Santa Monica-Malibu school board Vice President Ben Allen has been selected by The American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) as a delegate to the Philippines for a 10-day political exchange program beginning on Nov. 3.
He will join eight other young political and policy leaders from across the United States to study the Philippines’ political system, engage in dialogue on international issues, and forge professional relationships and friendships.
“I am so honored to have been selected to participate in this ACYPL exchange to the Philippines,” Allen said. “This will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the current political and social dynamics there and help the Filipino people better understand the United States. We have a large number of Filipino immigrants in the Southland, and I’m eager to gain deeper insights into the cultural, political, and historical trends that have influenced immigration, trade, and cultural ties between our two countries.”
Allen will join other delegates, each between the ages of 25 and 40, in Washington, D.C. for briefings by the Department of State and other Filipino regional experts before flying to Manila. The program will provide the delegates opportunities to travel within the country and to interact with key national and local leaders, business representatives, and civic and community groups.
For more information on ACYPL, visit www.acypl.org.
