Global Classroom
Youth Leadership

• Global Youth Leadership Institute
• Youth Summits
• Youth Exchange Programs
• Racism Resources

The Third Annual Global Youth Leadership Institute will be held June 28- July 2, 2010. Please read below for a description of previous institutes.
Click Here for 2010 GYLI information and application materials.

• Applications must be postmarked by Saturday April 17, 2010.
• Be sure to include the short essay, teacher recommendation, and teacher sponsorship form.
• Applicants will be notified of acceptance by May 3, 2010.
• The cost for attending the institute is $75. This includes lunches, field trip, and all activities. Scholarships are available if cost is an obstacle.

The Second Annual Global Youth Leadership Institute was held June 22-26, 2009

The Institute was a five day intensive summer program designed to encourage and assist high school students in learning about current global issues. Over the course of the program, students had the opportunity to hear from expert speakers, explore career opportunities, explore an online international learning community, and develop leadership skills. Students also developed plans to educate their peers about world affairs over the forthcoming academic year. Students from 14 schools in the Puget Sound area attended.

GYLI 2009 highlights:

• Expert speakers who made complex issues accessible to youth by offering engaging presentations and answering students' questions. 2009 speakers included: Ambassador Roger Meece (former US Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Dr. Timothy Thomas (CIA officer in the Directorate of Science and Technology), and international journalists Sarah Stuteville and Jessica Partnow (co-founders of the Common Language Project).
• A career panel with six individuals representing a variety of international career paths including: global health, international trade, environmental work, intelligence, global education, non-profits, and tourism.
• A field trip to the Port of Seattle, which included information on international trade and a tour of the facilities including radiation detection and other security concerns.
• Workshop activities that promote understanding of international issues. Students are encouraged to use these activities with their clubs.
• Computer lab sessions in which students entered an international online 3-D virtual learning environment called Skoolaborate. Participants looked at projects undertaken by their peers overseas to raise awareness about internet censorship in China or to share elements of their own cultures. Students also contributed images and information to an ongoing project that represents the dilemmas that concern teens around the world.
• Peer education planning so that GYLI 2009 participants could begin to think about how they will share their passion for global issues with their peers at school during the 2009-10 school year. Students initial plans include fundraising for various international causes, raising awareness about environmental issues as well as the steps that teens can take to become more "green," and acting as leaders in school-based clubs where students can learn about global issues and take action.

The Global Youth Leadership Institute is funded in part by the University of Washington's Institute for National Security Education and Research, and the Center for Global Studies at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, and also by Global Classroom donors.

• Questions?
  Please email Laura Adriance or call 206-441-5910.

The first Global Youth Leadership Institute occurred in 2008 with 30 students attending. Here are some highlights from the 2008 Institute.

Check out TVW's piece on GYLI Summer 2008!

Here are links to six student-created videos that were made during the GYLI Summer 2008 Institute:

• The World Affairs Council connects students with international people, ideas, and resources through Youth Summits and other leadership programs.
• 
• In past years, the World Affairs Council Global Classroom has hosted Youth Summits to bring Puget Sound middle and high school students together to discuss a current world issue with international perspectives.
• Jump to:
  Oct 2005 | Mar 2005 | Oct 2004 |
  Jan 2004 | 2002 | 2001
• October 8 , 2005
  Youth Summit
  Beyond Islam: Understanding Muslims in Our Communities and Beyond
• DID YOU KNOW?
• More Muslims live in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) than in the entire Middle East.
• With more than 200 million Muslims, Indonesia is the world’s biggest Muslim country.
• Islam in America dates back 300 years.
• This was a chance for students to learn more about Muslims at home and abroad by meeting with other youth (middle, high school, and college students) and community members to explore Muslim cultures and understand the larger context of Islam around the world. A special highlight of the day was the opportunity to view parts of the historical Collections and Stories of American Muslims exhibit and hear from a leading scholar on the history of Muslims in America, Amir Muhammad.
• At dusk, participants were invited to join with members of local Muslim communities for a dinner of traditional foods, following the breaking of the fast for Ramadan. (Ramadan is the month of required fasting for those Muslims who can fast.)
• Flyer used to promote the Summit:
  - Youth Summit Beyond Islam Flyer (PDF)
• Read what students were asking and thinking about: Questions and Comments (PDF)

