YALI Reflections: A cultural exchange on the Fourth of July
Photo courtesy of Thomas Jefferson Foundation.
This July Fourth, I was pleased to represent AECOM at the naturalization ceremony held at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s hilltop home in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Fellows of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) were special guests at this quintessential American holiday event, when citizens come to observe and celebrate the making of new citizens that have come to the U.S. from around the globe. I attended the event to meet with several of the Fellows from Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, where AECOM is about to begin a sustainability planning project for the World Bank that will promote green urban development practices in Africa’s cities.
The Fourth of July provided a holiday break from the Fellows’ very intensive study program. They had already spent some weeks on the historic campus of the University of Virginia learning about American government and commerce from academic scholars, government representatives, and some of AECOM’s own practice leaders.
And Monticello, home of the author of our Declaration of Independence, provided a most fitting venue to the Fellows to be introduced to the holiday and to our naturalization ceremony. As is done at Monticello every year, a bell is tolled, the large audience finally settles into silence and then Justice John Charles Thomas, the first African-American Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, reads the Declaration of Independence in a solemn yet triumphant voice. Justice Thomas’ powerful representation can remind even the most jaded what we gather to honor and celebrate on this day.
David M. Rubenstein, co-Founder and co-CEO of The Carlyle Group and a major philanthropist, gave the keynote address prior to the swearing in of new citizens. As many of the speakers have done over the years, Mr. Rubenstein spoke about America as the country of immigrants and all the benefits that generations of immigrants have received. He stressed to the new citizens:
“But it is we, the current citizens of this country, who should be grateful to you; it is we who are privileged to have you as fellow citizens; and it is we who are honored that you have chosen our country to bring your own talents, your own ambitions, your own dreams, and your own lives.”
After the ceremony, the celebration continued with a picnic on Montalto, the hilltop that overlooks Monticello. There, the Fellows were treated to a barbeque, hot dogs, root beer floats, live country music — and later in the day, fireworks. I had the opportunity to speak with a number of the Fellows. I heard over and over again how impressed they were by the structure and substance of the program that was offered by the Presidential Precinct, how interested they were to learn about professional business practices, and how pleased they would be to have the opportunity to engage with AECOM in the future.
It was delightful to witness their enthusiasm and to hear their impressions of America. It was inspiring to hear about the programs they represent, their passion for what they do, and their thoughts about how they might begin to implement what they’ve learned as Fellows. I was so pleased to experience this special day and so proud that AECOM had supported this initiative.
Diane Dale, FASLA, JD, (Diane.Dale@aecom.com) is vice president and director of sustainability planning in AECOM’s buildings + places business line. With more than 30 years of experience planning new communities around the globe, her portfolio represents a continuum of advancements and innovation that are models of sustainable planning and development.
LinkedIn: Diane Dale