Virtual programs: 2020 and 2021

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and its successive waves throughout 2021 truncated the face-to-face celebration of the XXI edition of the program for U.S. Young Leaders, which was scheduled to take place in Madrid and Valencia from June 21-26, 2020. In order to get to know the ten selected participants and learn more about their specific interests and expectations regarding the program, the Foundation and the United States – Spain Council organized an alternative agenda of virtual meetings to serve as an introduction to the face-to-face experience and provide them with an initial overview of Spain.

On-site program: Madrid and Valencia, from March 20 to 25, 2022

The improvement of the health situation at the international level made it possible to resume the on-site celebration of the program in March 2022. The agenda included meetings with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, Ángeles Moreno, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Julissa Reynoso, the director of the Madrid office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, José Ignacio Torreblanca, and the director of the Health Emergency Center, Dr. Fernando Simón.

In addition, the participants had the opportunity to visit BBVA‘s financial city, the Cosentino showroom in Madrid, the Instituto Cervantes and the editorial office of the newspaper El País. Once again, the delegation was invited to participate in a round table organized by the Aspen Institute Spain on the future of Europe.

In Valencia, the participants visited the Marina de Empresas startup launcher, the Port of Valencia, and the Berklee College of Music. On the cultural side, the program included a visit to the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum and the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia.