KANSAS CITY - Mayor Sylvester James will present the Greater Kansas City chapter of People to People the "World Citizen of the Year" award for 2011 at the Mayor's U.N. Day Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The recognition of the World Citizen of the Year is a featured event at the Mayor's U.N. Day Dinner, a Kansas City tradition for more than 40 years.
"It is rare for the World Citizen of the Year Award to be presented to a group instead of an individual, but in this instance, we feel the departure from our usual practice is welljustified," said Jay Sjerven, president of the local UNA chapter. "Greater Kansas City People to People is a voluntary organization whose members have opened their hearts and homes to international students and to international military officers. Many of these officers have served as United Nations Peacekeepers or will do so, and it is appropriate even as we honor their service that we express our heartfelt appreciation to those volunteers among us who make these guests feel welcome in our community. Bravo People to People volunteers for an award well deserved!"
Each spring and winter a group of military officers from allied nations begin a twelve-month training program at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Officers are assigned to participating volunteer members of the local People to People chapter, who extend hospitality as they develop and nurture a personal relationship with officers and their families.
The chapter has a similar program for international college students. Chapter volunteers welcome a student into their home for dinners, social events, holiday celebrations and other activities around the Kansas City metro area. Members of the chapter also are engaged in contributing clothing, household items, food and other essentials to the Jewish Vocational Services Center for New Americans, which assists refugees from many countries settling in the Kansas City area as part of the U.S. State Dept. refugee program.
The 2011 Mayor's U.N. Day Dinner, sponsored by the United Nations Association and hosted by Mayor James, will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the InterContinental Hotel, 401 Ward Parkway. U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, the U.N.'s second-highest-ranking official, will be the keynote speaker. Reservations for the dinner can be made at http://una-kc.org/.
