Our World Tour is officially launching THIS TUESDAY from American University in Washington, DC! I can't believe we're actually here. Last July this was just a crazy idea I had and now it's a reality thanks to the incredible work of Youth Venture. I was actually in an open web forum when the moderator said "Youth Venture is about more than just supporting young people as they lead and launch their own lasting social ventures; it's about building a global movement of like-minded citizens." That really struck a cord with me. I have never thought of what I was doing and what other Youth Venturers were doing as part of something larger. It made me feel, however, that most young people who were creating change probably didn't see themselves as part of something bigger either. What better way to make that realization than to join someone as they uncovered what it was all about on a global level?
I'm leaving on May 7th to travel around the world in an effort to empower people to build a global movement of socially minded citizens. I'm going to tell the stories of incredible youth who are changing their world using their own ideas to solve problems. I'll be capturing their work on video, in photographs and through my blog, all in an effort to inspire others to do the same. This aint' no vacation. It's about changing the frame and making people feel like they can make a difference. Hundreds of thousands of people are already doing it! We're just not fully aware of it! That's my job - to raise awareness. Our world is in a troubling time, and it's up to each and every one of us to create positive change. Not only is it necessary, but it feels good doin' good!
Our official press release follows. Join me in DC if you can. If not, stay tuned here for the entire journey. It's going to be a good time! Also, I'll post the full itinerary soon. Get excited!
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Youth Venture’s Five-Continent World Tour Aimed at Social Change to Launch From American University; April 24
Contact: Tia Johnston, Youth Venture, 703-527-8300 x321
Maralee Csellar, AU Media Relations, 202-885-5952
Washington, D.C. (April 24, 2007) – Globetrotter Kyle Taylor is making his way around the world to promote the Youth Venture movement by meeting with and profiling fellow Youth Venturers - civic-minded young changemakers who create, launch, and run their own youth-led, community-benefiting organizations. A prominent community leader in the changemaker movement, Kyle will depart in May on a four-month world tour that will take him to eleven countries on five continents to encourage thousands of young people worldwide to take action.
The launch event will be held at 3:30 p.m., April 24 at American University’s Kay Spiritual Life Center (4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW). Dr. Robert A. Pastor, AU vice president of international affairs, will open the event. Kyle, AU alum and youth spokesperson for Youth Venture, will officially announce the tour’s launch, followed by brief remarks about the movement. Q &A and a brief reception will follow.
“Young people the world over are uniting to battle systemic social problems in a way no generation has before,” Kyle said. “They have experiences to share, and I intend to be their voice.” Kyle will be meeting with Youth Venturers and leaders in each country he visits, documenting his journey on Youth Venture’s new global community action website, www.genv.net, a place for socially minded young people to connect with others to “dream it and do it.” The site will host video, pictures and an action-packed blog. “These young people are having an incredible impact on their community, and it is my hope that by telling their stories I will inspire others to action as well.”
American University – Kyle’s alma mater and an internationally known leader in this field – was an obvious choice to launch the world tour. AU has taken the lead role in Campus Engagement within the Building Bridges Coalition, a project of the Brookings Institution's Initiative on International Volunteering and Service-- a consortium of leading international volunteer organizations, universities & colleges, corporations and government agencies collaborating to double the number of international volunteers serving abroad by 2010. Taylor and Youth Venture will amplify the value of international volunteering and service throughout this tour.
About Youth Venture
By inspiring and investing in teams of young people to start their own social ventures, Youth Venture is work¬ing to build a powerful network of young changemakers around the world. Youth Venture provides coaching, resources and seed funding for young people ages 12-20 to create, launch, and lead sustainable community-benefiting ventures. Youth Venture believes this will catalyze a cultural change, transforming the youth years to a time of initiatve and positive social change, leading to a world of Everyone a Changemaker. [www.genv.net] YV was founded in 1996 by Ashoka. (www.ashoka.org)
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