The Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program: Cultivating Social Entrepreneurial and Civic Minded Leaders

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PAYLP 2018 spring cohort participants at Meridian International Center

The Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) is a program designed to develop leadership skills in youth through dynamic trainings and cultural exchanges. In April 2018, Meridian hosted adult mentors and young scholars between the ages of 15 and 18 from Sub-Saharan Africa, including the nations of Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. “I have discovered a group of diverse cultures, from my fellow African participants from Sudan, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana as well as Malawi.” Exchange programs like these bring leaders from around the world to the U.S. to experience and enhance...

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IVLP Alumni Spotlight: Spreading Kindness in Trinidad & Tobago

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IVLP alumnus, Mr. Adrian Sealey, and Mayor of Anaheim, Mr. Tom Tait

IVLP Alumni Spotlight features U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni as they reflect on the impact of the program and how it has affected their work and lives. Here we feature the Co-Founder of a martial arts and community engagement center for at-risk youth in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Adrian Sealey. Mr. Sealey spent two weeks in the United States examining community resilience, leadership and advocacy skills, and effective ways to positively engage youth. This project was offered in support of the Strong Cities Network (SCN), the first global network of cities and other sub-national entities working together to build social cohesion and resilience to prevent violent extremism in all its forms.  Mr. Sealey and the other participants met with key SCN members, such as Mayor Tom Tait of Anaheim, California, who spoke with them about his campaign, “Making Kindness Contagious.” Continue  

IVLP Alumni Spotlight: Examining Museum Administration in the United States

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Dr. Knut Ljøgodt

IVLP Alumni Spotlight features U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni as they reflect on the impact of the program and how it has affected their work and lives. Here we feature the director of the Nordic Institute of Art who participated on the IVLP in 2013. The participant spent three weeks in the United States examining museum administration and exploring the role of art museums in U.S. society to create and sustain regional and cultural identity. Continue  

Program Theme Spotlight: Arts and Culture

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'Promoting Social Change through the Arts' IVLP participants improvising following a speed convening at Meridian

Music, dance, theater and other art forms have long been windows into understanding cultural differences and similarities, avenues for building empathy, promoting dialogue, and confronting social issues.  As the artist Alex Grey says, “When artists give form to revelation, their art can advance, deepen and potentially transform the consciousness of their community.” Continue