Civic Leadership Group Tours United Nations

On April 18, students in the BMCC Civic Leadership Program and Academy of Leadership and Service—both offered through the Office of Student Activities—as well as students from the Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice Department visited the United Nations Headquarters on East 42^nd Street in Manhattan.

The trip was organized through the Student Activities office for students interested in learning about the mission of the United Nations, and how they can pursue opportunities in international development and human and social justice.

Led by a UN tour guide, the students visited the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. They learned about key pillars of the UN’s work, including efforts to promote peace and economic stability across the globe by addressing issues such as disarmament and human rights.

The students were accompanied by BMCC staff members Melissa E. Aponte, Assistant Director of Student Activities and Leadership, and Doug Israel, Director of Government and Community Relations.

According to BMCC Science major Tsering Choetso, who took part in the tour, “I greatly enjoyed the visit to the United Nations. I want to see positive change in the world and I learned that through engagement we can help create that change.”

“The BMCC Academy of Leadership and Service continues to expand leadership development opportunities for our students,” Aponte said. “The Civic Leadership program is a great example of how we seek to address their diverse interests and better prepare them to be engaged citizens after graduating. Visits to the United Nations and other governing bodies provide our students the avenues to take active participation in their communities while challenging them to apply classroom learning to real life situations.”

“I was pleased to see such strong interest from BMCC students in learning about how the United Nations is helping solve many of the planet’s most pressing problems,” said Israel. “As this semester’s Civic Leadership program comes to a close, it is clear that many of our students are interested in being more civically engaged and finding ways to have a positive impact on their communities here in the U.S. and also abroad.”

The participating students included Asana Abubakari, Djenabou Bah, Odaine Chambers, Fnu Tsering Choetso, Makeme Conde,Thierno Hamdiata Diallo, Niels Hansen, Caeden Ignaszak, Raykhon Juraeva, Stephanie Jerome,Mahnaz Masud Khan, Wendy Miguel, Kiyonah Mya Buckhalter, Kelly Otterness, Awa Sanno, Sultan Saleh, Prince Sari, Ayman Saweris, Maharanni Singh,Lansana Sylla, Beatriz Santiago Torres, Sultana Yesmin and Rumeysa Yoruklu.

Students interested in joining the Civic Leadership Program next semester may contact Melissa Aponte, Assistant Director of Student Activities, at maponte@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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