April ‘23 Youth Council Meeting | Zero Poverty & Activism

The UNA-Gainesville Youth Council had a memorable meeting centered around SDG 1: Zero Poverty on April 30. Despite being an introductory gathering, the passion-driven meeting yielded valuable leadership lessons that will stay with us for a lifetime. Our Director, Delaney Zambrano, started the session and introduced Dr. Jacob Gordon as a keynote speaker. Dr. Gordon, an emeritus Professor at the University of Kansas, Endowed Chair at the University of Ghana, and Senior Fulbright Scholar, gave an incredible speech emphasizing the importance of leaders serving others. Indeed, there will always be opportunities to rise in service and be a leader.

Delaney also spoke about how to get involved with supporting the United Nations and the scope of the Youth Council's vision. She introduced Veronika Goncharova, a University of Florida alumnus and our second keynote speaker. Veronika is passionate about advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in climate, gender equality, and global health capacities. She emphasized the importance of networking for impact as a leader, which aligns with the purpose of our Youth Council. This is a crucial lesson for all leaders. She also discussed various organizations with which we could get involved to support the UN.

Our Internal Relations Director, Donieliza Munford, delivered an impactful outro to conclude the meeting. She described poverty and its implications for different populations based on racial and socioeconomic factors. Her words served as a resonating call to action and organizing around ways to tackle poverty at all levels, from local to global.

The passion and dedication displayed at the UNA-Gainesville Youth Council meeting is a testament to the incredible potential of young leaders to make a positive impact on the world. As an Executive Board member, I left with a feeling of strong confidence in the Youth’s ability and commitment to a better UN and a more equitable world. 

The incredible mantra, "Leaders serve," was echoed by all.

- Kenny Moise