Cornelius Queen — A DARING ENTERPRISE: A Us-Egyptian Partnership and the Case for Soft Power - with Krish O’Mara Vignarajah — at the wharf

Cornelius Queen, senior vice-president at the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund, and Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, will discuss the new book *A Daring Enterprise: A Us-Egyptian Partnership and the Case for Soft Power* at Politics and Prose at The Wharf. The book, co-written by James A. Harmon, Cornelius Queen, and Mark Warren, is a firsthand account of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund—a U.S. congressional initiative launched after the 2011 Egyptian revolution to boost Egypt’s private sector. Through the lens of chairman James Harmon, the narrative explores how a small, U.S.-backed investment fund partnered with Egyptians to create jobs, expand opportunities for women, and spark investment amid political instability and anti-American sentiment. The event is a conversation about the fund’s successes and the broader case for strategic foreign aid. Seating is first come, first served and the event is free to attend.

When: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

Tickets: Free admission; seating is first come, first served.

Lineup: Cornelius Queen and Krish O’Mara Vignarajah. Queen is senior vice-president at the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund, with prior experience managing humanitarian aid in Lebanon, serving as a legislative aide in the U.S. Congress, and working with the Carter Center during Egypt’s 2011–2012 elections. Vignarajah is an American lawyer and former Obama White House Policy Director for First Lady Michelle Obama, and previously served as Senior Advisor at the State Department under Secretaries Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

Book: *A Daring Enterprise: A Us-Egyptian Partnership and the Case for Soft Power* by James A. Harmon, Cornelius Queen, and Mark Warren (hardcover, $35.00, published May 12, 2026 by American University in Cairo Press). Copies are available at the event or in-store.

Venue: Politics and Prose at The Wharf, 610 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Accessibility: To request accommodations or inquire about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com ideally one week in advance; the venue will make an effort to accommodate all requests.

Note: This event is part of the Cornelius Queen series and is free and open to the public, with no advance ticketing required. Arrive early to secure a seat.