Event Highlights International Education and Cross-Cultural Dialogue

Dr. Stephen Ferst, Executive Director of the Center for Global Engagement, and Christian Perticone, Director of the English Language Institute at CSI, were recently invited to attend Youth Dialogue for the Future, a high-profile cultural exchange hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in New York City. The invitation came from Mr. Yu Yougen, Chief Consul of Education, and Consul Qilun Qin, in recognition of the College’s continued commitment to international education and cross-cultural partnership.

The event, held on June 12, featured joint performances by young musicians from China and the United States, including acclaimed pianist and Cleveland International Piano Competition winner Wei Zijian. Guests at the event enjoyed a program of classical music and moving speeches that emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy. Consul General Chen Li spoke to the heart of the gathering, noting that cultural exchanges not only enrich the lives of Chinese and American people but offer young people a valuable opportunity to understand one another’s societies more deeply.

Reflecting on the evening, Dr. Ferst shared, “It was an honor to be invited to this event – a real celebration of the arts and culture. Adding to the enjoyment of hearing these young musicians, I was able to meet the other quite wonderful and talented attendees including Mary Anne Huntsman, a trustee of Carnegie Hall and chair of the NYO Council and Wenqi Yue, the Director of Mount Sinai International, a group dedicated to caring for visitors from all corners of the world and connect CSI to new artists and others making a global impact.”  Dr. Ferst is now working to continue the dialogue with the Chinese Consul and develop a lecture-series on Chinese art, culture, music, and history, for CSI students. Both he and Mr. Perticone attended the event to affirm the College of Staten Island’s dedication to using international education as a bridge between nations and a path toward shared global progress.

By: Center for Global Engagement