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including the month-long stay in La Ligua , Chile , and Easter Island that Johnson attended ; participants ’ families supply passports and spending money . The national organization , which isbased inNew York , was cofounded byMontclair ’ sTony Allen , who continues to serve asits director . Another town resident , Ettie Philitas , is adirector on its board .
Every year , SDC sends nearly 200 “ student diplomats ” toroughly 18 programs in eight different countries including the U . S . This type ofcultural exchange – young Americans and international hosts exposing each other to different ways of living — has
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long been available to families who can afford the opportunities . Allen , a veteran employee ofthe high school exchange program Experiment in International Living , wanted the same opportunities to be available to bright , high-achieving young people inlower income communities . He also saw SDC as avehicle for giving those students the confidence and skills toexcel in college .
“ It ’ sreally across-cultural collegereadiness program ,” says Allen . To date , 1,600 students from 40 states have completed SDC programs , hesays . “ They ’ re college-bound students , and the success rate of their graduates is
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comparable to kids from homes with higher incomes ,” hesays . About 10 % of students who are sent ontrips come from the New York-New Jersey area , says Allen . This year marks the 10th anniversary ofSDC ’ sfull operations .
HOWSDC WORKS
Student Diplomacy Corps doesn ’ t market its services , and unlike many similar initiatives , students and mentors can ’ tapply directly for support . All SDC students are recommended to the nonprofit via partnerships with local youth-serving organizations throughout the country . Teachers , church leaders and other respected
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PROVIDED BY EDWIN RAMIREZ |
12 MAY 2024 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE |