THE EXCHANGE  |  AUGUST EDITION
Fall Precinct Programs: From YALI to YLAI

The 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI) has concluded, and we continue to reflect on the long withstanding impact of this year's cohort. In this newsletter, we feature Impact Stories, full photo coverage, archived speeches, and more from the YALI program.

In just over a month, the Precinct will welcome 10 Fellows through the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI). Our YLAI Fellows will spend much of their Fellowship in professional development positions at small businesses, startups, and non-profits in the Charlottesville area in addition to one day per week of programming with Precinct partners. Three groups of visitors through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) will also come to the Precinct in the coming weeks.

MANDELA FELLOW IMPACT STORIES
We're posting one Impact Story per day that features a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow, their work, and their motivations as they continue to impact global change. Click below to view stories from this week, or visit the Precinct YouTube channel for a full listing.
Nana Adjoa Entsuah
Takoradi, Ghana
Zelalem Kibret
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bukky Shonibare
Abuja, Nigeria
YALI PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT
This four day event brought Mandela Washington Fellows from 40 host institutes together for  a town hall with President Obama, a plenary session with Members of Congress, engagement with Department of State and USAID representatives, and breakout discussions with leaders in business, government, international development and non-governmental organizations.

Exclusive Presidential Precinct coverage of the Presidential Summit:
2016 AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM
The Africa Business Forum convened global business executives, government officials, academic leaders and 25 Mandela Washington Fellows from 17 African countries to discuss today's business environment in Africa and opportunities for spurring economic growth, good governance and private sector investment. The format was designed to encourage informal dialogue and interactions among participants. The program included moderated panel discussions, lightning roundtables, and an informal networking lunch.
PRECINCT FELLOWS IN THE NEWS
Abidine Maetalla Featured for YALI Professional Development Experience
Read More
Mirabel Ngong Hosts Women's Empowerment Event with Flash Grant
Read More
PRECINCT PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Monticello to Host Diplomatic Challenges Conference

The next US administration will confront a tumultuous world full of formidable diplomatic challenges. Any American response is complicated by the differing interests of parties and states whose cooperation is essential to finding solutions. Defending and further promoting our interests while also promoting our values-which sustain our country as well as our allies and friends-will be the core diplomatic challenge for the new president. 

The event will feature three speakers who will highlight different perspectives on this issue. Ambassador Charles Ries will focus on the controversial topic of multilateral trade deals and the possibility of restructuring the global economic order to better fit the 21st century. Diplomatic and military affairs traditionally have been separated, but Ambassador Ronald Neumann will challenge this rule as a solution to modern and unconventional challenges in the field. Transnational issues have also influenced American diplomacy in recent years, and Ambassador Eric Schwartz will argue for increased input and assistance from world powers and institutions to respond to these issues. 
WHAT WE'RE READING
James B. Murray, Jr. the Precinct's founder, shares an article that he hopes may be interesting or thought provoking for the Precinct's constituencies. In particular we hope to attract the attention of young leaders from around the world who may look to the Precinct for an unbiased, non-judgmental window into current thinking on democracy, the rule of law and best political practices. We will post each article on the Precinct Network in the spirit of stimulating dialogue and critical thinking. 

Now Is the Time to Invest in the World's  Fastest-Growing Continent

"In recognition of the Precinct's recently departed African guests (a wonderful group) we publish this month an upbeat assessment on the economic promise of that continent. Though it was first published last year, its message still resonates strongly in 2016. Coincidentally the author, Lauren Foster, though unrelated to the Precinct, is African educated and based here in Charlottesville - home to the Precinct offices and a developing hub of internationalism. Foster's message, not surprisingly, re-enforces what the 2016 Fellows heard from business executives at this summer's Africa Business Forum at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Africans have much to be optimistic about."

-James B. Murray, Jr.
Read Article
STAY CONNECTED
Presidential Precinct | 427 Park Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22902