Pittsburgh To Host 'One Young' World Summit
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) --- The city is hosting the One Young World summit -- a chance to show off the city and cultivate Pittsburgh's image with the next generation -- a generation with whom the mayor says he can identify.
The banners are already posted around the city, welcoming 1,500 twenty-somethings from around the world to Pittsburgh next Thursday.
"Not only did we beat out Johannesburg, we beat out bids from cities in Australia, from cities in China and also Peru," Ravenstahl said today.
The summit of 18 to 30 year-olds is designed for young aspiring leaders, and the young people come from 190 countries.
"It's the largest representation -- to me, this is amazing -- of countries other than the Olympics and the United Nations," noted the mayor. "Just incredible stuff and a great chance for us to expose our city to the world."
At a press conference today, Ravenstahl and community leaders unveiled the agenda, which includes at the Convention Center an opening night address from President Clinton -- a special party on the Clemente Bridge -- and private dinners in the homes of many Pittsburghers -- and a chance to learn and exchange ideas in workshops.
While most of this conference is closed to the public, there's one event that's open to everyone, twenty-something and over. It's a pub and gallery crawl, right here on Penn and Liberty Avenues in the Cultural District, on Friday, October 19th.
Two local delegates told KDKA money editor Jon Delano that they're excited.
"I would really like to make some new friends and get some new ideas that we can bring back to our community," said Karey Beth Line of Squirrel Hill.
"I really hope to get some ideas from these individuals around the world, to share cultural differences, solve problems that you can't get living in your own region," added Ian Nash of Friendship.
About a hundred local young people from thirty local companies and organizations will join the conference.
Besides President Clinton, the delegates will hear from influential activists and world leaders -- like 80's rock star Bob Geldof, Jack Dorsey--founder of Twitter, actor Kal Penn, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, musician Joss Stone, and British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
They'll all be here and many more next week.
Besides joining the young people for the pub and gallery crawl, organizers hope all of us will be our normal friendly and welcoming selves with the international visitors.
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