Earlier this month, I joined 1,800 young people from 190 different countries and we descended on the International City for Peace and Justice (The Hague). A city that was created more than 100 years ago with the mission to combat Inter-state disputes by peaceful means, because if we know anything about war and violence we know those who will suffer the greatest, will be those who are the littlest and who have the least... often times, just to protect the egos of men. So it’s only fitting that leaders from the millennial generation (who some could consider the descendants of too much war and not enough peace) have arrived with similar hope and determination to ensure that future generations, won't have to survive the consequences of war, sexual violence, famine, homelessness, slavery, and oppression.

During my time at the summit, I was able to both meet some amazing youth leaders and interview David Sprouls (CEO, Deloitte North-West Europe, and the UK), where we addressed the role of the business community to create space and opportunities for young people to fully participate in society -- as active members and not simply bystanders. We also addressed what it meant for business to honor the lived experiences of young people without tokenizing or fetishizing their trauma. To see more from our session, watch the video below.

I can only hope, that through the stories of trauma and success shared by the delegates, politicians, business industry leaders, will understand that young people don’t need a voice. What we need is access to our rightful place in the process to make transformative change in our lives and communities. What we are demanding, is for governments, world leaders and businesses to put people, plant and social impact over profit.

We’re a long way from transforming the business community to value people more than profit but there is a shift happening, largely due to the fact that millennials and GenZs are requiring more from the people and entities that want to hire and sell to us. #OYW2018

I team up with Target, Vital Voices and five other global women leaders for the “A New Day + Vital Voices” capsule collection. Using our lived experiences and work to design a limited collection for women ready and willing to create change. #ad

To learn more about the partnership and where to buy the collection, please visit HERE

“Through the A New Day + Vital Voices partnership, we hope to showcase the incredible work of Vital Voices while empowering and celebrating our guests,” said Michelle Mesenburg, senior vice president, marketing, Target. “It gave us the opportunity to think about collaborations differently, and how we pair the great design of one of our popular owned brands with an organization that’s doing incredible work in communities near and far.”

The women who inspired the collection… here are their stories

This panel was hosted by Diane von Furstenberg during her International Women's Day Event... featuring Sarah Chadwick, Delaney Tarr, Rowan Blanchard and Pamela Chomba ... moderated by Cindi Leive. 

Will #MeToo lead to record number of women in 2018 #Congress--early candidate data seems to say yes--369 for House, 41 for Senate. #PowerPanel riffs @TaranaBurke @feministabulous @JamiraBurley pic.twitter.com/R3OEiNqa4U

— Richard Lui MSNBC (@RichardLui) December 11, 2017

Since the Presidential election, followed by the success of the Women’s March –  Axios recorded that organizations like Emily’s List and She Should Run, have reported an increase for women interested in running for elected office. In the last few months, there has been additional systematic attacks on the female experience and body. All across the country, women’s health and safety have been threaten by proposed legislation, led by mostly male (white) legislators. Who regardless of the health risk, often seek to limits the rights of what women can do with “their body”.

As documented by the Center for American Women and Politics -- in 2017, women hold 105, or 19.6%, of the 535 seats in the 114th U.S. Congress - 21, or 21.0%, of the 100 seats in the Senate and 84, or 19.3%, of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. This lack of representation persists despite the fact that women are more likely to vote than men and despite the fact that women are the majority of the US population (50.8%).

In many ways we can thank President Trump (The Trump Effect) for this increase, considering many women have referenced Trump as their motivation for throwing their hat into the race. Which isn’t surprising, considering Trump has a less than stellar reputation when it comes to women and women issues. Not to mention the fact that he has publicly admitted to sexual assaulting women, which only give support to the more than a dozen separate public accusations that have come forward during the election and after he took office.

Now sexual assault and harassment isn’t just an issue that’s unique to the President, there have been powerful men on both sides of the political aisle and across industries held accountability for past and present actions. That being said, there are thousands more who haven’t.  More work is required to change the rape culture we live in, including electing more women to office and or just putting more women in power – who can help provide diverse perspectives and knowledge on all issues and not just the ones considered to be gender specific.

