Brooklyn’s Young Leaders Participate in the International Young Leaders Assembly (IYLA) Global Summit **

On August 16, 2016, Transdiaspora Network (TDN) invited a delegation of Brooklyn-based college students to the United Nations’ International Young Leaders Assembly Global Summit, in partnership with the Brooklyn Borough President Office and the Global Peace Foundation. The delegates, led by TDN President/Founder Ariel Rojas and BBPO Outreach Coordinator Yamilky Crisostomo, were able to participate among other international youth ambassadors from various countries, in discussions concerning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Deputy Brooklyn Borough President, Ms. Diana Reyna, attended the event as our special guest and was welcome by Mr. Alan J. Inman, Global Peace Foundation U.S. Chapter President.

Twenty eight distinguished key speakers from a vast array of working backgrounds flew in from around the world. They created an empowering and motivating presentation, providing comprehensive perspectives for the young leaders of today. Emphasizing the importance of leadership, all the participants including the speakers, took part in filling the room with contagious passion that fueled each individual to continue participating in the various causes that each person stands for.

The event opened as the delegates were welcomed by a special message from the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, motivating young leaders to be and stay involved. Ravi Karkara, the Strategic Advisor to the Deputy Executive Director UN Women, emphasized this point by encouraging all male delegates to stand up and to take the pledge for the He for She campaign. As some speakers took to taking selfies on the podium to send to friends and families, we were all reminded that we live in a time where efficacy of  advocacy lies in technology. Oulanyah Jacob L’okori, Deputy Speaker, Parliament of Uganda reminded us of the power of unity and shared the African proverb that “If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If  you want to travel far, travel with others”.

The power of information technology we see today, was reflected in the speakers as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, six-time Grammy Awards Winners Producers, spoke about the accessibility of music and the empathy and sense of unity it creates. As many more speakers took to the podium and grasped the attention and heart of the many leaders in the audience, the summit came to a close with an upbeat rap performance by Kayvon Asemani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kayvon Enterprises, as a call to action, which got everybody out of their seats.

An important driving concept for the 2030 agenda for sustainable development is “leave no one behind”. TDN and the delegates were truly witnesses to an event where education, equality, and commitment were upheld to its utmost standard, where no one was left behind.

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** Report written by Caitlin Stilin-Rooney and Rei Shimizu, young professionals & TDN volunteers