TARA RIORDAN SELECTED FOR INTERNATIONAL YOUNG POLITICAL LEADERS PROGRAM

Washington, DC – TaraLyn M. Riordan has been selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) as a delegate to China for a 14-day political study program from September 8-22, 2006.  She will join eight other young political leaders from across the United States to study China’s political system, engage in dialogue on bilateral issues and forge professional relationships.

“ACYPL targets young political leaders likely to assume future leadership positions in their national governments,” said Brad Minnick, ACYPL’s Executive Director. “Our international exchanges build bridges between emerging leaders in the U.S. and other countries to promote mutual understanding and respect for each others political cultures and ideologies.”

Tara will join other delegates in Washington, DC, for briefings by the U.S. Department of State and the Chinese Embassy before flying on to Beijing.  The group will be guests of the All China Youth Federation, ACYPL’s long-term exchange partner, during their two week stay.

“I am honored to represent ACYPL as a delegate from my home state,” said Tara. “This will be a chance to better understand the current political, economic and cultural dynamics in China and to help people there better understand the United States.” 

 U.S. delegates are selected from a competitive, bipartisan field of several hundred nominees for participation in ACYPL’s international exchanges. Nearly 40 current members of Congress, six sitting Governors (including Tara’s nominator, Ohio’s Governor Bob Taft) and several current and former Cabinet secretaries were ACYPL delegates earlier in their careers.  Reciprocal visits bring young leaders from abroad to the United States for an introduction to American democracy and culture and our federalist form of government. 

ACYPL is a nonprofit bipartisan international exchange organization funded in part through a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is considered the nation’s premier international exchange organization for emerging political leaders.