Welcome: On Building a World Worth Believing In

Hello, and welcome. My name is Jared O. Bell, and this blog is the beginning of a new chapter for me—a space where ideas, convictions, and hard-earned lessons from the field meet the urgent challenges of our time.

I’ve spent my career at the intersection of diplomacy, human rights, and international development. From Bosnia to Central Asia, from Washington’s policy halls to communities in Latin America and Africa, I’ve seen both the promise of global cooperation and the pain of when it falters. This site is, in part, a home for reflection: on what we’ve learned, on where we’ve failed, and on how we can do better.

But it’s not just about my story. It’s about the larger story we are all part of—whether we acknowledge it or not.

This blog is not meant to be a monologue. It’s an invitation. To question. To challenge. To dream a little bigger about what justice, accountability, and solidarity can look like.

Because in the end, building a world worth believing in isn’t the work of governments alone, or NGOs, or diplomats in faraway capitals. It’s the work of all of us—citizens, advocates, skeptics, dreamers.

So here’s to the beginning. I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get to work.