Below are a few organizations preparing the next cohort of women running for office, please learn how you can join them and or support their efforts.

• Higher Heights
• She Should Run
• Emily’s List
• Rise to Run 

A few weeks ago, I served as a panelist and workshop facilitator for the Teen Vogue NY Meet Up, which served as an opportunity to empower and inspire the next generation of women leaders. During the event we addressed topics like salary negotiations, voting, education and diverse representation. I had the pleasure of meeting young women and a few good men from all over the Tri-State area, who after recent political events are looking for ways to get engaged and to utilize their voices for change. The NY Meet Up was one of four events leading up to the national Teen Vogue Summit on December 1-2nd in LA, to learn more: Click Here

Please see below for a few pictures from the NY Meet Up: Photo credit David Vollucci for Teen Vogue/23 Storie

Check out my interview at Theirworld: Here

Watch Here--> YP4

Originally posted via HuffPost

Throughout most of my childhood and into adulthood, I can recall the numerous times people would say, “If you work hard and get a good education you could do and be anything”. Despite the fact I grew up surrounded by broken dreams and misplaced hope, this message has always resonated with me. In an environment where people wore poverty like a coat to protect them from the bitter realities of our community, I wanted something different and knew education would be my lifeline.

As the first of 16 children to graduate high school and college, I’ve seen first hand what the lack of job training can and has done to an individual’s’ ability to feed their family. Even now, more than five years since I graduated college, I stand amongst my peers- the largest youth cohort in history, more than 1.8 billion strong. I know we are lacking the basic skills needed to realize our dreams and the promise spoken of by our parents. Currently, 263 million children and youth are out of school, and millions more aren’t getting the quality education they deserve. That sits as a daunting backdrop to the fact that nearly

So what does this mean for the most digitally connected generation? Who, if current trends continue, are destined to be outsmarted and outworked by automation and technological advancement in the coming decades. Advancement that will usher in exciting innovations and new opportunities for jobs. But without the skills to adapt to the evolving job market, young people will not only be unemployable, businesses will lack the talent necessary to compete in the global economy. Even now, young people are heavily excluded from the job market with nearly 75 million currently unemployed. Coupled with a growing need for “new skills”, that number will continue to rise as technology grows.

Since 2013 the demand for skills has increased all over the world. In Australia, for example, digital skills have increased by more than 200 percent, critical thinking by 150 percent, creativity by more than 60 percent, and presentation skills by 25 percent. These demands reveal the lack of disconnect between the workforce and the classroom, leaving young people to deal with the consequences of an outdated education system. An education system, that still reflects the industrial revolution, that filters young people into assembly lines, while also waging a war on creativity.

“Regardless of where young people are in the world, only they can fully articulate their experience and help provide unique insight to the challenges they face and how to get their peers engaged and motivated to participate.“

Less than a month ago I joined the Global Business Coalition for Education as Head of Youth Engagement and Skills because it is a unique opportunity to combine my two passions – youth development and creating unlikely partnerships for the advancement of young people. These passions are what drive my ambition to help solve this growing employment crisis, one that has already turned many of my friends’ and classmates’ lives upside down. Struggling to pay back student loans at a time where they can’t find a job within their chosen field, disheartened by the sheer number of rejected job applications or turned away because they lack the basic qualifications needed due to the rapidly changing technology advances. Many of the young people I mentor who are yet to enter college are eager to find a part-time job that hasn’t yet been eliminated by a machine or find an employer who’s willing to work with their limited skills. I see it as my duty to make sure these stories aren’t overlooked or forgotten because this is reality and a human centered approach is needed if we are to move education and employability into the 21st century and beyond.

