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Ambassador Johnny and Mrs. Angie Young Civic Leadership Summit

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CIEE’s annual summit for international changemakers is named for Ambassador Johnny and Mrs. Angie Young in recognition of the couple’s lifelong dedication to public service, public diplomacy, and building bridges between peoples and nations.

The Ambassador Johnny and Mrs. Angie Young Civic Leadership Summit is built around the idea that if one person can make a difference, then together we can change the world. Each year, 50 Young Fellows, are selected to travel to Washington, D.C. – the capital of the U.S., and one of our most important and historical cities – to learn, among other things, methods for working across national and cultural barriers to overcome challenges to peace in our world.    

As a CIEE Civic Leadership Summit Fellow, you will:

  • Take part in engaging workshops

  • Explore Washington, D.C.

  • Network with change-makers from around the world

The Civic Leadership Experience

 

What People are Saying

  • "I am leaving DC with not only newly gained knowledge on American culture, politics and law but also with a broader, more open minded and greater understanding of other international cultures."

    Meg Kelly - Ireland

  • "This experience has helped me to actually believe I can be a changemaker who this world’s needs"

    Saray Quirant - Spain

  • "I feel very rich. Rich with knowledge for some countries that all I knew was their name, rich with new friends and rich with new contacts to develop projects with. You are all leaders and changemakers, and I can’t wait to see those changes take place!"

    Grese Koca - Kosovo

  • "During the summit I had the opportunity to meet 45 students, innovators, motivators and thinkers from all over the world. The same people all shared one common thing and that is they want to make the world a better place."

    Mahmoud Abdelkareem - West Bank

  • "This week has ignited something within me to make a change and difference, as well as travel to all these amazing countries and experience their cultures for myself."

    Amy Allen - United Kingdom
Johnny and Mrs. Angie Young

About Ambassador Johnny and Mrs. Angie Young

As young man growing up in inner-Philadelphia, Ambassador Young was sponsored by the YMCA and YWCA to attend an international exchange program at American University in Beirut. This became his inspiration for pursuing a career in public diplomacy.

During his nearly 40-year career in the Foreign Service, in which he achieved the rank of career ambassador in the Senior Foreign Service, among other roles, Ambassador Young served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia, the State of Bahrain, the Republic of Togo, and the Republic of Sierra Leone. After retiring from the Department of State, Ambassador Young continued his commitment to service, serving as executive director of Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In retirement, he sits on the board of several non-profits, including CIEE. Learn more about Ambassador Young's life and career in this oral history collected by the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training.

Angie Young was an equal partner in Johnny's successful diplomatic career, a cornerstone of the Young's personal and professional accomplishments for nearly six decades.  With unmatched charm and grace, Angie hosted thousands of dinners, lunches, and events that planted seeds of mutual trust and respect in dozens of countries around the world, including in America, where she concluded her career as protocol officer at the White House.