Sinclair Hosts Bosnia & Herzegovina Youth Delegation During 30th Anniversary of Dayton Accords

Sinclair Community College hosted eighteen (18) high school students and three (3) teachers as part of a youth delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina. This visit was a part of the City of Dayton’s three-week Youth Leadership Program from October 29 to November 17, 2025.

This year’s exchange holds special significance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords. While in Dayton, the cohort participated in commemorative events and engaged in leadership activities designed to reflect on the impact of peacebuilding and international cooperation.

The cohort, in conjunction with Sinclair’s International Student Services Department, shared their experiences with several Sinclair administrators at the Dayton Campus, and heard from Dr. Steve Johnson, Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff Madeline Iseli, as well as Senior Vice President of Student Development Scott Markland. The Bosnia and Herzegovina students were also treated to a tour of Sinclair’s new “Michael & Debbie Carter Center for American History: Our American Journey.”

“Sinclair is honored to serve as host for this youth delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which further develops our educational relationships across the world,” said Dr. Steve Johnson, President & CEO at Sinclair Community College. “The impact this continues to have for Sinclair and the Dayton region is instrumental.”

This past May, Sinclair served as host for various heads of state and diplomats from the Balkan countries to have discussions with one another, as well as both U.S. and E.U. officials, during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Dayton. One official who attended these meetings at Sinclair included Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina Željka Cvijanovi?.

“Our appreciation once again to U.S. Representative Mike Turner, who was vital in bringing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Dayton this past May, for allowing Sinclair to provide a safe and secure environment for diplomatic discussions between the presidents, ministers, and other officials with Balkan countries, three decades after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords,” Dr. Johnson continued.

The youth delegation visit was made possible through a Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of State between the City of Dayton and the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo. This year’s participants represent the cities of Livno and Zenica.

The Youth Leadership Program has been operated by the U.S. Department of State since the early 2000s. The City of Dayton became the U.S. Partner for the Program in 2019. Since then, the City of Dayton has been awarded funding through a competitive grant selection process and has continued to serve as the host site, now welcoming its seventh cohort.

The Youth Leadership Program is administered stateside by the Dayton Mediation Center, a division of the Department of Planning, Neighborhoods & Development. With decades of expertise in conflict management, the Center is uniquely positioned to lead this initiative, given Bosnia and Herzegovina’s post-conflict context and ongoing reconciliation efforts.

The program provides participating youth and educators with an immersive opportunity to explore democratic governance, dialogue, civic engagement, community-building, and volunteerism alongside peers in the United States. Participants lived with local host families during their stay in Dayton, offering a substantive experience of American culture and everyday life.

The Dayton Mediation Center is partnering with the Entrepreneurs’ Center and the Dayton Sister City Committee to deliver high-impact programming, professional development opportunities, and cultural exchange experiences. Together, these organizations aim to promote cross-cultural understanding, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding. Alumni of the program have frequently described the experience as “life-changing” and “an opportunity for friendship otherwise not known.”