Eliminating Gaps

To address these growing concerns, we must remove the barriers for collaboration and curate a community of practice that allows for the two most impacted populations – job makers (businesses) and the job seekers (youth) – to identify challenges and develop pipelines for youth to access the skills they need to thrive. That can’t be done without first placing young people at the center of change and working with leaders who have the ability to make tangible impact. It’s not enough for leaders to deem a quality education as important, without actually ensuring that education will meet the needs of both the community and the economy.

There is a growing need for business leaders to take a more proactive and authentic approach to youth skills and workforce development that doesn’t leave out the expertise of young people. Regardless of where young people are in the world, only they can fully articulate their experience and help provide unique insight to the challenges they face and how to get their peers engaged and motivated to participate. These are issues that have even larger implications beyond any individual’s employability, they exacerbate a number of social and economic issues, putting into question the sustainability of communities around the world. An investment like this today, can help prevent the world’s largest generation of youth from being unemployed, having poor health, civil unrest, child marriage, exploitation and many other vulnerabilities.

Due to these challenges before us, I’m excited by the “Youth Skills and Innovation Initiative” a partnership between the Global Business Coalition for Education and Intel to forge an unlikely collaboration between the business community and youth leaders. A partnership that will help place young people in the driver’s seat, right along with the business community to hopefully revolutionize workforce development methods that are currently leaving too many beyond – particularly our more marginalized populations.

It’s expected that 15-year-olds today will have more than 17 jobs in five different industries over their lifetime. Let’s help to ensure that the skills they’ll learn will enable lifelong learning, in the pursuit of their dreams and for the betterment of all our communities.

I spoke to @sarahbrownuk about creating change for new #BetterAngels podcast episodes. Listen here below: 

Description: Sarah Brown talks to American activists and campaigners Jamira Burley, Michael Gibbons and Michael Silberman about the history of extraordinary campaigns for change in the U.S. and how skill-sharing, and thought leadership are moulding the entire social change field today.

According to my younger siblings, I’ve reached “old lady” status with just a few hours before my 29th birthday. So before my memory goes, I figured I would spend a few moments clearing the air and answering the top “13” questions I constantly get online. 

1. Where do I call home?  I could be cool and say I’m a resident of the world but that’s not where my pay stub gets delivered. Last month I moved from DC to the overcrowded New York City, more specifically --- I call Harlem home but only second to Philly. 
2.  How do I make my coins aka where do I work? Well as a renaissance woman with student loans, one has to diversify her income streams. Full-time, I work as the Head of Youth Engagement and Skills for the Global Business Coalition for Education.  Part-time, I work as a strategist for both private and public entities who are looking to engage impacted communities. Also, every now and again, someone will pay me to talk or facilitate a training workshop.  
3. Where do I find my passion? I find my passion in helping young people realize that they’re deserving of everything the world has to offer.
4. What did I study in college? Well I graduated from Temple University and I majored in International Business, Legal Studies with a minor in Chinese and MIS (Management and Informational Systems)
5. Would I ever consider going back to school? Yes, especially if someone else paid for it. I love learning, classroom discussions is my thing and I would probably go back for an MBA and MPA.
6. Favorite place I’ve traveled so far? Hmmm, that’s hard to say but if I had to pick, it would have to be South Africa, the food, history, culture, and people were just amazing to be around and I wasn’t ready to come home.
7. Where do I want to travel next? I haven’t really explored much of Latin America, I would love to spend some time there but I also hope to go back to parts of Asia before the end of the year. Will keep y’all posted!
8. Biggest accomplishment to date? Finally giving myself permission to be great.
9. Biggest Fear? Not meeting my own expectations.
10. Best cheese steak place in Philly? Larry’s, Jims or Ishkabibble’s … I don’t trust anywhere else.
11. Current Book? I’m currently listening to “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” By Mark Manson on Audible and reading “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” by Klaus Schwab.
12. Celebrity role model? Other than Beyonce?...well I’m a huge fan of Mellody Hobson, haven’t met her yet but I’ve literally read everything about her and watched all her speeches at least 5 times each.
13. One thing you want to learn? I can’t pick one, so Chinese and French.

