30 TWC students from across America and around the globe participated in Un-Convention 2022 (UnCon22), an immersive day of seminars and discussions with viewpoints from across the political spectrum, including several TWC partners!
Pre-dawn on Friday October 7, 2022, 30 TWC students boarded a charter bus from TWC’s Residential Academic Facility (the RAF) in Washington, D.C. to head to Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy. The destination was the inaugural Un-Convention hosted by Bipartisan Policy Center, Smerconish and Unite America. The event brought together viewpoints from across the political spectrum to explore the state of American democracy and how Gen-Z leaders of tomorrow – those who make up TWC’s student body – will shape the policies and political environment that will define our future.
The opportunity for students to have a voice in the future of politics here and around the globe is a uniquely TWC experiential learning moment. Along with students from across the U.S., 12 TWC students representing Canada, China, Kyrgyzstan and Mexico participated in the UnCon22 event. All who attended expressed their desire to learn and connect with fellow future took the opportunity to take their classroom learnings and first-hand internship experience to the next level.
Learn and connect they did! The day was full of panels, policy lightning rounds and breakout conversations. TWC students heard firsthand from elected officials about the polarization of American politics and thoughts from politicians on both sides of the “aisle” about how to stay focused on the issues and move beyond personalities that often define the political environment.
Event attendees and TWC students found themselves amongst individuals who not only shape policy, but also have a direct connection to TWC. UnCon22 speakers included past Inside Washington presenter and former lieutenant governor of Maryland, Michael Steele, former TWC internship site supervisor and executive director of Unite America, Nick Troiano, as well as frequent speaker at TWC student events and adjunct lecturer at University of Illinois Chicago, Walter Podrazik.
As the event rolled to a close, TWC students, unsurprisingly, went from attendees to event influencers. During the last session of the day, one of TWC’s very own students, Addison Peter, took the stage with Sophie Beren, founder of The Conversationalist, to share her thoughts on UnCon22 and the power that future leaders, like the 30 in attendance, have in shaping the political future.
The Washington Center thanks the Bipartisan Policy Center and all UnCon22 sponsors and organizers for inviting our students to join in on the conversations and connect in ways that are only possible with TWC.
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