Twenty-five Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellows arrived in Iowa City June 16 to learn about the American economy and the basics of operating their own business. During their six-week stay, the fellows have been traveling across the state visiting farms, religious institutions, art galleries, and large businesses. The week of July 10, the fellows visited the John Pappajohn Educational Center in Des Moines. Photo by Justin Torner.
By Kate Huber, IowaNow
“If I can do it, you can do it.”
That was the message philanthropist and nationally recognized entrepreneur John Pappajohn shared with the 2017 Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellows in Des Moines last week.
The fellows are among 1,000 individuals from sub-Saharan African countries (chosen from a pool of more than 40,000 applicants) who were selected to visit numerous colleges and universities across the United States. Members of the group visiting the University of Iowa come from 18 countries and various backgrounds.
The Iowa group arrived in Iowa City June 16 and will leave July 31 for a four-day summit in Washington, D.C. During their six weeks in Iowa, the fellows are learning how the American economy works, as well as the basics of starting and operating their own business.
The 25 fellows participating in the UI’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) 2017 program, along with this year’s Drake University fellows, traveled to Des Moines last week to hear John Pappajohn’s story of overcoming adversity, the power of positivity, and the importance of having a mindset of success.