By Anya McGuckin, Host Relations Manager | Intern and Trainee Program, Greenheart Exchange
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the Made Impact Summit in New York City.
First of all, it was a great opportunity to spend two days together with colleagues Megan and Emma. We do not work on the same projects and do not really cross paths in our daily work operations, so it was a great opportunity to get to know them better, have some meals together, chat about work, and talk about the things we like to do in our free time. Greenhearts had fun!
The Made Impact Summit Events
Made Impact Summit included events at two locations – Ellis Island and the United Nations. Made Impact invited about 150 storytellers – former participants of exchange programs and alumni of international schools. What a cool opportunity to go to both places as part of a group of people from all over the world! Imagine meeting all these cool individuals in one place, like the Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island, and hearing some of their life stories? It was a great opportunity to make new friends, and honestly, I wish we had more free time together to connect and get to know each other!
An Island that Tells a Story!
As an immigrant myself, going to Ellis Island was very special. While reading the stories about people who came to America through this place and looking at their photographs, I almost heard their voices in my head. It was very moving to try to imagine what they went through in the hope of a better future for themselves and their children. I came to America in a first-class seat on a British Airways plane and was still very scared. I wonder what they felt after a few weeks of traveling by sea? My husband’s granddad went through Ellis Island when moving to the U.S. from Ireland, and I found his name on the wall – Cornelius O’Brien.
Visiting the UN – A Unique Experience!
The day at the UN was like a movie. As part of the big group, we went through very serious security control, and an elevator brought us to a big ballroom with phenomenal views of the city. We had a day of listening to speakers talking about international education and cultural exchange. These were stories about the places they were born and traveled to, family stories, unpredictable changes and challenges in life, the stories behind their success, and the importance of preserving heritage, whatever it means for each of us.
What I appreciated most about the summit was the opportunity to step outside of my usual day-to-day work and connect with people from different industries, backgrounds, and areas of expertise. It is so fun to hear all these different accents and to imagine that our group was a little version of the United Nations, sharing each other’s stories for better understanding.
Thank you, Anya, for the wonderful update!
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