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Mayors for Peace Staff Member's Attendance at the Obama Foundation Summit
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This Foundation manages the Mayors for Peace Secretariat.
Since December 2016, this Foundation has been in communication with the Obama Foundation, established by former US President Obama, and discussed the possibility of future collaboration between the two foundations.
As a part of that collaboration, a staff member from this Foundation's Peace and International Solidarity Promotion Division attended the Obama Foundation Summit that was held in Chicago, Illinois State in the United States on two days from October 31 to November 1, 2017.
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Former US President Obama at the opening event
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This summit was attended by around five hundred young people who play the role of leaders in various fields in the United States and sixty countries around the world.
Participants held discussions on the ideal state of active citizenship in the 21st century, explored solutions to common issues, and built cross-border networks of young leaders.
There were also breakout sessions and talks by public figures from a variety of fields, including Prince Henry of England, Italy's former prime minister Matteo Renzi, and others from regional communities, business, the arts and cultural fields.
Our staff member held discussions with
young civic leaders from around the world,
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and also explained the initiatives of Mayors for Peace, asking for understanding and cooperation in future activities.
The staff member was also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to directly tell Mr. Obama that he had come from Hiroshima, and also had a conversation with Ms. Caroline Kennedy, the former US ambassador to Japan, who was the MC for a breakout session.
Ms. Kennedy said "the Mayors for Peace initiatives are really wonderful."
At the end of the Closing Session, Mr. Obama said that he considered the summit a success because the participants inspired each other and they inspired him.
After confirming that the participants will not be alone because of the people they met at this summit, Mr. Obama concluded,
"Let's get to work!"
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| (Peace and International Solidarity Promotion Division) |
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