The Public Diplomacy Association of America (PDAA)—a not-for-profit, voluntary association of public diplomacy professionals—announced winners of its annual awards for excellence in public diplomacy by honoring individuals who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, used creativity and cutting edge social media to demonstrably advance U.S. foreign policy objectives. Public Engagement Specialist Sohini Das from the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata was hailed for her initiatives in initiating life-changing programs to combat human trafficking (one of the programs is shown in the photo); Assistant Information Officer Allyson Hamilton-McIntire from Embassy Mexico City was cited for her employment of an entire litany of communication tools to deliver clear information and a deterrence message aimed at potential migrants at the U.S. southern border; the public affairs section at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau was commended for its campaign to push back against Beijing’s repressive measures in Hong Kong; and the public affairs section at Embassy Algiers was recognized for their work promoting entrepreneurship and support for U.S. businesses in Algeria. More about the winners and PDAA can be found on PDAA’s website.
Photo by Rupam Sen
