“My work has always been in chaos. It’s never been a bed of roses. It’s never been financially stable. And the one thing that has kept me going was my community,” said Leymah Gbowee, Aurora Prize Selection Committee Member, Founder and President of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, and 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate, during the keynote conversation titled “Local Power, Global Change,” at the 2025 Human Rights and Humanitarian Forum. Held under the theme “At the Crossroads: Driving Integrated Action for a Resilient Future,” the Forum took place at UCLA on May 7, 2025, and was co-hosted by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA Law.
Catherine Sweetser, Interim Executive Director of The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA Law, opened the session by introducing UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk who welcomed Forum attendees and speakers, emphasizing the courage needed to defend human dignity amid global instability and highlighting the vital role of universities in fostering connection, diversity, dialogue, and principled leadership in the face of rising polarization. “You’re connecting law, public health, public affairs, the humanities, engineering, and many other disciplines. You are bringing a global perspective to local problems, reminding us that everything is simultaneously local and global,” stated Chancellor Frenk.
The conversation, moderated by Scott Kraft, Editor at Large of the Los Angeles Times, built on insights from earlier panels to underscore the critical role of local individuals and organizations as the driving force behind transformative impact. As Mr. Kraft noted, “Our three keynote panelists today hail from different corners of the world, but they share a superpower—the ability to turn big ideas into real, lasting change. Whether it’s fighting for health equality, advocating for peace, or building partnerships for social justice, they have the vision and the grit to tackle the toughest challenges.”
Chelsea Clinton, Aurora Prize Selection Committee Member and Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation and Clinton Health Access Initiative, emphasized the importance of community leadership and sustainability in development work. “It’s very important to us that community always be centered, and that we’re constantly trying to work ourselves out of a job because of what can then later be absorbed by local government partners, local community partners, or local private sector partners,” noted Ms. Clinton.
Reflecting on the current state of humanitarian funding, President and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Peter Laugharn acknowledged the catastrophic impacts of funding cuts on poor and vulnerable people around the world, he emphasized that overseas development assistance should be considered the primary driver of lasting change. “The main deal is households, communities, and national governments, who are the main stewards of the well-being of people around the world,” explained Mr. Laugharn. “Development assistance helps that and will continue to figure out ways to do so. But our commitment as a foundation has always been in helping local organizations, local municipalities, et cetera, because they’re the ones who will be there over the long haul.”
The panel served as a powerful reminder to invest in local leadership, combat misinformation with integrity, and build lasting partnerships rooted in trust and solidarity. Openly expressing their anger at the persistent challenges facing humanity, the speakers made it clear that the conversation is far from over, emphasizing both the urgency and the necessity of continued dialogue and action.