OUR STORY
International Young Leaders Assembly
“Moral and Innovative Leadership: Vision, Service and Entrepreneurship”
The International Young Leaders Assembly (IYLA) is a partnership-driven leadership development program that empowers young leaders to positively impact their communities, nations, and the world. IYLA hosts university students, young professionals, and globally significant leaders at annually held interactive programs in the U.S. and abroad. Delegates acquire first-hand experience in leadership, join a lasting global leadership network and build a platform to tackle current critical issues.
History
The inaugural IYLA in Atlanta in 2012 was jointly organized by the Global Peace Foundation, the Points of Light Foundation, The Global Young Leaders Academy and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. The program included engagements with the Americas Summit at the Carter Presidential Center, the Global Peace Convention and at the King Center.
The second IYLA drew 800 young leaders from over 70 countries for programs at the United Nations Headquarters and permanent missions in New York, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and the US Capitol, World Bank, Organization of American States, think tanks and embassies in Washington DC. This ten-day program concluded at the 50th celebration of Dr. King’s famous I Have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial addressed by U.S. presidents Carter, Clinton, and Obama. With the encouragement of many co-sponsoring agencies, embassies and organizations, this three-city program in the US have become an annual undertaking.
The subsequent IYLAs expanded to Malaysia, Thailand, and Paraguay, and will continue to be organized in meaningful regions throughout the world.
International Secretariat
Each IYLA engages its own slate of relevant partners and sponsors. The initiating co-conveners, the Global Peace Foundation and the Global Young Leaders Academy continue to anchor the program at GPF’s Washington DC headquarters.
The IYLA incorporates a robust internship program with unequalled opportunities to work with leading institutions in diplomacy, development, policy and education while honing skills in communication, innovation and useful tech applications.