge education experience will tell the story of the Executive Mansion, its inhabitants and the people who have dedicated their careers to its functions. It will feature exhibits and galleries that bring the White House and its storied history to life. "...This wonderful, historic house symbolizes the continuity of our democracy from generation to generation," said Nancy Reagan. So inspired to be part of this historic moment. Thank you David Sweeney for your leadership and thoughtful delivery of this memorable evening, sharing valuable insights on the White House Historical Association’s work in education and how it impacts Texas students and educators. Fascinating! New museum “The People’s House: A White House Experience” will open this fall. If you are interested in learning more about this epic opportunity, reach out to me or David Sweeney! PS I was wearing my “Barbara Bush” pearls for this meaningful moment. And, yes there is a story… about these pearls. White House Historical Association

Global Day - what a fantastic event organized by HAR.COM (Houston Association of Realtors.) Grateful to lead discussion on ways to engage with the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston and explore additional global learning opportunities in the Houston area. Exciting collaborations are in the works for the HAR.COM global community to partner with the Council. A big thank you to Theresa Murphy and Lori Carper for the gracious invitation! P.S. Real estate is one of my hobbies where I actually frequently check the HAR.com application. How meaningful to present at the Global Day, organized by one of my favorite apps! HAR.com Gina Magaly Rodriguez

What a empowering evening discussion with Jen Psaki, former The White House Press Secretary and current MSNBC host. Jen shared the surprising lessons she has learned on her path to success and offered unique yet universal advice about how to be a more effective commentator in any situation. “People might not remember what you said or what you did… but they they will remember HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!” We also quoted Maya Angelou. So true! Always wonderful to welcome members of the Houston Consular Corps - Vitalii Tarasiuk, Consul General of Ukraine in Houston and Janet Moore, JD, Honorary Consul of Georgia. To stay engaged and participate in opportunities like this, reach out to me and learn more at World Affairs Council of Greater Houston !

Honored to have had the privilege of hosting an impactful and engaging dialogue with Tobias Billström, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden 🇸🇪. Our discussion delved into Sweden’s process of joining NATO, provided invaluable insights into the current affairs within the alliance and the broader geopolitical climate. In addition to our focus on NATO, we had the opportunity to talk about Sweden’s pioneering advancements in space exploration. Learning about the space program was not only fascinating but also underscored the country’s commitment to innovation and global collaboration. On behalf of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in such a meaningful exchange with Minister Billstrom and gain perspectives on these critical issues. The dialogue underscored the importance of fostering robust international partnerships and the need to address complex challenges facing our world today. Thank you to Annika Bergman, incoming Honorary Consul of Sweden, for this opportunity. Embassy of Sweden in USA Mathias Hultgren Regeringskansliet, Utrikesdepartementet #NATO #Sweden #diplomacy #globaleducation Baiba Braze

What a wonderful way to celebrate Mother's Day! We had the pleasure of attending the season's last performance of "Sound of Music," (my FAVORITE!) and it was an absolute treat. Rodgers and Hammerstein's classical musical never ceases to amaze me. I am grateful to Khori Dastoor General Director and CEO of Houston Grand Opera for this amazing gift to my family. So fantastic to see opera house full of energized families and the new generations of music lovers. What a magical and memorable experience! Khori, your leadership and commitment to the community are truly inspiring. We are looking forward to "2024/ 2025 season - Consumed By Love - Truly, Madly, Deeply!" #HoustonGrandOpera #SoundOfMusic #ClassicalMusical #RodgersAndHammerstein #Leadership #CommunityCommitment #GiftOfMusic

Honored, excited and thrilled to be accepted as the newest member in the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations! Established in 1937, the Committee is dedicated to increasing an understanding of the world and adding value to the debate on U.S. foreign policy and international economic policy. HCFR accomplishes this mainly by disseminating accurate information and promoting constructive dialogue, debates, and discussion. The Chatham House rules apply to all meetings, as such no additional photos. All I can say, I greatly enjoyed last night's dinner discussion! Thank you to the Chair and the Executive Committee for this meaningful opportunity!

What a privilege to attend the Sam Houston Area Boy Scout Council’s Annual Sports Breakfast program - a truly empowering experience! The event featured many inspirational leadership narratives and invaluable insights into the pivotal role of the council in shaping young lives. Special thank you to Willie Chiang, CEO of Plains All American for skillfully moderating the dialogue, allowing us to dive into engaging discussion with none other than GEORGE FOREMAN, a legend in his own right - two time world heavyweight champion AND Olympic gold medalist. Heartfelt appreciation to Adam Oglesby of KPMG for extending such a generous invitation, making this (very early) morning to remember! With Adam’s help, World Affairs Council of Greater Houston is proud to provide Merit Badge classes designed to improve civic engagement, arm Scouts with global awareness, and create well-rounded Eagle Scouts! For more information, please reach out to me! Boy Scouts of America : Sam Houston Area Council