International Leadership Foundation Young Ambassador Program 2015 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20004 202-204-3019 ILF@ILEADER.ORG www.ilfnational.org
About International Leadership Foundation: Mission Founded in 2000, the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) has promoted the civic awareness, public service, and economic prosperity of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community as a non-profit organization. Our mission is to develop young leaders in the United States, Asia, and Pacific Rim countries in the fields of public affairs, entrepreneurship and international relations through a network of business and community leaders. About Young Ambassadors Program ILF gives opportunities to international students who bring diverse perspectives in our global age. The Young Ambassador Program hosts outstanding college students and young professionals from Asia to network with ILF fellows and participate in a unique 15-day training program in Washington D.C. and the Northeast region. The extensive ILF alumni network includes young leaders who are now working in the fields of public service, entrepreneurship and international affairs. Young Ambassadors Program Overview & History The Young Ambassadors program began in 2010 and was designed for the new generation of young leaders from Asia who want to learn about the United States. The program prepares the next generation of young international leaders to address global business and political challenges in our ever-changing world. The program hosts approximately 60 outstanding students from Asia to participate in a unique twelve-day program in Washington D.C. and the Northeast region of the United States. It is comprised of an exciting series of lectures, excursions and discussions on topics ranging from international business relations to public policy and the legislative process. Field visits include Capitol Hill and a look inside Congress and federal agencies; a tour of the United Nations; a visit to the NYSE trading floor in New York s Financial District; U.S. currency printing and history at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; the prestigious West Point Military Academy; and several top American universities. (Photo: 2014 Young Ambassadors with the Honorable Elaine Chao, the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor & ILF Honorary Chairwoman)
Distinguished Speakers for Young Ambassadors Field Cabinet Member Congress U.S. Federal Government Officials State & City Government Officials Business Academia United Nations Non- Governmental Official Name and Affiliation Elaine Chao 赵小兰部长 Senior Fellow, Heritage Foundation 美国传统基金会杰出学者 Former U.S. Secretary of Labor 美国联邦劳工部前部长 Mazie Hirono, United States Senator Hawaii 美国联邦参议员, 广野庆子 Jim McDermott, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington's 7th District 美国国会众议员, 吉姆麦克德莫特 Charles Rangel, U.S. House of Representatives, New York s 13th District 美国国会众议员, 查尔斯兰格尔 Judy Chu, U.S. House of Representatives, California s 32nd District 美国国会众议员, 趙美心 Grace Meng, U.S. House of Representatives, NY s 6th District 美国国会众议员, 孟昭文 Joel Szabat 傑龍 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy 美国联邦交通部助理部长兼经济刺激方案共同主席 Craig Allen Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, U.S. Department of State Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce 商务部副助理部长 Joshua Miller 米勒, Senator, Cranston, RI 罗德岛州州议员 Susan C. Lee, J.D. 李凤, Maryland House of Delegates 马里兰州參议员 Mark Keam 金马克, Member, VA House of Delegates 维吉尼亚洲众议员 Edward Chow, JR. 周英烈 Secretary of Maryland Department Veterans Affairs 马里兰州退伍军人事务部部长 Allan Fung 冯徫杰, Mayor, Cranston, RI 罗德岛州克伦斯顿市长 Peter Koo 顾雅明, The New York City Council Member 纽约市市议员 Michael Lee 李信亿, Chairman & CEO of F & T Group 富顿集团主席暨首席执行官 Paul Hsu 徐紹欽, Chairman, Hsu Enterprises Group, LLC. Henry Levine 李凡, Senior Director, Albright Stonebridge Ronald N. Langston 蓝斯登 Former National Director of MBDA, U.S. Department of Commerce Derrick Nguyen 达瑞克阮, Private Attorney 律师, NRG Power 能源公司总监 Thomas Kuhn 汤姆斯康恩 President at the Edison Electric Institute 美国爱迪生电力公司协会副总裁 Howard H. Li 李学海, Chairman & Chief Executive Office, Waitex Group David Hinson 大卫韩森 Former Presidential Appointee & National Director, Minority Business Development Agency Steven Wheeler 士提芬威勒, Director, Archives, Corporate Giving & Education New York Stock Exchange Paul C. W. Chu, Ph. D. 朱经武博士 T.L.L. Temple Chair of Science Professor of Physics University of Houston, Department of Physics Shixiong Ni 倪世雄, Professor, Fudan University Steven Kelman 史提芬, Professor of Public Management, Harvard Kennedy School 考曼哈佛大学教授 Professor Benjamin Feng Chen 陈锋, Senior Simultaneous Interpreter in the United Nations Chiling Tong 董继,CEO of International Leadership Foundation 国际领袖基金会创会会长及首席执行长 Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Pacific, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce 美国联邦商务部前助理副部长 The Chief of Staff and Associate Director at the Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce 美国联邦商业发展总署担任副署长兼幕僚长
Testimonials I want to thank ILF for giving me the opportunity to attend this program. Throughout the 12 days, I learned about how the U.S. government operates, the global development trend, and key success factors from outstanding U.S. leaders. This newly acquired knowledge will be quite useful in my career. During this trip, I saw how true leaders operate. I felt the passion and learned how to become a true leader myself. From this experience, I will try my best to become a successful leader and hope to one day share my experiences with the next generation of Young Ambassadors. - Vincent Xu, 2009 Young Ambassador By attending the 2014 YA program, I learned a lot about the United States not only its politics and economy, but also its culture and the way people communicate, and I would have never developed such an in-depth understanding of American society without the YA experience. I am so grateful for ILF s considerate arrangements for the YA s visit, training, and accommodation in the U.S. Thank you so much! Over the past several weeks, I reflected