Global Classroom
Youth Leadership

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

What is the Global Youth Leadership Institute?
The Global Youth Leadership Institute is a four day intensive summer program designed to encourage and assist high school students in learning about current global issues. Student participants will hear from expert speakers, explore career opportunities, create multimedia presentations, and develop leadership skills. Students will develop plans to educate their peers about world affairs over the forthcoming academic year. Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion upon finishing the program.

Details:

• Open to Washington State students entering 11th or 12th grade in September 2008.
• Dates: 9am to 3pm, Monday, June 23 to Thursday, June 26, 2008.
• Location: University of Washington Campus, Mary Gates Hall, Room 254.
• Cost: Thanks to generous support from donors, there is no cost for students.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Institute (bus passes will be provided).

Commitment:
The Global Youth Leadership Institute is an intensive four day program. Students must attend all sessions and be active participants. Upon completion of the program, students will be asked to promote dialogue and debate about world issues in their schools or in their communities over the forthcoming academic year. Institute leaders will help students make plans for how to do this and will also follow up with students during the school year to support them in their efforts. Students will receive a small stipend to help implement their peer-education plans.

How to Apply:
Please submit a complete Application for Admission to the World Affairs Council. Teachers should mail the Teacher Recommendation directly to the World Affairs Council in a separate envelope. Both forms must be postmarked by May 13th, 2008.

Preference will be given to groups of 2 to 3 students applying from the same school or community organization. If you are applying as a group, each member must submit an individual application. Applicants will be notified by Wednesday, May 21.

Click here for application form.

Send Your Application To:
World Affairs Council
Attention: Youth Institute
2200 Alaskan Way, Suite 450
Seattle, Washington 98121

Questions?
Please email Christina Hirsch or call 206-441-5910.

Help advertise the Global Youth Leadership Institute! Click here for an Institute Poster.

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

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)

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.

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

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

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.