GLOBAL KIDS CHRONICLES:

AUGUST 2024 UPDATE

Global Kids students from New York City visit the United States Mission to the United Nations to learn more about foreign affairs and global policy

As our students soak up the final days of summer, we’re delighted by the dedication and enthusiasm they continue to exhibit while participating in our enriching programming. Our youth leaders are enjoying unique experiences that both spark excitement and foster global awareness, including visits to our nation’s capital, special tours of government institutions like the United States Mission to the United Nations, and more.

Recently, we were also pleased to welcome three exceptional executives to our Board of Directors, who will play a critical role in advancing our mission.

We invite you to continue reading to learn more about our students’ experiences, our new Board Members, and additional updates!

NYC AND D.C. GLOBAL KIDS YOUTH LEADERS ENGAGE IN TRANSFORMATIONAL SUMMER PROGRAMMING

GK students from New York City visit the United Nations to explore foreign affairs and global policy

This summer, New York City and Washington D.C. Global Kids students participated in institutes that addressed global issues through interactive workshops, guest speakers, and excursions to public and private institutions involved in foreign affairs. During our annual “U.S. in the World” Summer Institute in New York City, youth learned about pressing foreign policy issues and how to tackle them through policy and debate. Our students also participated in educational programming that cultivated their knowledge and broadened their horizons, including a visit to the United States Mission to the United Nations, where they toured the UN building and took part in a scavenger hunt to learn about different countries’ flags.

Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., in collaboration with the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute Program at Catholic University, our students engaged in hands-on activities that focused on topics including foreign policy, youth activism, leadership development and college and career preparation. Through this program, DC students developed and completed action projects on critical issues affecting the world, and showcased them to their peers from NYC during a special youth summit. While in D.C., our NYC students joined their D.C. peers on trips to the monuments and international institutions like the Capitol building, where they enjoyed informational sessions with staffers from the Offices of Senator Gillibrand and Schumer, Representatives Nadler and Jefferies and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In addition to these opportunities, students engaged in activities that fostered healthy lifestyles and active routines, such as the Global Kids Olympics. During this year’s exciting event, students from our Summer Rising program sites at PS 109, PS 308, and Q300 competed in a series of sports tournaments, including a tic-tac-toe torch relay, football freeze tag, gymnastics balance tag, handball switch, and more.

Click through the slideshow below to see highlights from the 2024 GK Olympics ↓

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GLOBAL KIDS CAREER EXPLORATION PANEL INSPIRES YOUTH

Our Summer Youth Employment Program recently brought together industry leaders and our Younger Youth Interns for an inspiring career panel titled “Career Exploration: Finding My Place in the Workforce” at Global Kids HQ.

During the lively and informative lunch hour discussion, the panelists, three of whom are members of the Global Kids Young Professionals Committee and one of whom is a Global Kids alumnus, shared their professional journeys and highlighted the diverse routes one can take to achieve success.

Special thanks to our panelists for joining us and sharing their insights with our students, including Inbar Kishoni, Manager of Community and Equity Programs on the Citi Bike team at Lyft; Edgar Nunez, Manager of Investment Operations at General Motors Investment Management Corporation; Stephanie Hare, Learning Lead at Google Technical Professional Services; and Fahad Huq, Engineering Recruiter at Bloomberg LP and a Global Kids alumnus.

This event was a pivotal opportunity for our youth to expand their horizons and envision new possibilities for their future careers!

Click HERE for a recap video from the Global Kids Career Panel.

THANK YOU, NEW YORK ELECTED OFFICIALS!

We’re incredibly grateful to our New York State and City elected officials for their role in securing over $360,000 in discretionary and capital funding to support our mission. These funds will enable us to provide more youth with the opportunities they need to chart a path towards future success and create positive change. Thank you, New York State Senate Speaker Carl E. Heastie, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, Councilmember Carlina Rivera, Councilmember Tiffany Caban, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan and Councilmember Farrah N. Louis!

In July, we had the privilege of hosting Assemblymember Forrest at the High School for Global Citizenship, who led an interactive game on democratic participation and spoke with the students about her duties, bills she has supported, and why it’s crucial for youth to advocate for their local communities.

WELCOMING AMIEE ALOI, COLIN EDEY & ALICE TAKHTAJAN TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Welcome new Board Members! Amiee Aloi (left), Colin Edey (center), Alice Takhtajan (right)

We’re thrilled to welcome three new board members to our Board of Directors: Amiee Aloi, Colin Edey, and Alice Takhtajan.

Aloi is a renowned international public policy and government affairs expert. As Executive Director of Global Public Policy at Merck, she leads the development and implementation of global policy strategies in support of the pharmaceutical company’s non-communicable diseases medicines pipeline. Aloi holds a master’s degree in public health from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Georgetown University. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and four-year-old son.

Edey brings over three decades of experience in retail and commercial banking to his role as East Coast Sales Team Leader for Treasury Management Sales at City National Bank. Beyond his professional endeavors, Edey is deeply involved in community service, serving as President of the Englewood-Teaneck Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Edey earned his MBA in marketing from the Fordham Graduate School of Business and holds an undergraduate degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. In his leisure time, he enjoys preparing delicious meals, cycling, and golfing.

Takhtajan is a Managing Director in the Equity Capital Markets group in Investment Banking at JPMorgan Chase in New York. She has spent the last 20 years working with companies across several sectors, advising and executing public equity offerings. Takhtajan graduated with a degree in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and resides in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

These accomplished executives – all of whom bring a wealth of experience and passion for our organization’s mission – will support our goals to provide NYC and D.C. youth with the tools they need to expand their horizons, develop new passions, and inspire positive change as they grow into future leaders.