Leadership Program Seeks to Harness Potential of Local Young People

Young people from across the Newry, Mourne and Down District will benefit from an innovative youth development project funded by the US Department of State. 

The US:NI Leadership Initiative is a collaborative one-year project involving the US Consulate, the Northern Ireland Assembly and Politics Plus. Through a series of evening workshops, the initiative will seek to promote civic responsibility, build leadership skills and encourage democratic engagement among young people.

During 2017, the initiative will reach young people from across Northern Ireland and on Thursday 22 June the initiative will visit Downpatrick with support from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s DEA Co-ordinators.

Panelists will include Quintin Oliver, an internationally renowned political strategist who has worked in Europe, the Middle East and South America. Globally renowned personal development guru Billy Dixon will also be involved, as well as a number of young leaders from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Local politicians from the area will also participate.

US Consul General in Northern Ireland, Daniel Lawton said, “We are delighted to help facilitate these important workshops and hope that they inspire and empower young people from every corner of Northern Ireland to work effectively for a better, shared future”.   

Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said, “The event is about two very important aspects of politics; leadership and initiative. You cannot have one without the other. Leadership requires taking the initiative to act, to learn, to inspire, while initiative requires a leader and someone to lead the change”.

Councillor Mulgrew continued, “It is important for young voices to make themselves heard through activism and lobbying and to help shape the policies that will affect them now and in the future”.