What would a collaborative vision for U.S. foreign policy look like in 2009? Where does consensus exist that we can build upon? What can young people do to promote and support an interconnected and solution-oriented role for the U.S. in the world?

The Partnership for a Secure America, along with Americans for Informed Democracy and World Learning hosted a foreign policy conference on April 26th in San Francisco. The conference was aimed at equipping students--the next generation of global leaders-- with the skills and awareness necessary to shape a more appropriate US foreign policy in the coming years. 

The conference began with a moving keynote on global interconnectedness, given by Mr. Chip Pitts, a lecturer at Stanford University Law School and former Chairman of Amnesty International. The speech resonated through a powerful MTV video on human trafficking and child labor. Follow this link to view the video "All I Need", co-produced by Radiohead, which has been released publicly today.

Morning and afternoon panels followed, in which students and experts debated a wide range of foreign policy topics, including US nuclear nonproliferation strategy, climate change, America's foreign aid agenda, and more. Expert panelists provided students with topical information, including copies of "A World Free Of Nuclear Weapons," a guidemap to nonproliferation strategy as outlined by the notable Hoover Group last year.

In an effort to equip students with the skills necessary to make a difference in foreign policy today, PSA and our affiliates also coached students through sessions on advocacy training, writing policy statements, and using the web to create a voice. 

PSA also provided conference attendees with a glimpse into less traditional, yet equally affecting foreign policy careers. Artist, writer, and Fulbright scholar Dan Hoyle performed parts of one-man show on corruption in Nigeria for student attendees. To read more about Dan Hoyle, please click here.

PSA would like to thank World Learning, Americans for Informed Democracy, and SFSU International Relations Group for the opportunity to host this event. Special thanks go to expert panelists and students for making the conference a success.

Kenneth Dombroski, Naval Postgraduate School         Amar Bakshi, Washington Post

Nicole Sarawan, United Nations Foundation                   Richard Graves, AID

Andrew Ross, San Francisco Chronicle                          Gabriella Yates, INTERSOS

Darren Zook, University of California at Berkeley          Lewis Franklin, Stanford CISAC

Eirene Chan, Conflict Transformation Afghanistan       Nozima Kamalova, Stanford CDDRL 

Moria Briss, Fellowships of Reconciliation                      Dan Hoyle, Actor/Writer

Giulia McPherson, CARE                                                       Chip Pitts, Stanford Law School