Young Leader from Vermont Joins National Cohort of USA Pavilion Youth Ambassadors Representing the United States to the World
USA Pavilion Youth Ambassadors are the “Faces of America” to the millions of visitors at Expo 2020 Dubai (Photo courtesy of Global Ties U.S.)
Washington, DC, September 16, 2021 –– Today, the U.S. Department of State and Global Ties U.S. announced the 75 Youth Ambassadors who will serve as the “Faces of America” for the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The Vermont Council on World Affairs, a community-based partner of Global Ties U.S., is proud to share that Vermont will be represented by one Youth Ambassador: Katrina Khosravi.
USA Pavilion Youth Ambassadors are young U.S. citizens ages 18 to 29 who will serve as cultural representatives and exhibit guides at Expo 2020 Dubai – the first World’s Fair to be held in the Middle East. Between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, they will spend three-to-six months in Dubai as part of a unique cultural exchange program interacting with U.S. and international officials, sharing knowledge on Pavilion exhibits and U.S. history and culture, and building people-to-people connections with millions of Expo visitors from all over the world.
“The Youth Ambassadors are the connection between the people of the United States and the millions of international visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai,” said Jennifer Hall Godfrey, Senior Official for Public Diplomacy & Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. “These 75 young leaders represent the incredible cultural and geographic diversity of the United States, and we are proud to have them representing the very best of our country to the world.”
Collectively, the group members have studied and learned to speak more than 20 languages, including Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, and Urdu. They represent 46 states and 66 universities; are experts in everything from sustainable design and public health to broadcast journalism and mechanical engineering; are alumni of exchange programs including the Fulbright Program, the National Security Languages for Youth Initiative, the Critical Language Scholarship, and the Boren Scholarship; and have professional experience in a variety of industries including UI/UX design, entrepreneurship, social work, and screenwriting. More information about the Youth Ambassadors will be shared on the USA Pavilion’s website (www.usapavilion.org) and social media platforms (@USAExpo2020) in the weeks ahead.
“This cohort of Youth Ambassadors is truly inclusive of our country’s rich diversity and representative of our future,” said Katherine Brown, Ph.D., President and CEO of Global Ties U.S. “Global Ties U.S. and our nationwide Network are excited for these ‘Faces of America’ to introduce the United States to the world.”
The Vermont Council on World Affairs is a local partner of Global Ties U.S., a national network of nonprofit organizations that worked to identify and recruit a diverse cohort of USA Pavilion Youth Ambassadors. As the Youth Ambassadors head to the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE, the Vermont Council on World Affairs is thrilled to have Vermont represented on the global stage.
Expo 2020 Dubai is a six-month long global event and the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. The USA Pavilion’s theme is “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of the Future.” Exhibitions demonstrate U.S. commitments to promoting prosperity, opportunity, and innovation globally and domestically.
More information:
The USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will celebrate the theme, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of the Future.” Exhibits will showcase the freedoms and opportunities that built a dynamic and open society, paving the way for American innovation and prosperity. For more information, please visit www.usapavilion.org.
Global Ties U.S. powers individuals, communities, and nations to build trust and advance peace and prosperity through international exchange. It is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of State and supports a Network of 120+ nonprofit organizations representing all 50 U.S. states and more than 20 countries. Global Ties U.S. members are international exchange professionals who provide the domestic infrastructure for U.S. public diplomacy efforts, implementing the International Visitor Leadership Program and a wide variety of educational, cultural, and professional exchange programs.
The Vermont Council on World Affairs, in cooperation with the public and private sectors, promotes an awareness and understanding of the world and its people through public forums, hosting international visitors and working with our educational institutions to develop programs for students, faculty, staff and community.
