Youth Advocate for Climate Action and Sustainability Named 2019-2020 UNA-USA Youth Observer to the United Nations
Mr. Jay'Len Boone, Michigan-native and a senior at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will advance youth engagement at the United Nations as the eighth annual UNA-USA Youth Observer to the UN.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) announced today Mr. Jay'Len Boone as the eighth annual UNA-USA Youth Observer to the United Nations. Boone, a Michigan-native and a senior at the University of Texas at San Antonio, was chosen from a competitive pool of more than 200 applicants from across the United States. In this role, Boone will connect young people to the work of the UN and represent youth voices at the UN General Assembly and at other UN events throughout the year.
"I am passionate about empowering young people to take the lead in solving global issues," said Boone. "As Youth Observer, I look forward to connecting with youth from all across the U.S. and learning how they're taking action to create positive change in their communities."
Boone is the founder and executive director of Sustainable Youth in Action, a nonprofit organization that trains and equips students with opportunities and tools to help turn their ideas into sustainable solutions for global issues, such as extreme poverty and climate change. He is a Global Citizen Curtis Scholar, Cultural Vistas Fellow, and a winner of the 2016 Gates Millennium Scholarship. His desire to combat global challenges and help underserved populations has taken him across the globe, on the ground with communities in Hong Kong, South Africa, and Japan.
"Now more than ever, our world needs young leaders like Jay'Len who are taking action in their local communities to help ensure a brighter future for our world," said Rachel Bowen Pittman, Executive Director of UNA-USA. "We are excited for Jay'Len to use this platform to represent young American voices on the world stage and to encourage more young people to act on the issues they care about most."
UNA-USA's Youth Observer to the United Nations program was launched in 2012 to increase youth engagement in global affairs. In this role, Boone will represent American youth at the 74th UN General Assembly in New York and other UN events throughout the year, traveling within the U.S. and overseas to share his impressions and experiences. Boone succeeds Mr. Michael Scott Peters, who served as a voice for American youth at major global events in New York, Singapore, the Netherlands, and in various cities across the country as the Youth Observer for 2018-19.
For more information on UNA-USA's Youth Observer program, please visit https://unausa.org/students/youth-observer. Follow the UNA-USA Youth Observer program on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/USyouthobserver/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/usyouthobserver), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/usyouthobserver/).
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About the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA):
The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) is a grassroots movement of Americans who support the vital work of the United Nations in U.S. communities, colleges, and Congress. For more than 75 years, UNA-USA and its national network of 20,000 members and 200 chapters have promoted strong U.S. leadership at the UN through advocacy campaigns, youth engagement, outreach programs, and public events. Learn more: https://unausa.org/
SOURCE United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA)
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