PL+U.S. Youth Forum: Better Together

On the 26th of October 2018, the “PL+U.S. Youth Forum: Better Together” took place at the American Center Warsaw. It was organized by the US Embassy in Poland, and more than 300 young people ranging in age from 16 to 25 participated. The ceremonial opening was performed by Georgette Mosbacher (US Ambassador to Poland), Jadwiga Emilewicz (Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology) and Rajmund Bacewicz (science Rector for the Warsaw University of Technology).

Mateusz Komorowski - the President of IICS - appeared during the Forum as the keynote speaker with a presentation entitled “Democracy: Engaging Together”, as well as moderated a panel called “Engaging together - present challenges of civic engagement in Poland and the U.S.” in which took part Steven Bremner (of the US Embassy in Poland), Ewa Modrzejewska (of Association 61), Mirella Panek-Owsiańska and Agata Stafiej-Bartosik (of Ashoka Poland).

The “PL+U.S. Youth Forum” is a key part of the US Embassy’s project “100 Years Together”, which was organized on the occasion of Poland’s 100th anniversary of regaining independence and 100 years of diplomatic relations between Poland and the US. Forum participants took part in panels, as well as presentations concerning the four most important pillars of Polish-American cooperation: security, economy and trade, cultural exchange and democracy, and civic engagement. Polish graduates of exchange programs organized by the US government took part in the panels and shared their experiences with young people, stressing the importance of strengthening relations between Poland and the United States. Forum participants also took part in a networking session with Embassy representatives, as well as the American military and representatives of non-government organizations and businesses. They also learned about educational and work opportunities in the United States, as well as choice of future career path.

The “PL+U.S. Youth Forum” was the first event in the newly opened American Center Warsaw. During the opening gala Ambassador Mosbacher and Polish guests cut the ribbon and revealed the American Center Warsaw slab. The center will serve as the primary resource hub for the Poland wide network American Corners. Future training at the center on such issues as technology and entrepreneurship is being planned. Thanks to the ACW, as well as the American Corners network, Poles of all ages will be able to widen their knowledge about the United States - which will result in the strengthening of relations that stand as a foundation of Polish-American cooperation.