THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF ORANGE COUNTY
SPRING 2023
SAJINDRA GUNAWARDANE & STACEY KEELEY Trustee Spotlights Introducing World Affairs Council of Orange County’s Dynamic New Committee: YPIN! WACOC is pleased to announce the development of the Young Professionals Intercollegiate Program (YPIN). Following a highly-successful series of events produced prior to the pandemic by the former Young Professionals Committee, former co-chairs Isaiah Leslie and Sajindra Gunawardane convened in late-2022 with then-Board Chair Jeff Hobert and new Trustee Stacey Keeley to conceive a new, forward-thinking program for dynamic, emerging professionals.
Led by Keeley and Gunawardane, the all new YPIN aims to bring together a diverse group of academic leaders, college students and emerging business professionals who value foreign policy discourse and meaningful connections. The new YPIN Committee, currently consisting of 3-5 members, is in the midst of developing a groundbreaking program which interweaves high-value engagement, education, and opportunities to socialize in a manner which deepens relationships between The Council, local academic institutions, students and alumni business leaders -- and fosters new ones.
YPIN Members at our May Committee meeting
As part of its strategic plan for 2023, YPIN is in the process of reaching out to institutional leaders of foreign studies programs to invite their participation in jointly developing programs which present opportunities for mentorship and/or academic credit, and which bring together like-minded young professionals with a shared passion for engaging, constructive discourse. These may include panel discussions, workshops, seminars, and interactive events which will offer potential YPIN members opportunities to enhance their knowledge, refine their skills, and engage in thought-provoking discussions on global issues impacting all of us. While 2023 will largely be dedicated to developing this program foundation, the YPIN Committee is concurrently planning a Social Mixer in the fourth quarter to announce the new YPIN program, which is targeted for launch in 2024. This event will allow new and prospective YPIN members to informally meet, network, form connections, gain an awareness of YPIN’s mission, as well as learn about ways they may engage in WACOC programs. Current Board of Trustee Members will also be invited to attend this coming YPIN Social Mixer!
We invite all WACOC Trustees and Members to consider how you may support the YPIN Committee’s mission to create a vibrant community that cultivates the next generation of leaders and changemakers in international affairs. If you have ideas, relationships and connections which may be of assistance as YPIN develops this promising new program, please share them with Sajindra at Saji@USBusinessCounsel.com and Stacey at StaceyKeeley@protonmail.com.
YPIN members meet with Amb. Colleen Bell
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