City and University Representative Application Survey

The City and University Representatives Program

An Opportunity for FLEX and YES Alumni

City Representatives and University Representatives (CRs/URs) are alumni who organize activities in their home communities or the communities where they study that support the goals of the FLEX and YES programs.

CRs/URs are eligible to receive grants of up to $250 for ten months from October 2026 to July 2027, to implement recurring, ongoing activities such as clubs at their schools, local community centers, or American spaces through which they share something they learned through their exchange year or through an alumni program such as a workshop, internship, or mentoring program. They are encouraged to work with other community members, groups, organizations, and institutions, like their school’s student council, a local youth organization, a local association of U.S. government-sponsored exchange alumni, or the American Councils office in their country.

CRs/URs are also encouraged to invite other alumni in their city or region to get involved in the activities they organize, and/or to organize alumni engagement activities for their local alumni community.

CRs/URs enjoy the following benefits:
- Exclusive professional development opportunities
- Up to $250 in grant funding to support recurring, ongoing activities in their community and support local alumni engagement (optional)
- Opportunities to network with an international team of alumni
- Support, guidance, and mentorship from American Councils staff and experienced alumni mentors
- Preferential consideration for other alumni opportunities, such as grants programs and workshops
- Eligibility to be recognized for outstanding work through the City and University Representative of the Month Award
- A certificate of program completion at the end of the program

CRs/URs are expected to:
- Organize and report on a series of monthly activities
- Help to connect alumni in your city/region
- Report on, or encourage other alumni to report on, successes and achievements

CR/UR candidates are encouraged to consider activities that relate to at least one of the following categories:
- Leadership, Mentorship, Youth Development, and Alumni Engagement
- Entrepreneurship, Business, and Economic Development
- AI, Technology, Digital Innovation, and STEM
- English Language and U.S. Culture

Examples of CR/UR activities:
- A weekly or monthly English conversation club at the local American Corner
- A community leadership club that offers weekly professional development sessions for youth
- A club where participants plan and lead monthly community engagement activities
- Weekly or monthly games of American football and Ultimate Frisbee
- Monthly coffee meet-ups where alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchanges gather to discuss entrepreneurial projects and learn related skills
- Monthly workshops on career readiness skills held at an alum’s university featuring local experts or other alumni speakers
- A Model U.S. Congress or debate club that meets every week or once a month at an alum’s high school
- A monthly speaker series featuring senior alumni sharing their career journeys and answering participants’ questions

To be considered for the 2026-2027 CR/UR Program, please complete this application by August 17.
Contact Rebecca at rstrattan@americancouncils.org with any questions.

The program will begin with a virtual training in September 2026. The training will take approximately four hours, divided into two-hour sessions h

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City and University Representative Application

Introduction