“There will be nearly 1,500 delegates here in Pittsburgh that will represent 190 countries," said Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of the One Young World Summit coming to the city next week. Pittsburgh is the first U.S. city to host the event, which is the largest representation of countries outside the Olympics and the United Nations. The previous two were held in Zurich and London.
The event is a gathering of young delegates who will debate and formulate solutions for the pressing issues facing their countries and the world. Helping to guide the delegates will be a group of counselors. Their function is to provide inspiration, support, and guidance to the 20-29 year olds.
“They include President Bill Clinton, Sir Bob Geldof, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, musician Joss Stone, and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. That’s, just to name a few, a very impressive list of folks that will be here in our city,” said Ravenstahl.
In an effort to ensure the global participants aren’t confined to the convention center for several days, some of the sessions are taking place at other locations including the Cathedral of Learning and Carnegie Mellon University. There are also “home dinners” where delegates will dine with area families either at their homes or at special locations. Some of the topics on the agenda include education, global health, human rights, and global business.
“This is about the next generation,” said Steve Sokel, president and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, “this about giving the successor generation a voice as they try to take on some of the most pressing economic, social, and political challenges at home, in their home communities, in their home countries, but also around the world,”
The summit is expected to bring in an estimated $5 million in direct spending to the Pittsburgh area.
