Josh Diosomito, executive director of the Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) was one of eight attendees we filmed at the American Society for Public Administration’s annual conference in Hollywood, California between March 20 and March 24th.  This is the third in a series of that will appear on Thursdays in this space.

The PPIA creates pathways for students from underrepresented first-generation, low-income backgrounds, to pursue degrees in public policy and international affairs and – more important – to create pathways into public service. It partners with organizations like Harvard and Princeton, and since 1980 has amassed a global alumnus of 5,600 public service leaders who serve at the federal state, local tribal municipal and global communities.

In this video, Diosomito – who was a former PPIA fellow himself – articulates a call to action that focuses on three individual goals. He encourages people to: 

• Be engaged, “We need creative innovative leaders think about their communities, to want give back.” 

• Get involved in mentorship. “Maybe you might have someone in your family, maybe you might have a fellow student maybe you might see the next mayor, the next city council ember the next state assembly member in your community. I would encourage you to reach out, engage them and maybe perhaps seek them as a mentor or be a mentor yourself.”

• Ensure that you think about investing in the next generation. “This is so important,” he says, “at whatever level you are, that we think about the future,”