upon the meaning and significance of the YA program. Through the program, ILF is devoted to building up mutual understanding and trust between young people in these two great countries: the United States and China. By fully participating in this program, I gradually found that there are many fields where China and the U.S. can learn from each other( 互学互鉴 ). - Charles Cui, School of International Studies, Peking University This two-week trip is so unique and essentially influenced my future. My previous academic backgrounds include majoring in international politics at SISU and minoring in international trade and economy at Fudan University. Therefore, this trip gave me a precious opportunity to get close to America s public policy, economy and culture, as well as exchange opinions with congressmen from Capitol Hill, Professor Steven from Harvard University and staff from U.S. Department of Commerce and the Chinese Embassy. In addition, the mock discussion at the Rhode Island State Congress House impressed me. I still remember the moment when I put forward the issue of prostitution legalization, which prompted a heated debate between the YAs. This experience really broadened our horizons and tested our logic and eloquence. - Catherine Huang, Shanghai International Studies University
Why Young Ambassadors Program? 1. Leadership. The Young Ambassadors program provides leadership training and opportunities to meet with prominent U.S. national leaders. Leadership can be defined as the process in which a person influences others to accomplish a common goal. One of the program s goals is to help participants learn about themselves and develop the skills needed to be an effective leader. These skills include verbal and non-verbal communication, and confidence and critical character traits, such as trustworthiness. (Above left) CORO Leadership Training (Above right) with Tina Tchen, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady Michelle Obama (Below left) Young Ambassadors with Chris Lu, Deputy Secretary of Labor (Below right) with the Honorable Norman Mineta, Former Secretary of Commerce and of Transportation and the Honorable Elaine Chao, Former Secretary of Labor 2. U.S.-Asia Ties & Global Affairs. Throughout your visit, you will meet many individuals who will expand your knowledge of the relationship between the U.S. and Asia and global affairs. The differences in the role of the government, social standards and expectations, The Young Ambassador program has contributed to improving U.S.-Asia relations by cultivating future leaders who understand both worlds in-depth. The program has been recognized by both the U.S. and Asian governments.
technology and acculturation influence the views that individuals may have regarding the relationship between the United States and foreign countries and also global relations. 3. U.S. Government & Public Policy Making. Your time in Washington D.C. will help build your knowledge about the democratic government in the United States and the role of public policy in decision making by visiting U.S. Legislative and Executive Branches and local government bodies. The China Daily U.S. covered the meeting between Young Ambassadors and U.S. Congress Jim Moran and Grace Meng on Capitol Hill (left); with Rhode Island State Senator Joshua Miller and Scranton Mayor Allan Fung(right) 4. U.S. and Global Business and Economy During the trip, you understand environments and factor which create the U.S. and global business, commerce, and financial landscapes. Visit the F&T Group, Global Development Company, meet Chinese American business leaders (middle), Visit the New York Stock Exchange(right) 5. Culture and History. Culture refers to the characteristics of a group of people and encompasses language, religion, technology, cuisine, art, social values and hobbies. Through the Young Ambassador program, you will explore a variety of locations and participate in activities that will help you gain a
broader understanding of the American culture and history, including visits to historical places. 6. Mutual Understanding. Young Ambassadors have the opportunity to conduct their own research and activity projects during the program, present them to American college students, and discuss U.S.-Asia issues with them. They exchange different perspectives and learn from each other, which is the first step for a better mutual understanding among two different worlds: the U.S. and Asia and among future leaders. Understanding each other at the individual level could lead changes between the two worlds in the future. 7. Bring Asian Students Back to the U.S. for Advanced Study and Work. Our program provides all of the learning and meeting opportunities above for two weeks, but that is not the end of the Young Ambassadors journey. Many of our Young Ambassadors are impressed by speakers, and professionals, and professors they met during the program and decide to come back to the U.S. for further study or to work. They get practical advice for their personal developments from the program. Visiting Ivy League schools definitely broadens their perspectives and gives them a new motivation. The International Leadership Foundation consults them on how to complete an application to enter U.S. graduate schools or how to get a job in the U.S. (Photo: Professor Steve Kelman from Harvard Kennedy School lecturing for Young Ambassadors. This lecture became a turning point for our students and impacted their life.) Young Ambassador Alumni Currently Studying in the U.S. Jack Wang, 2010 Young Ambassador, Columbia University, Electrical Engineering 顾彦君, 2012 Young Ambassador, Ohio State University 吴馗, 2013 Young Ambassador, University of Illinois, Biochemistry 殷惠珺, 2013 Young Ambassador, Georgetown Law School Wennie Wu, 2013 Young Ambassador, New York University, International Studies 徐瑞扬, 2013 Young Ambassador, New York University 袁易卿, 2013 Young Ambassador, New York University, Social Studies 丁浩然, 2013 Young Ambassador, University of Houston 成泽亮, 2014 Young Ambassador, Boston University 张家辉, 2014 Young Ambassador, University of Wisconsin-Madison