Great Decisions Meeting

Wednesday, October 14, 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Pioneer Bank

The Future of Human Rights and International Law

Speaker

• Mehr “Jay” Shahidi

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Biography

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.