GlobalPittsburgh Selecting Local Student to Receive Grant to Attend National Conference in Washington, D.C. on World Affairs, Citizen Diplomacy

GlobalPittsburgh invites students or recent graduates ages 16-24 from the Greater Pittsburgh Region who are interested in world affairs to apply for a grant to attend a national conference on world affairs and citizen diplomacy in February. Deadline for application is Sept. 30, 2010.

As a part of its 50th Anniversary observance, GlobalPittsburgh’s parent organization, the National Council for International Visitors, is placing strong emphasis on developing multigenerational leadership and is launching the NCIV Citizen Diplomacy Program for Emerging Leaders.

With a grant from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, six students will be selected to participate, including one from the Greater Pittsburgh Region. Those selected will attend the 2011 NCIV National Meeting in Washington, D.C., February 16-19, 2011. The theme of the conference is NCIV’s Next Half Century: Citizen Diplomats Shaping History.

The selected participants will receive:
• A $500 travel stipend
• Waived meeting registration fees
• Double hotel room accommodation

The goal of this program is to develop participants’ knowledge of world affairs, leadership and communication skills, and gain a better understanding of their responsibility to become citizen diplomats.

At the conference, selected participants will:
• Be paired with an NCIV member as a mentor
• Attend the NCIV 50th Anniversary Gala (February 16, 2011) as special guests
• Participate in an Emerging Leaders Concurrent Session
• Participate in a Concurrent Session on Utilizing Social Networks in Citizen Diplomacy
• Assist in hosting a foreign Washington, D.C. based diplomat at the annual NCIV Luncheon with the Ambassadors

Most importantly, at the conference, the selected participants will be collaborating to shoot and edit a video about engaging emerging leaders in citizen diplomacy. This video will serve as a training tool for citizen diplomacy organizations, posted on the NCIV website, and on YouTube and Facebook.

Students and recent graduates from all backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to apply, as NCIV will strive to recruit a diverse and representative class of emerging leaders to participate.

To apply, CLICK HERE for a printable application form or send an email to request an interactive application form to tcbuell@gmail.com. Send the completed form to Tom Buell at GlobalPittsburgh no later than September 30, 2010. Note: The application may be sent electronically to him at tcbuell@gmail.com or mailed to 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For questions, please call 412-392-4513.