The U.S. recently agreed to lift sanctions on Syria with certain conditions, which could be the lifeline the country needs to build toward a more democratic future after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime in 2024. But Hind Kabawat, a prominent women's right defender, is currently the only woman holding a ministerial position in the country's interim government. Women have an important role to play in the rebuilding of Syria and its transition to a democracy, and the U.S. and its allies must push for the inclusion of women in decision-making roles in the country. Read more on why elevating woman like Kabawat is an important step toward peace and stability: (fb)

Stand-to Veteran Leadership Program alums Ryan Callahan (2022) with Blue Star Families and Mark Harper (2022) with Gig Line Media are working to combat the stigma surrounding mental health in the military and veteran communities through their Emmy-award winning "Combat the Silence" campaign. Learn more about how Ryan and Mark's experience through VLP that brought them together and later allowed them to collaborate professionally on the campaign to spread veteran mental health awareness and suicide prevention: (fb)