#  Solidarity Conference | Panel 4 Summary: U.S.-Ukraine Activism and Advocacy  

 



   ![Melinda-Haring-TCUP2026.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum4931/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2026-10/Melinda-Haring-TCUP2026.png?itok=LT4Wfdr6) 

 

The final panel of the [2026 TCUP Conference](https://www.huri.harvard.edu/tcup-conference) turned explicitly to action. Moderated by **Melinda Haring** (Razom for Ukraine), the discussion brought together **Sean Kivlehan** (Mass General Brigham / Harvard Humanitarian Initiative), **Meaghan Mobbs** (Weatherman Foundation), **Nate Mook** (All Hands & Hearts), and **Sarah Phillips** (Indiana University).   
  
As Haring framed it, solidarity cannot remain a slogan — even a well-intentioned “Stand with Ukraine” bumper sticker. It must be personalized and operationalized.

#### Humanitarian Adaptation and Specificity 

Nate Mook emphasized that, contrary to assumptions, public support for Ukraine has not evaporated. People still care — but they increasingly seek clarity about how to engage. The early months of 2022 were marked by broad, urgent mobilization. Today, engagement requires specificity.   
  
He offered the example of “invincibility train cars” — mobile railway cars equipped with Starlink internet, heating, and food, deployed to communities affected by attacks on energy infrastructure. These discrete, tangible projects enable individuals to see how their contributions make a difference.   
  
Mook argued that messaging must evolve: not simply highlighting devastation, nor romanticizing resilience, but clearly communicating how individuals can participate.

#### Veterans, Shared Values, and Overcoming Polarization 

Meaghan Mobbs described her work supporting families of foreign volunteers — veterans from more than thirty countries who traveled to Ukraine and, in many cases, were killed in action. Her organization works primarily with their families, navigating repatriation, legal processes, and legacy preservation.   
  
She stressed that these stories resonate deeply with policymakers, particularly those with military backgrounds. But more broadly, she argued that advocacy must be grounded in shared values that cut across political divides.

> We need to find through-lines regardless of political background — like religious freedom, stolen children, sexual violence against women, executed POWs.

Mobbs challenged the assumption that political polarization in the United States impedes solidarity with Ukraine. In her view, both MAGA-aligned and anti-Trump constituencies can be moved by moral clarity and human rights violations — if the messaging speaks to their values.   
  
Rather than framing Ukraine as a partisan issue, she suggested positioning it within broader American commitments to freedom, family, faith, and opposition to authoritarian violence. “Sometimes,” she noted, “it’s not about saying Ukraine is good. It’s about naming what is evil.”   
  
Overcoming polarization, in this sense, requires refusing to write off audiences based on ideology. Solidarity must be built by identifying common moral ground and engaging communities where they are — not where advocates assume they should be.

#### Medical Solidarity and Institutional Commitment 

   ![Sean-Kivlehan-TCUP2026.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum4931/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2026-10/Sean-Kivlehan-TCUP2026.png?itok=jexvbjuT) 

 

Sean Kivlehan spoke about solidarity through the lens of healthcare. Early in the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian medical systems were strained as providers were drawn to the frontlines and civilian trauma surged.   
  
Rather than focusing solely on direct medical deployments, Kivlehan’s team prioritized education — training Ukrainian healthcare workers across the system, from bystanders to specialists. Importantly, the program evolved into a self-sustaining Ukrainian-led training network.   
  
He described solidarity as presence — both physical and sustained mental commitment. Monthly online trainings and check-ins reinforce continuity.   
  
Healthcare, he argued, provides a unifying platform: few disagree that injured children deserve care. Starting from shared human values can open broader conversations about responsibility and engagement.

#### Academic Solidarity and Long-Term Investment 

Sarah Phillips described the creation of a non-residential scholar support program to assist Ukrainian academics who remain in Ukraine. The program provides stipends, access to digital library resources, and partnerships with U.S.-based faculty.   
  
Crucially, it builds community. Monthly bilingual research meetings foster professional continuity and intellectual exchange. The initiative has expanded beyond Indiana University to include multiple institutions.  
   
Phillips emphasized that solidarity in academia has many dimensions — from sustaining scholarly communities and supporting scholars at risk to reshaping curricula and building long-term partnerships. Education is not peripheral to solidarity; it shapes long-term narratives.

   ![Meaghan-Mobbs-2026.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum4931/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2026-10/Meaghan-Mobbs-2026.png?itok=KdyTRFWk) 

 

#### What Hampers Solidarity? 

Panelists identified several obstacles in expanding solidarity:

- **Messaging failures** — oversimplified narratives or emotionally overwhelming content can produce either despair or complacency.
- **Expectation mismanagement** — framing the war as short-term rather than a long-term commitment weakens sustained support.
- **Domestic political polarization** — particularly in the United States, where support must be framed in ways that resonate across ideological divides.
- **Narrative fatigue** — audiences accustomed to crisis headlines require renewed framing and deeper storytelling.

Several speakers stressed the need to approach solidarity as a marathon, not a sprint. Long-term investment in cultural exchange, youth engagement, and defense innovation will be critical.

#### Conclusion 

The conference concluded not with abstract reflection but with a challenge: keep speaking, keep learning, keep acting.   
  
Solidarity, as defined by Rory Finnin in the opening panel and reiterated throughout the weekend, involves three interlocking elements:   
  
**Knowing** — deepening understanding of Ukraine’s history and present.   
**Speaking** — amplifying truthful narratives.   
**Acting** — contributing in concrete, sustained ways.   
  
Panel 4 underscored that solidarity is not static. It must be recalibrated for changing political landscapes, evolving needs, and long-term commitments.   
  
Ukraine’s struggle is not a niche concern. It is, as several speakers put it, a “David and Goliath” story — but also a test of global resolve.



 

 [ WATCH NOW: TCUP 2026 Panel 4 arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=MmpGLKNE-fGiXzu7&v=LID1OR_lWYs&feature=youtu.be) 

 

 

 

 

 [ ДИВІТЬСЯ ЗАРАЗ: TCUP 2026 Панель 4 (українською) arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=nFQDRuY8nAiYK1-7&v=YAy5qzPetVQ&feature=youtu.be) 

 

 

 

 

 



 

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