World Citizen: Journeys of a Humanitarian – A Conversation with Jane Olson

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To be a World Citizen is to embrace and champion the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, knowing that all lives are valuable and equally deserving of protection and support. Humanitarian Jane Olson details the moments of light and hope in the midst of unimaginable human suffering in war zones and places of extreme poverty around the world. Her recent book shows the life-saving impact of humanitarian intervention, the healing power of community, the importance of justice, and the truth that one caring person can make a difference.

Join us March 28th at 12PM as we sit down with Jane Olson to discuss her new book, World Citizen: Journeys of a Humanitarian and learn from her intimate knowledge of the world of international human rights and humanitarian organizations that she has gained through her experiences in crises around the world. 

This event does not include lunch.

About the Speaker

Jane Olson has worked as a volunteer for many decades to promote peace and justice through international human rights and humanitarian organizations. She chaired the International Board of Trustees of Human Rights Watch from 2004 to 2010 and served as co-chair of the Women’s Refugee Commission. As founding board chair of Landmine Survivors Network/Survivor Corps, she gave leadership to LSN for 12 years.

Extensive travels with those and other humanitarian organizations took Jane to Nicaragua and El Salvador during the Contra Wars and to the former Soviet Union beginning with trips to Ukraine in 1989 and 1990, a time of revolution. As the former USSR fell apart and wars broke out, she participated in investigative trips to the former Yugoslavia during “ethnic cleansing” of Bosnia, and to the Caucasus countries of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Mission to many countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America focused
on human rights abuse and refugee conditions, HIV/AIDS, landmines, and other calamities caused by conflict and extreme poverty.

Jane is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a board member of both the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and Direct Relief, based in Santa Barbara, CA. She is a board member of The Trusteeship, the Southern California chapter of the International Women’s Forum, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Pacific Council on International Policy.

Jane grew up in rural western Iowa and graduated from the University of Nebraska. She lives with her husband, attorney Ronald L. Olson, in Pasadena, California. They have three children and eight grandsons.

About the Moderator

Dr. Judith Mayotte is a humanitarian, author and spokesperson for refugees worldwide, particularly those displaced by climate change.

Dr. Mayotte’s career included service as a Sister of Charity, an award-winning TV producer, and educator — with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. She won the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Award and used her grant to conduct research in Eritrea, Sudan, Pakistan, Thailand and Cambodia for her book, “Disposable People? The Plight of Refugees." Today her focus is on issues concerned with climate change and climate displacement.

Previously, Judy served in the first Clinton Administration as a Special Adviser on Refugee Issues and Policy as well as chair of the Women’s Refugee Commission, on the Board of the International Rescue Committee and as a senior fellow of the Refugee Policy Group of Washington, D.C.

Dr. Mayotte has been honored multiple times with international awards recognizing her humanitarian and climate-control work worldwide.

The Boeing Company is an underwriting sponsor of all World Affairs Council Community Programs.