The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs will host a completion ceremony for 77 Jovenes en Accion (Youth in Action) exchange participants on Tuesday, August 7 at 1:50 p.m. in the Dean Acheson Auditorium of the U.S. Department of State. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine will deliver remarks and award certificates of completion to the participants.

Jovenes en Accion is an innovative five-week youth exchange program that develops leadership skills, fosters civic engagement, and supports Mexican public high school students from diverse and traditionally underserved communities in creating service projects to implement in their schools and neighborhoods. The program was initiated in 2010 by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education with support from the private sector.

This event is open to the press.
Pre-set time for video cameras: 1:05 p.m. from the 23^rd Street Entrance Lobby.
Final access times for journalists and still photographers: 1:35 p.m. from the 23^rd Street Entrance Lobby.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or

(3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license or passport).

PRESS CONTACT:
Amber Forbes
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
U.S. Department of State
WHAPress@State.Gov
(202) 427-2902