Award-winning educator Carole Artigiani founded Global Kids in New York City in 1989 and served as its Executive Director until 2010. Carole’s vision was to create an ever-growing number of young people who educate and inspire their peers to take action on issues of concern, achieve personal and professional success, and are engaged citizens who are informed about world and domestic affairs. 

Global Kids’ programs are designed to address the urgent need for young people, particularly those in under-resourced schools and neighborhoods, to develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to participate in the democratic process and be successful in an interdependent, technologically sophisticated, global society. Our successes are measured in the achievements of participants, at schools and universities, in their chosen careers, and in their commitment to remain engaged citizens of their communities and the larger world.  

Over the past 35 years, our impact has steadily expanded, culminating in the launch of the Global Kids in Washington, D.C. (GK-DC) in September 2010. This expansion followed an extensive strategic review funded by a grant from the Robin Hood Foundation and conducted in partnership with McKinsey & Co.

Since 1989, Global Kids has received national recognition for our exemplary practices in global, peace, and civic education, digital media programming, experiential learning, and youth development. We have reached over 100,000 young people through both direct services and peer education activities. Our work often involves representing the views of youth globally at important gatherings focused on climate change, social justice, war and peace, and global education. None of this would have been possible without the collaborations with other organizations and the generous support of countless individuals, foundations, corporations, school districts, and local, state, and federal agencies who have supported Global Kids throughout our history.