Beth Blissman CoL

Beth, a Loretto Co-member, is the Community’s UN NGO representative.
A group of women of various ages holding up peace signs for a group photo. The photo is taken from above looking down on the group.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion shine at CSW69

The participants have spoken — attendees of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) last month answered the question: What did you find most valuable about attending CSW69?  Here are a few representative answers: Perhaps one of our…

A pink poster seek at the United Nations Headquarters that says "Good Food for All"

Update from Loretto/BVM at the UN

October is indeed a month of bountiful harvests — just a few weeks ago we recognized the International Day of Non-Violence, and today is World Food Day (WFD). WFD is celebrated internationally every year on this date to commemorate the founding of…

A group of high school students are pictured with an Irish diplomat at a coffee shop in New York during the 68th Commission on the Status of Women.

Dialogues with Diplomats: Loretto at #CSW68

The results from our 28-member in-person Loretto/BVM Delegation to the 68th gathering of the United Nations (U.N.) Commission on the Status of Women (#CSW68) are in. It was another transformative experience that inspired girls to see themselves in the shoes of…

Nine women smiling together for a group selfie indoors at a social event.

Reflections at the start of CSW68

At the end of last week we observed International Women’s Day, which got me to wondering. What might it feel like if every day was International Women’s Day? What if women actually received equal pay for equal work? What if…

A woman with short grey hair and glasses, wearing a blue blouse, a white unbuttoned collared button up shirt, and a colorful lanyard smiling brightly with her eyes closed, holding a bowl, in an event space with chairs and blue curtains indoors.

Committed to interfaith work

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my nearly seven years serving as Loretto’s United Nations representative, it’s that no one gets anything done by themselves. We collaborate on programs and on shaping policy proposals, share information about meetings and…