Vannia Yalan is a staff writer and second-year MPA student. In an era when global finance stands at the intersection of innovation and uncertainty, technology is reshaping the foundations of the global economy. The BTC in DC Conference offered a timely reflection on the ethics, opportunities, and vulnerabilities of digital finance. Held at The Donald…

Vannia Yalan is a staff writer and second-year MPA student. The 2025 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings brought together finance ministers, central bank governors, development experts, and civil society leaders from 190 countries to address the most pressing challenges facing the global economy. Held in Washington, D.C., from October 13-18, these meetings serve as the world’s…

Vannia Yalan is a staff writer and second-year MPA student. Place is more than geography: it is identity, opportunity, and belonging. This conviction was fiercely reinforced at the People and Places Conference hosted by five national community development organizations: Community Opportunity Alliance, National CAPACD, National Urban League, Black Community Developers Group, and NALCAB.  Through the…

Vannia Yalan is a staff writer and second-year MPA student. When I arrived in Amsterdam for the Youth Vision Assembly, I expected a conference about policy; what I found instead was a conversation about power dynamics and representation. Over several days of dialogue and debate, young leaders from across the globe gathered to explore how…