Celebrating and Empowering the Next Generation

For our community, May marks new beginnings. Those of us in the Midwest can finally put away our coats and soak up some sun. The new beginning I’m most excited to celebrate? Graduation, and all the young people who are ready and inspired to change our world.

I have the pleasure of connecting with students all over the country about global issues that matter. Our team travels from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast to talk about the world with the next generation.

In Boulder, Colorado, I recently spoke with undergraduates about whether climate solutions can unify geopolitical rivals—even China and the United States. At every school we visit, it’s clear to me: from environmental degradation to misinformation to our financial future, Zoomers care deeply about where the world is headed.

“I want to be directly engaged with the problem at hand,” a student in Minnesota told me.

Another shared, “Our talk really opened my eyes to the many possibilities in foreign service work.” That’s the best news to hear. It means another generation of changemakers is empowered to tackle the challenges at hand.

As we celebrate this new group of graduates, I'm inspired by their eagerness to dive in. The Council can help them take that leap.