Events

Held in Washington, DC, this conference brought together key stakeholders to better understand the barriers still facing today’s youth and to explore new ways to work together to scale proven practice programs.

This event in Washington, DC, presented lessons learned through IYF's entra21 and Obra initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean.

On Thursday, October 11, 2018, the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation will spotlight the unique role of today’s youth in advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. This half-day event will convene over 200 business and civil society leaders, university students, young social entrepreneurs, academics, and media representatives from more than 30 countries. Outstanding young social entrepreneurs from around the globe will engage participants through TED-style presentations about the challenges they face in scaling systemic change.

Today’s youth are uniquely equipped to transform our society. Driven by the values of equity and justice, they are already leading change. Achieving the global goals requires a fundamental shift in human values, attitudes, and behaviors. Young people believe that inclusive societies are better societies. They recognize that all people, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, or economic standing, have inalienable rights that must be upheld. They understand that living in balance with nature is essential to the sustainability of our planet. They are already building new models and organizations to deliver on change. By pioneering social innovations, today’s young social entrepreneurs are leading the way forward. But they can’t do it alone. Join us for an action-oriented conversation about how to leverage and engage more youth as change-makers and create an ecosystem of support to maximize youth-led ventures working to build open, just, and equitable societies.

To learn more, including about breakout sessions, please consult the agenda.

Speakers include:

Sheldon Smith (Keynote)
Founder and Executive Director, The Dovetail Project 

Camille Bangug
GU Impacts Alumna, Millennium Fellowship Co-Director, Georgetown University

Mentor Dida
Senior Ashoka Intrapreneur

Cheryl Dorsey
President, Echoing Green

Katie Fallon
Senior Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Affairs, Hilton

Richard Graves
Chief Impact Officer and Co-founder, CleanChoice Energy; Founder, Solidaire

Sandra Herrera López
Director of Social Responsibility, Laureate International Universities

Jacqueline Lawrence
Founder, Mbeya Highlands FM Radio, Tanzania

​Parag Mehta
Executive Director and Senior Vice President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth

Ambassador Sarah Mendelson
Professor of Public Policy, Heinz College, Carnegie Mellon University

Chris Milligan
Counselor to the Agency, United States Agency for International Development

Eddie Musa
Filmmaker, New Lens; CEO, MusaMajicTV

Christopher Neu
Chief Operating Officer, TechChange

Holly Wise
Associate Professor, Global Human Development; Director, Social Enterprise and Innovation Fellows Program, Georgetown University

The hosts are committed to making this event accessible to all guests. Please contact Rafael Luz (rr1096@georgetown.edu), Events Manager for the Beeck Center, with any special needs.

These four briefings will present results from a survey of thousands of youth ages 16 to 24 across 30 countries.