Galvanizing Young Leaders

As the global community prepares for the 2024 One Young World Summit in Montréal, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide Angela F. Williams spoke with the ten young leaders from five countries selected by the United Way network to represent the organization. These conversations revealed their excitement, ambitions, and sense of responsibility as they head to the global stage.

The One Young World Summit is one of the largest global gatherings of young leaders, bringing together over 2,000 delegates from more than 190 countries. Over four days, delegates will engage with influential figures from politics, business, and humanitarian sectors, including author Margaret Atwood and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. The summit addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges through plenary sessions on indigenous voices, climate action, artificial intelligence, health equity, and peace. By the end of the summit, participants will leave as One Young World Ambassadors, equipped with the knowledge, networks, and inspiration to return to their communities and drive meaningful change. For United Way’s delegates, this summit represents an unparalleled opportunity to amplify their impact on a global scale and align their local work with global solutions.

Robert Mills-Lamptey from United Way Ghana expressed his anticipation with deep emotion: “Being part of the team going to Montréal for One Young World is not just a learning opportunity for me. It’s a fulfillment of a dream. It’s a chance for me to expand on my knowledge and skills so that I can scale up the impact I’m making here in Ghana.” He further noted that he was particularly eager to bring back ideas on how to prevent climate disasters beyond merely supporting those affected by them.

Ashwini Sonar from United Way of Mumbai spoke about the personal and professional growth she expects from the summit. She emphasized the significance of amplifying the voices of the communities she serves. “The impact that we are creating in the lives of thousands of people in India is something I want to showcase at One Young World. It will help me a lot in my personal and professional growth, where I can speak about our project impact.” She underlined the legacy that United Way delegates carry with them, reinforcing her dedication to representing her community on a global platform.

Veronica Torres from United Way of New York City shared her passion for health equity and her commitment to her community. “I have the pleasure of working to promote health equity across our diverse five boroughs. I’m really excited to jump into some of those health equity keynotes and presentations and bring back that knowledge to continue serving the New York City region.” She saw this summit as a chance to broaden her understanding and bring fresh solutions back to her community.

Similarly, Jocelyn Clayton from Tulsa Area United Way expressed her enthusiasm for the conference’s focus on amplifying indigenous voices. “As a member of the Cherokee Nation, I’m particularly excited about this plenary topic. Living in Oklahoma, we have a very interesting history with indigenous peoples. I want to continue the work of making sure their voices are heard in my local community.”

The CEO reminded the delegates that their presence at the summit was more than a personal achievement—an opportunity to represent United Way and forge lasting connections. “We really are, each of us, ambassadors. This is going to be an opportunity for you to connect with corporate folks and build relationships,” she said. She encouraged them to network, engage deeply with other delegates, and bring back ideas that could be replicated in their communities.

These ten young leaders represent their local United Ways and embody the global mission to build resilient communities where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. As they head to Montréal, they are united by a common purpose: to learn, share, and return with innovative ideas that will fuel positive change in communities around the world. This year’s summit is one way United Way empowers the next generation of leaders to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

You can learn more about the United Way delegates here.