This is an article from the Winter 2025 Civitas Examiner (Volume 2, No. 4) and was written by one of our students, Leanna H. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue. To read more Civitas Examiner stories or to submit your own, click here.
From November 14-16, 2025, the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) held its annual Leadership Summit in St. Louis, Missouri. I attended as a student journalist with Civitas, a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging students in politics and current events while helping us grow into informed, active citizens. During the summit, I interviewed several women, first time attendees and experienced participants. I asked newcomers what drew them to the event, and I asked veteran members what advice they had for students and rising leaders like me. Their perspectives were both insightful and motivating. These women represent powerful examples of leadership and global engagement, and their visibility matters. Seeing them at the forefront helps young women recognize their own potential to lead and effect meaningful change.
The first women I interviewed were Sarah, Afi, Natalie (Van), and Valentina. They are all students at Webster University. Here is a portion of our conversation:
“What motivated you to attend this event?”
Sarah – “First of all, I think it’s [the idea of] learning more about the UN, and secondly, making connections, [getting to] know people working in this field, people interested in this field and just learning from others in this field specifically.”
Afi – “Also to get awareness of where we can start from, as students, as young people that are not inside the UN, […] how we could make changes or create a change where we are with the opportunities that we find in front of us.”
Van – “Especially with the school we go to. We’re all Webster University students, and it’s a pretty global campus that really cares about humanitarian rights and global policy. With all the members who chose to come today, we really care about global rights and policies. And also, [it’s] an opportunity to actually talk to lawmakers and people who are part of this change, so [it’s] a really great event to be part of.”
Valentina – “It’s important for young professionals to know that there is a place in the world [and] that your voice matters and we’re here to show that.”
“What is your favorite Sustainable Development Goal?”
Afi – “For me, it’s the Goal #1: Eradication of Poverty. I believe that there’s the need for everyone to have enough to live and not be surviving on workings. There should be enough systems in place by various nation-states to be able to provide for everyone [so that] they are not scrambling to eat and survive, and have the basic means to get education [and] shelter. Basically, I feel like there’s the need for everyone to have that. It’s just right.”
These four young professional women arrived eager to learn from those who have dedicated their careers to global change. Together, they emphasized a message they hope other young professionals will hear: pursue the spaces you aspire to be in and when you reach them, know that you belong there.
After interviewing these young women, I had the opportunity to speak with Negin Khesali, a graduate from University of Oklahoma, where she earned a Master’s in International and Global Studies. She is a former intern at the United States House of Representatives and worked remotely in the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Tom Cole. At the summit, she also served as the UNA-USA Delegate Fund Beneficiary presenter. This was her first time in St. Louis and when I asked for her initial impressions, she told me:
“It’s such a vibrant city. The people are nice [and] I’m happy to be here.”
Negin made a strong impression on me because, like me, she first became interested in the UN as a student through a Model UN program, much like what I participate in at Civitas. As we discussed how influential programs like these can be for students as early as middle school, I recognized parts of my own journey in hers. Curious about where that path had led her, I asked about her most recent experiences. Last summer, she interned on Capitol Hill, an experience she said only deepened her passion for global issues. She now continues her involvement as an active member of UNA-USA’s Oklahoma chapter.
Later in the evening, I met a remarkable young woman named Ruby Asabor. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine from Kean University and has conducted brain cancer research. By the time she graduated college, she had already spoken at over 50 colleges, universities and academic events, driven by her belief that education can change the world. Ruby now owns multiple companies and is also a YouTube creator, with over 196,000 subscribers. She works as a venture capitalist based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ruby explained that she is “interested in how [people] can be more impactful to world issues overall.” She focuses her investments on businesses that seek to improve quality of life and strive to make their financial impact meaningful.
Toward the end of the event, I spoke with Megan Green, the first female President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. She holds a degree in Political Science from Penn State University and a PhD in Education Policy from Saint Louis University. Until 2024, she served as an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis.
When I asked her what advice she would offer to students and young people interested in politics and current events, she told me:
“I would say, make yourself useful. I was the high school student who showed up at campaign offices and started volunteering. I was the high school student that would show up at UN meetings or community meetings and either volunteer or lend my voice. Adults would eventually recognize that, give me responsibility, and teach me things. Years later, when it became time for me to run for office, I had those skills already. I had the connections already because I had been showing up and learning and making myself useful, as my mom would say.”
The women I met at the UNA-USA Leadership Summit – students, emerging professionals, and seasoned leaders alike – all embody the spirit of global citizenship that is needed in our generation. Their commitment to learning, their courage to step into unfamiliar spaces, and their determination to use their voices remind us that leadership is an action word. Each of them is shaping a path paved by curiosity, service, and dedication, proving that the old adage ‘young people are the leaders of tomorrow’ is behind us because young people are already leading today. Their stories affirm that when we show up, stay engaged, and trust in the value of our perspectives, we find our place at the table and we even help to build better tables for those who will follow.
