On Thursday, July 19, Alec Ross, Senior Advisor for Innovation in the Office of the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, spoke on “U.S. Foreign Policy and Social Media” to students participating in the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Policy Classroom program. He focused his remarks on the power of youth and how advancements in technology, particularly on the social media front, have given youth a louder voice to express and pursue their ideas, break down barriers, and enact changes in their governments. Mr. Ross concluded his remarks, quoting President Teddy Roosevelt when he said, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” Students in attendance came from over 130 high schools, colleges and universities from across the United States, with an additional 40 international students representing over 25 different countries. Jennifer Olson, a Public Affairs Officer in the Bureau of Public Affairs, introduced Mr. Ross. This program took place in the Loy Henderson Auditorium, in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
