Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Program 2025 Now Looking for Host Cities!
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is now recruiting hosts for Cycle 1 of the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program! The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program provides young leaders from Southeast Asia the opportunity to engage in professional development and cultural exchange in the United States. Many I-NAPA members have hosted YSEALI fellows before so we encourage you to participate!
Fellows will arrive in their host communities on Friday May 2 and will depart on Saturday May 31, 2025. The Department of State has recognized the success of the program and has increased the number of Fellows to 40 this cohort! Thus ICMA is encouraging prospective hosts to consider taking 2 Fellows – whether both at your organization or collaborating with another community partner. ICMA needs to secure all placements by Friday March 14, 2025. So please let ICMA know if you are interested and submit this form: https://forms.icma.org/242285714762966
ICMA actively seeking Fellowship hosts for this upcoming cycle in the below interest areas. If any interest areas below are a good match, ICMA can send professional bios for the Fellows who correspond.
· energy efficiency/carbon capture
· renewable energy- solar
· climate-smart agriculture
· forestry
· natural resource conservation
· food waste reduction
· disaster resilience
· ecotourism
· public health
As a host, you will have the unique opportunity to work alongside these young professionals. Your participation will play a crucial role in the success of the program.
ICMA will pay for and arrange all transportation, lodging, and meals and incidentals for the Fellows. U.S. hosts will also be eligible to apply for a U.S. Department of State funded Reciprocal Exchange. This will provide hosts with the opportunity to travel to their YSEALI Fellow's home country and support the design and implementation of a local project.
For more information, contact Alaina Mendoza, ICMA Program Manager, Global Program Management (GPM), 202 962 3632, amendoza@icma.org or PJ Gagajena, I-NAPA President 2024-25, PJGagajena@moorparkca.gov
The October 2025 cycle 2 will be in announced in summer 2025.
https://icma.org/yseali-professional-fellows-program
https://www.icma.org/blog-posts/host-yseali-professional-fellow-upcoming-cohort