• ---

• March 12, 2005
  Youth Summit: Institutionalized Racism from a Global Perspective
• The decision to incarcerate all individuals of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast in 1942 was influenced by decades of anti-Asian attitudes--ingrained in U.S. institutions, laws and the majority population. During a time when discrimination was accepted by many as part of American culture, special-interest groups formed to stir anti-Japanese feelings and actions. Racial discrimination was legal and established in policies and laws at the city, state and federal level. Media perpetuated negative myths and stereotypes of Japanese people as less than human.
  -- Densho > History of Racism 12/20/2004
• Racism is not new, nor is it unique to America. To bring the lessons of the World War II experience of Japanese Americans into a contemporary and global context, Global Classroom invited middle and high school students to the Youth Summit: Institutionalized Racism from a Global Perspective at Bellevue Community College.
• The purpose of the summit was to provide a forum for dialogue about racism as it has manifested itself in the U.S. and the world both past and present. The youth explored and compared the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II and Americans of Islamic faith post-9/11, as well as African Americans across the centuries. They considered racism in other countries and regions around the world, such as South Africa, Kosovo, Rwanda, and the Middle East.
• Flyers used to promote the Summit:
  - Youth Summit Flyer (PDF)
  - Youth Summit Flyer in Spanish (PDF)
  
• To begin exploring the topic of racism, see Institutionalized Racism from a Global Perspective Resources

• ---

• October 16, 2004
  By the People Youth Summit: America in the World
  
  As part of our programs for election year 2004, the World Affairs Council presented its fourth Youth Summit, a forum for Washington State students to participate in democratic processes and to make their voices heard. We invited middle and high school students to come learn about the foreign policy choices facing the United States in the areas of international trade and national security, with particular emphasis on Iraq, and to understand better the local impact of global events. Most important, we invited them to voice their opinions.
• The Youth Summit coincided with Deliberation Day, part of the PBS “By the People” initiative, a national democratic engagement program. For more information, visit www.pbs.org/newshour/btp/.
• The Youth Summit was also supported by "The People Speak: America's Role in the World," a nationwide series of discussions, roundtables and community forums, held in the Fall of 2004. These non-partisan, educational events engaged Americans of all ages and perspectives in a dialogue about the future of the U.S. international engagement. For more information, visit www.ThePeopleSpeak.org.
• Additional cosponsors were the University of Washington Global Business Center and the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT). Featured speaker was Bill Center, Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and President of WCIT.
• During the Summit, students worked in small groups with volunteer facilitators from the University of Washington to consider four distinct future paths for the US in the World, and specifically, in Iraq. Each Future then made its case to the large group. This prompted a thoughtful discussion and deliberation. During lunch, students had the opportunity to share their viewpoints by writing on the "Democracy Wall."
• Compare the Before and After responses in the
  By the People Student Deliberation (PDF)
• Compare the Seattle Youth Summit responses to the national percentages in the
  US Role Ballot Summary (PDF)
• Read student comments from the
  Democracy Wall (PDF)
• View the Youth Summit in Pictures
• For Election 2004 Links, see:
  - Youth Summit Flyer (PDF)
  - Youth Summit Flyer in Spanish (PDF)

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• January 10, 2004
  Youth Refugees at Home & Abroad
  The 3rd Annual Youth Summit, Youth Refugees at Home & Abroad, took place on January 10, 2004 at Roosevelt High School in Seattle.
• Read student responses from the Discussion Wall
• Read student responses from the Refugee Discussion Worksheet
• View the Youth Summit 2004 in Pictures
• Over 80 high school students met with more than 40 community members to discuss current youth refugee issues, including
• What is the US’s role in this global crisis?
• What does the rest of the world think?
• What do you think?
• This year, the event was co-Sponsored by the International Rescue Committee & Hands for a Bridge.
• Thanks to Noah's Bagels and Essential Baking Company for their generous donations and to all of our moderators and volunteers.

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• 2002
  The 2nd Annual Youth Summit, Understanding Iraq: US and Global Perspectives, took place at the University of Washington. Read the 2002 resolutions.

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• 2001
  Our first Youth Summit looked at “Understanding September 11: US & Global Perspectives.”

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• For those with a sense of adventure and the desire to experience another culture first hand, studying abroad or hosting an international student can be a rewarding experience. Check out this list of Exchange Programs for more information on organizations that offer student exchanges and study abroad programs.
• For more information, email:
  gc@world-affairs.org.