WASHINGTON, D.C. (CitizenWire) — President Barack Obama and the Department of State will host 115 young leaders from 46 sub-Saharan African nations August 3-5 in Washington, D.C. President Obama will host the keynote event: a town hall for participants in the Presidential Young African Leaders Forum at the White House on Tuesday, August 3. At the town hall, President Obama will discuss with the young leaders their vision for transforming their societies over the next fifty years.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will address participants in the conference on Tuesday, August 3 at the Department of State. The remarks will be open to credentialed members of the media. More details will be forthcoming in the public schedule.
The President’s Forum with Young African Leaders presents the U.S. Government and American friends of Africa with an opportunity to deepen and broaden our understanding of the trajectories of African societies, and to reflect on how the next generation are building their communities’ and their nations’ futures. In addition to the town hall meeting with the President, the forum will include small-group discussions on topics such as transparency and accountability, job creation and entrepreneurship, rights advocacy, and the use of technology to empower individuals and communities. African participants will have an opportunity to meet with grassroots service organizations to share experiences and strategies.
The opening plenary session of the conference will begin at 8:00 a.m. on August 3 at the Department of State. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson will welcome participants and provide an overview of the core messages, themes, and goals of the Forum. Media registration begins at 7:00 a.m. at the 23rd Street Entrance.
On Wednesday, August 4, the young leaders will meet with Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and other members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
The closing plenary session will take place at the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Ave, NW) at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 4. Media registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Under Secretary Judith McHale and Under Secretary Maria Otero will engage the group in a discussion to instill the important ideas coming out of the Forum and announce to the delegates follow-on events. The Under Secretaries will be available to speak with reporters after the plenary session. A networking and partnering “unconference” will follow the plenary at the Newseum. All of these events are open to the press.
Outside events during the week of the Presidential Forum include a reception hosted by the Aspen Institute at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, a reception hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (closed to the press), meetings at the Peace Corps headquarters, community service projects, and a dinner hosted by McKinsey and Company with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (closed to the press).