Montgomery Sister Cities Commissions Inaugural Cohort of Youth Ambassadors, Ushering in a New Era of Citizen Diplomacy

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Montgomery Sister Cities (MSC) proudly concluded 2025 by commissioning its first-ever cohort of Youth Ambassadors—a diverse group of Montgomery County students with deep ties to the county’s five Sister Cities: Gondar, Ethiopia; Xi’an, China; Morazán, El Salvador; Daejeon, South Korea; and Hyderabad, India.

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The commissioning ceremony marked the culmination of a transformative six-week program designed to foster global citizenship, leadership, and cross-cultural understanding. Throughout the program, Youth Ambassadors participated in:

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• Lectures on cultural and global business synergy informed by the Institute of Peace Gandhi-King Global Academy and Justin Reyna from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business

• Interactive sessions with country representatives residing in Montgomery County

• Cultural excursions exploring the rich diversity of the Sister Cities

• Service projects benefiting local communities connected to Montgomery Sister Cities

• Task force meetings with Maryland Secretary of State’s Office, where Ambassadors developed recommendations for future economic and international development strategies

• Ethics in Diplomacy simulations with Reggie Smith of the U.S. State Department, partner of Leaders Institute

• Humanitarian events promoting community engagement and global awareness

 

This innovative program was established as an in-country alternative to traditional international exchanges, responding to the challenges of global travel while ensuring that the spirit of citizen-to-citizen diplomacy continues to thrive. “In this very difficult and unpredictable international travel environment, taking students abroad for a pilot program would not have been wise. However, we knew that the notion of citizen-to-citizen diplomacy could no longer be on hold and needed to be established, particularly in youth. We just had to start, so my Co-Chair, Madison Spencer, and I created an in-country alternative that incorporated all of the components of an international visit,” said Stephanie Clark, Co-Chair of the MSC Youth Ambassador Committee.

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The commissioning ceremony was attended by a host of special guests, including MSC Sister City program founders former County Executive Isaiah Leggett and Bruce Adams, Secretary of State’s Office representative Joseph Gebhardt, Maryland’s Sister State Board President, Dr. Jean Bailey and many family members and friends.

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As newly commissioned Ambassadors, these students will dedicate the next year to advancing citizen to citizen diplomacy, building bridges between Montgomery County and its Sister Cities, and serving as global leaders within their communities. MSC looks forward to witnessing how these Youth Ambassadors embody the values of international understanding and cooperation—starting right here in Montgomery County, Maryland.