The United Nations Foundation Partners with The Millennial Trains Project to Support Civic-Minded Young Entrepreneurs

The United Nations Foundation today announced a new partnership with The Millennial Trains Project (MTP) to promote social change during a transcontinental train trek across America.

Founded in 2012, MTP leads transcontinental train journeys that empower enterprising and civic-minded Millennials, aged 18 to 34, to advance new ideas and implement projects that serve and benefit local communities. The inaugural train journey across America departs San Francisco on August 8^th, with stops in Salt Lake City, Denver, Omaha, Chicago, and Pittsburgh before arriving in Washington, D.C. on August 17^th.

“From mobile health technologies to micro-credit, civic-minded entrepreneurs continuously find innovative solutions to address the world’s toughest problems,” said Elizabeth Gore, Resident Entrepreneur, the United Nations Foundation. “By partnering with The Millennial Trains Project, the Foundation can further connect people, ideas, and resources to solve global problems.”

“At the core of The Millennial Trains Project is the idea that journeys build leaders. Every culture has myths about this, and so do we. By incorporating trains into the project, we’re tapping back into this idea of the pioneering spirit that built our country,” said Patrick Dowd, CEO and founder of The Millennial Trains Project. “My hope is that people who learn about the project and follow the journey along the way will begin to see a picture of the leadership, diversity, creativity, and enterprising nature of this rising generation.”

At each stop, the maiden group of travelers will showcase their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial projects, while engaging with local entrepreneurs, residents and community leaders. The innovative solutions they explore will address issues including reproductive health for young women, renewable energy technologies, and improving access to higher education, among others.

Between stops, travelers will take part in a host of networking and program events. The UN Foundation will share with the group our work helping the United Nations engage global citizens on the development of the next millennium development goals, including MY World, a United Nations global survey for citizens.

En route to the nation’s capital, the entrepreneurs will be joined by on-train mentors from the public and private sectors. More information on the mentors, entrepreneurs and their schedule can be found at www.millennialtrain.co/journey.

Follow the journey and join the conversation with hashtag “#NewFrontiers.”

Tweet this: The @unfoundation is partnering w/ The @MillennialTrain Project to help #entrepreneurs & #millennials promote social change across America

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About The United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About The Millennial Trains Project
The Millennial Trains Project (MTP) is a non-profit organization that leads crowdfunded transcontinental train journeys to empower diverse groups of Millennials to explore America’s new frontiers. Over the course of a ten day train journey, MTP helps participants and virtual audiences to identify, evaluate, and explore new opportunities and challenges in the communities where our trains stop – and advance a project that benefits, serves, and inspires others. The inspiration for MTP comes from a similar train journey, the Jagriti Yatra, that founder Patrick Dowd helped lead as a 2010-11 Fulbright Scholar in India. Follow the Millennial Trains Project across the nation this August by visiting www.millennialtrain.co, Twitter and Facebook