Develop Global Youth Leaders in NYC and DC!

Global Kids had an excellent non-stop summer packed with bridge programs, institutes, and travel abroad opportunities for our students in New York City and Washington, D.C. To get a sense of the activities in which GK Leaders participated over the summer, take a look at these highlights!

• The summer kicked off with a very special visit from First Lady Michelle Obama at Global Kids Headquarters in New York City. Two GK Leaders invited her when they met her at the National Summer Learning Day event held at the U.S. Department of Education in June, and she accepted their offer. During Mrs. Obama’s visit, she met with twenty GK Leaders in small groups to learn about the projects our students have been working on. She was inquisitive, and very impressed with the leadership work our students were doing! To see the NY1 news coverage of her visit, click here! 

• For six weeks, twenty-seven high school students in Washington, D.C. participated in the DC Summer Institute where they intensively studied international affairs, career exploration, and foreign policy, with a week-long service-learning trip to Puerto Vieja, Costa Rica.

•  In July, twenty GK students from New York City traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina for three weeks through the American Youth Leadership Program. During this time, participants were immersed in cultural exchanges via homestays, peer-education workshops pertaining to global citizenship and media literacy, and teambuilding exercises with twenty-two Bosnian students. The participants focused on media coverage regarding global human rights topics. Our students penned inspiring and insightful blog posts on the GK Leader Tumblr page, which you may access here. 

• In New York City, the U.S. in the World International Law and Foreign Policy Institute brought together a diverse group of twenty-eight high school students for an intensive three-week program held at the Council on Foreign Relations. GK Leaders explored dynamics of foreign policy, the role of the U.S. and other major nations, and addressed some of the most pressing global challenges of today.

• The first-ever Climate Action Summer Institute took place in August in collaboration with the Alliance for Climate Education. Fifteen high school students gathered for a week-long program aimed at exploring issues such as climate justice, public policy, climate leadership, and community organization. Additionally, two GK Leaders, Anthony and Mitchell, traveled to Argentina for a week to represent the U.S. in Sustainaware, a global youth coalition that raises awareness about the importance of sustainable development around the world. For more information about the impactful work Sustainaware is doing, visit their Facebook page!

• One of our most important offerings during the summer months is the Summer Youth Employment Program, where Global Kids teams up with over twenty-five partner organizations in New York City to provide GK Leaders with professional work experience for six weeks. During their employment, GK Leaders worked 25 hours a week for minimum wage, and for many this was their first work experience. Worksites this year included The American Museum of National History, the Brooklyn Public Library, Village Care (a rehabilitation center), Global Kids Headquarters, a day care center, and other community development organizations.

With such an amazing summer behind us, Global Kids is thrilled to have you join us for another successful school year. If you happen to be in the New York City area in early November, consider participating in our 25^th Anniversary Global Kids 5K Run/Walk! You may even gather a team of your friends to help support Global Kids in offering leadership development opportunities for underserved youth in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Thank you for your generosity, and here’s to an unforgettable school year!

The GK Team

Links:

• For more information about Global Kids, visit our website!
• Join us for the 25th Anniversary Global Kids 5K Run/Walk!