In honor of the International Youth Day, here are ten alarming facts about youth and why we can't  underestimate the need for decision makers (governments, the business community, and international organizations)  to have a sense of urgency, to help foster collaboration and ensure youth are able to fully participate in society. 

Fun Fact: There are nearly 1.8 billion young people in the world, which is the largest youth population in written history.

1. More than 263 million young people are out of school and millions more are receiving a piss poor education. 
2. Approximately 238 million youth live in extreme poverty—that is, they live on less than $1 a day; 462 million youth survive on less than $2 a day.
3.  110 million youth live in hunger.
4. About 255 million young people live in the 19 countries with the largest poverty gaps; 15 of these 19 countries are in sub-Saharan Africa.
5. About 133 million youth in the world are illiterate.
6. Youth comprise 41 percent of the world's unemployed people.
7. 50% of the jobs we are training young people, will not exist when they enter the workforce. 
8. 75 million youth are unemployed 
9. Youth make up 40% of the world's unemployed population 
10. Worldwide some 200,000 homicides occur among youth 10–29 years of age each year, which is 43% of the total number of homicides globally each year.

"Listen in as Vital Voices President, Alyse Nelson, sits down with human rights defender, social good strategist, and Founder of GenYNOT, Jamira Burley." -Vital Voices 

Listen in as Vital Voices President, Alyse Nelson, sits down with human rights defender, social good strategist, and Founder of GenYNOT, Jamira Burley

Two weeks ago I had the honor of speaking at the #NRA2DOJ march, which was organized and led by the Women's March. This act of resistance was a direct response to the attack from the National Rifle Association, to gun violence prevention advocates. This 18 miles march was an opportunity to call both the NRA and the Department of Justice out for its lack of response to the growing number of victims due to gun violence. Below is a portion of my speech and to learn more about the Women's March and ways to get involved: Take Action Now

Last month, I had the pleasure of standing beside gun violence advocates from across the country, for the announcement of Google.org $2 million investment  -- into reducing gun violence in communities of color. This grant was announced as a part of new national gun violence prevention campaign; aims to accelerate evidence-based prevention in communities heavily impacted by gun violence. 

As a consultant with the Community Justice Reform Coalition, some of that funding will allow me to develop and manage the Community Justice Speakers Bureau. A 12-month intergenerational leadership development program, that’ll mentor directly impacted individuals working at the intersection of criminal justice reform and gun violence prevention.  The program objectives are to increase the sustainability of the work by training leaders in communities across the country and equipping them with the necessary skills to enable maximum impact in the lives of people everywhere.

Over the course of 12 months, leaders will work side-by-side with leading experts in the areas of criminal justice and gun violence prevention, they’ll participate in online professional development workshops, to help enhance their speaking and advocacy ability. Also, leaders will have numerous opportunities to represent their work on the national stage. We believe that to build strong and safe communities, we first have to build strong leaders and place them at the center of change.

A few weeks ago in Johannesburg, South Africa, Vital Voices -- in partnership with Ponds launched their VVLead Fellowship. With more than 50 females,  from over 25 countries, who are transforming communities, breaking down barriers and shifting cultures all over the world. The goal of the fellowship is to champion the "inner strength of women" everywhere, by investing in women leaders, to ensure they're more equipt to make a tangible impact. Over the course of 21-months, fellows will participate in a customized fellowship experience that includes:

• Specialized online and in-person training(s) 
• Powerful networking, peer mentoring and relationship building opportunities
• Increased international visibility through Pond’s and the Vital Voices Global leaders network

In the end, their work will enable for life-long connections that will transcend culture and borders. ....

I along with 5 other women, was selected as global ambassadors. To both help elevate the work being done but also help provide peer to peer mentoring for the fellows. Other ambassadors include:

• Saskia Nino de Rivera, founder & president of Reinserta Un Mexicano A.C, Mexico
• Kiran Sethi, founder & educator, Riverside School, India, and Design for Change Global; 
• Samar Minallah Khan , an anthropologist & documentary filmmaker from Pakistan;
• Anne Githuku-Shongwe, founder of AFROES Transformational Games and Representative at UN WOMEN in South Africa;
• Devi Asmarani, co-founder of Magdalene Magazine.

