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International Forum: We, the Youth (IFWY) North American Regional Dialogue Convened Successfully 


From 3 to 4 September 2025, fifty young leaders from the North American region and nine other countries gathered at the Cornell Tech Verizon Executive Education Centre in New York, USA, to participate in the IFWY (International Forum: We, the Youth) North American Regional Dialogue. This event was jointly hosted by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), MBC, Hanyang University, and Eunpyeong-gu, with Debate Korea participating as a partner. The primary objective was for the 50 “Catalysts” to collaboratively develop actionable youth policy proposals linking the North American context with global implications. It was also designed to enable young people to directly experience democratic procedures through a fully bottom-up decision-making structure. 






Youth-led Democratic Agenda Development 


The day started with a  Random Scenario Challenge consisting in analysing urban development problems based on real-world cases. Complex issues such as budget constraints, housing problems, the digital divide, intergenerational inequality, environmental concerns, and cultural preservation emerged as key challenges. Each group conducted in-depth stakeholder power analyses, problem definitions, and solution proposals.  


Subsequently, discussions proceeded across six themes: economic transition; democracy and solidarity; peace and cooperation; environmental sustainability; technological innovation and ethics; and social justice and equality. Each group presented their core values, key challenges, vision, and policy directions during the plenary session, thereby realising the formation of a youth-led agenda. 





Realising creative approaches to locally grounded, practical issues 


Regarding North America's core challenges, the youth assessed that corporate influence is growing within public policy decision-making processes, the voices of vulnerable groups are being excluded, and the crisis of democratic representation is deepening. The Youth particularly highlighted SEA (Sustainability, Equity, Accountability), economic inequality, the spread of anti-intellectualism, broken promises due to government accountability deficits, and democratic deficits in public governance as key keywords. Consequently, in this dialogue, North American youth expressed regional identity through the metaphor of ‘water,’ emphasising resilience, flexibility, flow, and connectivity. Below is a brief excerpt from the policy proposal document.  



'Water symbolises the breaking waves of democratic discourse and the ripples of change. Like water, we can be adaptable and resilient, navigating around obstacles to steadily advance toward meaningful change. Just as water is essential for survival, these core discoveries are essential for defining our mission, values, and challenges. And just as every single drop of water matters, every person and individual within a democracy holds significant meaning in the decisions we make. Like the vast lakes of North America, our shared goal is the Sea, but each of us reaches it through our own unique, winding path. Here, our goal is SEA – Sustainability, Equity, and Accountability. No policy can be complete unless it sufficiently fulfils all three areas…'



Consequently, with sustainability, equity and accountability being presented as core principles of North American policy, the youth have stated that issues such as access to healthcare, housing and education, food security, Indigenous land rights and the digital divide must be urgently addressed across North America. 






Key Priorities Identified by North American Youth


Throughout the dialogue, participants identified the following priority areas:

  • Sustainability, Equity, and Accountability (SEA) as non-negotiable principles for public policy

  • Restoring democratic representation, including limiting excessive corporate influence and strengthening public participation

  • Reducing structural economic inequality, with a focus on fair access to opportunities and social mobility

  • Guaranteeing access to essential services, including healthcare, housing, education, and food security

  • Closing the digital divide and ensuring ethical governance of technology


Significance of the IFWY North American Dialogue 


The policy recommendations submitted, which emphasise the unique identity of the North American region, constitute substantive content that can be proposed not only within North America but also within the global policy environment through the IFWY platform. They underscore the need to institutionally strengthen the voice of young people in the policy process.  


The outcomes derived by North American youth clearly reflect generational challenges such as restoring democracy, regulating technology, achieving social equity, and pursuing sustainable development. Their distinct regional character lends them particular value. This aligns with the overarching values pursued by the entire IFWY platform, demonstrating their worth as a crucial pillar for the forthcoming final conference. 


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