September, 2017 The New York Young Leaders got together for a leadership forum breakfast with the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Nuala McAllister at the offices of KPMG in midtown Manhattan. The breakfast was sponsored by the Northern Ireland Bureau and the guests were welcomed by the Director of the NI Bureau Norman Houston. Lord Mayor McAllister spoke about her goals of promoting Belfast as “open for business” and talked about the strengths of the young Belfast workforce stemming from the University of Ulster moving into Belfast’s city center. Special thanks to the Northern Ireland Bureau and Jason McCaughey of KPMG for hosting The Ireland Funds Young Leaders. November, 2017 The Ireland Funds hosted a special preview screening of the award-winning documentary, Call of the For- est at NYIT’s Auditorium in New York. Attended by over 200 guests, this award-winning documentary highlights solutions in the fight against climate change, the importance of effective urban planning and the role of global reforestation. Following the screening, author Milbry Polk kindly moderated a conversa- tion with the star of the documentary, acclaimed Irish scientist, botanist and conservationist Diana Beresford-Kroger and Jim Lawlor of the Native Woodland Trust. The Ireland Funds proudly supports the work of the Native Woodland Trust and their mission to preserve Ireland’s remaining ancient woodlands. New York Young Leaders Breakfast with the Lord Mayor of Belfast New York Preview Screening of Call of the Forest 1 3 Young Leaders with the Lord Mayor of Belfast 1 Kyle Clifford, Diana Beresford-Kroeger, Jim Lawlor 2 Diana Beresford-Kroeger 3 Milbry Polk, Diana Beresford-Kroeger, Jim Lawlor Photos: Ben Asen NEW YORK AROUND THE WORLD connect 2018 • 63 2