I look forward to working alongside the ambassadors and fellows to ensure that the world around us, starts to appreciate and celebrate the unique leadership qualities women have enlisted to create a world that is both welcoming and thriving ... for the betterment of everyone. 

Every time I go home, my younger siblings like to point out that my big 30 is right around the corner. I recently had an honest and realistic conversation with myself about longevity and sustainability.  Growing up I was extremely physically active, I ran track and participated in swim camp during the summer but regardless of those activities, I didn’t always eat the healthiest foods available. Especially, after starting college -- where my love for pizza became well acquainted with my hips. Gaining that freshmen 15... I mean 20 pounds was my first indication that I wasn't taken the best care of myself but instead of doing something about it, I just pretended it was normal. 

I even started using the fact that I was "busy" as my excuse not to take better care of what I was putting into my body and eventually, that bled into not working out either. Or when I did exercise, it was for all the wrong reasons, for short term results. Which after accomplished, I would go back to my old habits. All of that came to head, when two people very close to me became extremely physically ill. All three of us shared many things in common, age, race, lack of physical activity and exercise the habit of preaching self-care but never personally practicing it (which for me, I later learned was centered on the guilt I felt for taking time for myself).

So at the start of the new year, I wanted to make wellness a priority that wasn't "just" superficially related to my looks but also something that would allow me to feel good.  Where I didn't feel like I was going to pass out after running to the bus or walking up a few flights of stairs. It's been a little over five months since I implemented many of these changes and the results have exceeded my expectations both physically and mentally. I should highlight, that by no means are these habits new and innovative but what I've learned, is that it's all about long-term consistency.

• Replaced stress eating with high active workouts: Since as long I can remember, I have always equated my love for junk food to my unhappiness at the moment. When I was stressed, or sad, I would always have an appetite that never seemed to end. Now when possible, I run two miles in the morning and then workout in the afternoon for about 1.5 hours, mostly doing free weights. I know, most people don't have that kind of time but trust, when you make something a priority you find the time... space and opportunity to do so (its not easy but worth it). Which means, I'm not a morning person but now I find myself getting up early in the morning to run because I've learned overtime, I'm actually more productive for the rest of the day when I do so. Also, as someone who travels at least once or twice a month and for days at a time, I now travel with a portable yoga mat and resistance bands for those occasions when I don't have access to a gym. 
• Meal Prep is your friend: If we're being honest with ourselves, who wants to stand over a stove every night to cook... not me.  Especially, after working all day and sweating my life away at the gym, so what has been extremely helpful in preventing me from ordering takeout or stuffing my face with potato chips, is meal prepping for the week. Every Sunday, I spend about 1.5 making dinner and lunch for the next five days. All of my meals, consist of a seafood and veggies and quinoa but don't take that as confirmation that I'm Pescetarian ... because I love chicken and beef and I allow myself to have it, on the rare occasions I eat out. When I'm traveling I try to avoid fried and processed foods.
•  If there is no record, it didn't happen (Track your progress): After doing weeks of research and watching dozens of youtube videos, I finally purchased an apple watch. Not just because it's sexy as hell but also it enabled me to track my efforts without it becoming an additional burden. I track my process not because I'm addicted to watching weight fall off (especially since I mostly use free weights and one normally gains more weight with lifting vs with just cardio alone, so in that case numbers can lie) but rather because I want to make sure I'm moving throughout the day, taking time to stand and tracking the impact of doing workouts.

It's not easy and there are still days that I struggle with keeping up but I remind myself of the progress I've made and why its so important. Working in the social impact space, I often forget that my survival, my health is just as important as the people that I'm fighting for and I can't expect to fight affectively for them -- if I'm not in top condition. Hopefully this information was helpful and as I continue on this journey of seeking a more healthy life style, I'll be sure to share my tips and tricks.