History

Launched in October 2015, in celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations, NYC Junior Ambassadors (NYCJA) was created to leverage the United Nations as a resource for NYC seventh graders and empower students in all five boroughs of New York City to become actively engaged with the United Nations and its mission of addressing some of the most pressing challenges in the world. Through innovative programming and unique opportunities for first-hand interactions, NYCJA seeks to expose a diverse array of teachers and students to the United Nations as a tool for teaching and learning in a variety of fields - from science to arts to civics.
More than 80 educators competed to join the inaugural NYCJA cohort and after much deliberation, eleven classrooms and afterschool programs were selected on the basis of essays written by educators. As part of NYCJA, nearly 275 students and more than 30 NYC educators received curated tours of the United Nations headquarters matched to each class's curricular interests. United Nations diplomats also visited each classroom to engage the students and learn more about different neighborhoods of the City.

New Yorkness of the United Nations

The City of New York is proud to host the United Nations headquarters, which has been permanently located in New York since 1952. The presence of the United Nations in New York City, along with several primary UN offices, agencies, funds and programs, is a testament to the City's status as a global center. The Mayor's Office for International Affairs is dedicated to providing opportunities for New Yorkers, especially New York City youth, to engage with the UN and its work.

NYC Mayor's Office for International Affairs

The New York City Mayor's Office for International Affairs works to foster positive relations and encourage collaboration between the international community and New York City's agencies and local neighborhoods. The Mayor’s Office takes the lead in implementing NYC Junior Ambassadors, in cooperation with our partners.