Great Decisions
Discussion Group
Great Decisions discussion group that meets from April through November.
- When: Second Wednesday of each month, at 2 p.m.
- Location: Pioneer Bank Community Room, Second Floor, 1450 Adams Street, Mankato
2026 Topics and Dates
- October 14
- The Future of Human Rights and International Law
- Speaker: Mehr “Jay” Shahidi
- November 11
- Ukraine and European Security
- Speaker: Todd Lefko
Speaker Biographies
Mehr “Jay” Shahidi
Mehr “Jay” Shahidi is a free-lance international affairs researcher, lobbyist, public speaker, consultant, human rights activist as well as a business owner. Jay has taught Great Decisions Courses for Global Minnesota and Foreign Policy Association since 2005.He is the Advocacy Chair and past president of the United Nations Association of USA, the Harold E. Stassen Chapter in Minnesota, part of the United Nations Foundation.
Jay was born in Iran. He left Iran after high school to study in the UK. Eventually, he ended up in Mankato where he attended Mankato State University. He was President of the MSU Student Senate and graduated with a degree in Economics and Political Science. Jay has been an active member of Amnesty International and Minnesota Peace Project and has done citizen lobbying at all levels of government in US for over 51 years. In 2004, he received the Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Distinguished Alumni Humanitarian Award for his leadership as student body vice president and president in 1970s and for his later work on diplomacy and peacebuilding. In 2019, Jay received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the United Nations Association/Foundation for 50 years of advocacy of the UN mission and work.
Todd Lefko
Todd Lefko is an entrepreneur, journalist, and educator with strong connections in Russia. He is President of the International Business Development Company, an import-export firm dealing with water purification equipment, kilns, linen, art, and new technologies. As a journalist he has written more than 680 articles, which appeared weekly in Rossiske Vesti, the political newspaper of the Russian Presidential administration, as well as other Russian newspapers. Todd is on the editorial board for the Russian Historical Review, a quarterly journal, as well as being the English editor for four Russian books. Todd has worked in Russia for over 32 years. As an educator, Todd has taught sociology and urban affairs at the University of Minnesota and political science, international relations, political philosophy, political campaign management, leadership and organizational development at other Minnesota colleges. He has lectured at universities in Russia, China, Germany, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.
Todd has an M.A. in Public Administration and coursework for a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and has studied public policy as Bush Fellow at Harvard and urban planning at the University of Manchester, England. He is one of the founders of Global Volunteers and has been their Treasurer and representative at the United Nations. He also serves on their Board of Trustees. Todd has also been a member of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council, the Regional Transit Board and the Minnesota Experimental City Authority.
Fees
- The fee for 8 sessions of Great Decisions 2026 is $55 and does not include Briefing Book.
- Briefing Books are available at the discounted price of $28.
