British and American Youths to Shadow Secretaries Powell and Straw for Fourth Annual Exchange

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell will be shadowed as he carries out his duties on Thursday, July 8 by two British youths, James McCleneghan and Nicky Owen, in the fourth Annual Powell-Straw Youth Exchange. Secretary Powell and former U.K. Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, on the occasion of their first bilateral meeting in February 2001 in Washington, D.C., agreed to host this program to highlight U.S. and British young people who have overcome significant obstacles in their lives and serve as role models for other young people.

The International Visitor Program, part of the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is coordinating a one-week visit for the British youths in the U.S. around the “shadow” day. The youth development organization Boys & Girls Clubs of America selected two American youths to travel to the U.K. and is assisting with the program for the British youths in the U.S. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office worked with the Rainer Foundation, a leading British NGO, to select the two British students.

James McCleneghan, 17, of Basildon and Nicky Owen, 18, of Yorkshire have overcome significant personal challenges and today serve as role models and youth leaders. James McCleneghan serves as a peer mentor and teacher to young people through the Parklands Project and other after school clubs in Basildon. He is currently pursuing training to become a mentor to young people who are in custody. Nicky Owen also serves as a peer mentor to support young people faced with difficult situations through his work with the Rainer Foundation’s Chapter in South Yorkshire. Last year he participated in the making of a video dealing with bullying and violence issues.

Two American students, Michael Goodman, 18, of the Tinker Air Force Base Boys & Girls Club in Oklahoma, and National Youth of the Year Mieasha Hicks, 19, of Boys & Girls Club of Toledo, will replicate the experience of McCleneghan and Owen by shadowing British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw during the week of July 11.

After spending several days in Washington, D.C., McCleneghan and Owen will travel to Phoenix, Arizona. Their program will include meetings with Members of Congress and American youth leaders, participation in a Habitat for Humanity project, police youth programs, as well as cultural and sporting events.

For more information, please contact Nicole Deaner, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at (202) 203-7613 or Yasmine Hatoum, Boys and Girls Club of America at (301) 251-6676.

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