Student from Indiana Joins National Cohort of USA Pavilion Youth Ambassadors

WASHINGTON - Sept. 28, 2021 - PRLog -- Today, the U.S. Department of State and Global Ties U.S. announced the 75 Youth Ambassadors who will serve as the "Faces of America" for the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The International Center, a community-based partner of Global Ties U.S., is proud to share that Indiana will be represented by Youth Ambassador Marria Peduto.

USA Pavilion Youth Ambassadors are young U.S. citizens ages 18 to 29 who will serve as cultural representatives and exhibit guides at Expo 2020 Dubai – the first World's Fair to be held in the Middle East. Between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, they will spend three-to-six months in Dubai as part of a unique cultural exchange program interacting with U.S. and international officials, sharing knowledge on Pavilion exhibits and U.S. history and culture, and building people-to-people connections with millions of Expo visitors from all over the world.

Collectively, the group members have studied and learned to speak more than 20 languages, including Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, and Urdu. They represent 46 states and 66 universities; are experts in everything from sustainable design and public health to broadcast journalism and mechanical engineering; are alumni of exchange programs including the Fulbright Program, the National Security Languages for Youth Initiative, the Critical Language Scholarship, and the Boren Scholarship; and have professional experience in a variety of industries including UI/UX design, entrepreneurship, social work, and screenwriting. More information about the Youth Ambassadors will be shared on the USA Pavilion's website (https://usapavilion.org/) and social media platforms (@USAExpo2020) in the weeks ahead.

"This cohort of Youth Ambassadors is truly inclusive of our country's rich diversity and representative of our future," said Katherine Brown, Ph.D., President and CEO of Global Ties U.S. "Global Ties U.S. and our nationwide Network are excited for these 'Faces of America' to introduce the United States to the world."

The International Center is a local partner of Global Ties U.S., a national network of nonprofit organizations that worked to identify and recruit a diverse cohort of USA Pavilion Youth Ambassadors. As the Youth Ambassadors head to the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE, The Center is thrilled to have Indiana represented on the global stage.

Expo 2020 Dubai is a six-month-long global event and the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. The USA Pavilion's theme is "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of the Future." Exhibitions demonstrate U.S. commitments to promoting prosperity, opportunity, and innovation globally and domestically.