LAsia 21 Young Leaders Initiative
The Asia Society’s Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative was first established in 2006 with the goal of developing a network of young leaders across Asia/Pacific and the U.S. The cross-sector and cross-national leadership initiative brings together a select group of the region’s most dynamic young leaders, under the age of 40, for the purpose of addressing the most pressing issues facing Asia/Pacific and proposing innovative solutions.
On October 10, 2011, Asia Society Southern California (ASSC) officially launched its LAsia 21 Young Leaders Initiative with Asia Society Co-Chairs, Ronnie Chan and Henrietta Fore. LAsia 21 seeks to identify and honor outstanding individuals, all under the age of 40, from Southern California who will impact global affairs over the coming decades and are active in building bridges between Asia/Pacific and the U.S. Under the leadership of ASSC’s Executive Committee Members, Eric Garcetti and Dr. Seagull Song, ASSC will select 10 honorees annually, three of whom will become delegates of the Asia 21 Summit, and if one of the three LAsia 21 delegates is outstanding, then may be selected to an Asia 21 Fellow.
These distinguished young leaders will join the Asia 21 Fellows class of 25 young leaders across industries working together to develop innovate approaches to critical global issues. The group meets three times during their one-year fellowship: in the Spring at the Asia 21 Young Leaders Forum where they lay the groundwork for the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in the Fall, at the Summit and then again at the next Forum where they complete their term and meet the new class of Fellows. Each forum, therefore, has two classes of Fellows who arrive at different times but overlap to pass on best practices, and to enhance the Asia 21 Fellow network.
A major component of the Fellowship is the selection of a recipient of the Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative Public Service Award (PSA). The Award recognizes organizations that benefit underprivileged social and economic groups, communities and the public in the Asia/Pacific region. The winner receives a cash grant as well as the active support of the Asia 21 Fellows in providing the recipient organization with access to the Fellows’ network for program development and in helping to replicate the models of successful projects.
The Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit creates an active network for emerging leaders under the age of 40 from throughout Asia/Pacific and the United States to build relationships, engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and cultural exchange, and to develop collaborative responses to addressing shared challenges. The Summit brings together up to 200 participants to promote greater public visibility for the contributions of young leaders representing diverse sectors in business, politics, arts & culture, civil society, media and academia. Past Summits were held in Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. The 2011 Asia 21 Summit was held in New Delhi, India.
Please click here to learn more about the Global Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative. http://asiasociety.org/policy/asia-21/about
For questions regarding LAsia 21, please contact Katherine Estrada at
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