Hostos Honors Program Students Attend Prestigious 2025 Concordia Summit

Last week, five Hostos Honors Program students had an incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit at the Sheraton Times Square, which coincided with the United Nations General Assembly. Now in its 15th year, the Concordia Summit took place from September 21 to 24 and brought together prominent heads of state, influential business leaders, dedicated non-profit representatives, and diverse perspectives to explore tangible solutions to local and global challenges. Invited by Hostos funding partner, Libra Philanthropies, students Jorge Sanz, Clinton Otuaney, Giavanna Perez, Sarai Roca, and Yuleamar Matias, along with Professor Catherine Monchik, of Hostos’ Dental Hygiene department, enjoyed an impressively diverse agenda covering critical issues such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, mental wellness, higher education, healthcare, human rights, public policy, and the evolving landscape of finance and banking.

"The inspiration from the speakers, the messages they gave, was overwhelming," shared Professor Monchik of the experience. "A lot of the messages hit home for the students, as well as for me. There was a lot of motivation, and the students were so engaged by what the CEOs were saying. It hit home for them."
One particularly impactful presentation focused on the evolution of "Sesame Street" and its ongoing relevance in addressing complex issues, including mental health and other challenges faced by families during the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring special guest Elmo. Additionally, there was a roundtable discussion with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Archbishop of Constantinople, and our students also enjoyed an engaging presentation by Ben Van Leeuwen, CEO and cofounder of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Clinton Otuaney found Van Leeuwen charismatic and relatable, noting that the CEO's advice to "create, experience, try, move on until success" and to "let your failures inform your success" was particularly motivating.
A panel featuring West Point cadets highlighting leadership and service stood out to Air Force veteran Jorge Sanz. He expressed pride in their "honor and integrity," emphasizing how their message to "make the hard right choice instead of the easy wrong choice" resonated with him. "I appreciated seeing young men and women living life to a higher standard than what most people live up to," he shared. "It also reinforced my decisions to be ethical and honorable, and do the right thing when no one is looking."
 
Sanz and Otuaney, along with Giavanna Perez, were invited to a special Learning Lab with Libra Philanthropies, where Sanz participated as a panelist in the session titled "Youth Voices on Leadership & Community Building." This session included discussions on civic leadership, mental wellness, partnership building, and community impact, aiming to highlight the insights and experiences of young leaders as they navigate challenges and drive positive change within their communities. Sanz felt honored to be selected for the panel and appreciated that leaders are having open discussions about mental health, while emphasizing the importance of seeking help from mental health professionals.
The students also had opportunities to network with other attendees from countries across the globe, including Haiti, Greece, Denmark, Israel, and several countries in South America, which they found enjoyable. "It was nice and refreshing to interact with people from around the world,"
shared Sanz. One connection they made has already led to invitations to attend two additional upcoming summits: The Third Annual GlobalMindED & FSUN Event on October 20 and the GlobalMindED 2026 Conference taking place in Denver, Colorado, next June.
 
Thank you to Libra Philanthropies for inviting our students to experience and participate in powerful global conversations at the 2025 Concordia Summit, expanding their horizons and networks.