The Young Civic Leadership Summit

Become a Sponsor

Corporate sponsors and individual donors make YCLS possible. Learn more about how you can help tomorrow's global civic leaders by viewing the Sponsorship & Benefits. You can give online at ciee.org/donate  and reach out to philanthropy@ciee.org to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

"We are proud to support this event that allows extraordinary BridgeUSA participants to explore a new part of the United States and to experience firsthand the diversity and values that define the American spirit. We hope participants leave this summit with a deeper appreciation for their international peers, a lasting connection to a new American community, and a clearer sense of their unique potential as global changemakers."

– Amy Therien, Vice President, Talent, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

YCLS Benefits and Opportunities

Current Sponsors

About Ambassador Johnny and Mrs. Angie Young

As a young man growing up in inner-city Philadelphia, Ambassador Johnny 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 on the board of several non-profits, including CIEE. Ambassador Young passed away in July of 2021. Shortly before his passing, CIEE changed the name of the bi-annual Leadership Summit to honor the contributions of Ambassador and Mrs. Young.

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. She continues their legacy of service through her support of the Leadership Summit.

Learn more about Ambassador Young's life and career in this oral history collected by the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. Ambassador Young’s autobiography “From the Projects to the Palace: A Diplomat’s Unlikely Journey from the Bottom to the Top” is available on Amazon.

Eligibility Requirements

Young Civic Leadership Summit Applicants Must:

• Be participants of the 2026 Summer Work and Travel USA program
• Must not have attended the Young Civic Leadership Summit in previous years
• Submit a complete application by the deadline: Monday, June 1 at 11:59pm ET
• Submit a 2-minute video or a 300-500 word essay to answer the essay questions

Leadership Summit Details and Expectations

• The Young Civic Leadership Summit is a transformative three-day event taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah that includes leadership and intercultural training.
• The Young Civic Leadership Summit is fully-sponsored by CIEE, Mrs. Angie Young, and other sponsors.
  30 students will be selected
• Young Civic Leadership Summit Fellows will be selected based on their demonstration of leadership skills, initiative, and commitment to the overall mission of the summit.
• During the summit, Young Civic Leadership Summit Fellows commit to attending and participating in all activities during the summit.
• After the summit, Young Civic Leadership Summit Fellows commit to sharing their international experience with their home community to promote the power of international education and encourage peers to study or work abroad.

How to Apply

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