Washington, D.C. (April 4, 2025)– The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) led a delegation of its 2024 McCain Global Leaders (MGL) to Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 23-28, as the third stop of the cohort’s Changemaker Tour. MGLs from the Western Hemisphere gained a deeper understanding of Argentinian culture, the geopolitical landscape, and the challenges it faces in maintaining its vibrant democracy.
The MGLs included NGO leader and activist Jeshua Bardoo from Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Open Shadows Executive Director Remaya Campbell from the United States, Assistant Registration Officer at the Guyana Elections Commission Deodat Persaud from Guyana, Plan País Executive Director Juan Pio Hernandez, and Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State Tom Seaman from the United States.
During the trip, the delegation met with government officials in the National Congress of Argentina, and officials from the autonomous city of Buenos Aires from the Ministry of Justice and Office of the Chief of Staff. The delegation also started the trip by learning about the rich history of Argentina from political history experts Patricio Dellagiovanna and Fernando Domínguez Sardou, followed by a meeting with Argentine politics expert from the Center for Parliamentary Studies, Juan De Dios. The cohort met with the heads of several non-profit organizations including Women’s Democracy Network Argentina (WDN), Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) and Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC), who offered invaluable insights into policy building, promoting democratic values and making Argentina a more empowering place for everyone.
“Argentina stands at a crossroads in its democratic journey due to the recent shift in political leadership,” said Meagan Bigler, senior program coordinator for global leadership programs at the McCain Institute. “The McCain Global Leaders had the opportunity to meet with leaders and organizations working to reinforce the values of ethical governance, human rights, and freedom, ensuring that the country’s democracy remains resilient. Through these engagements, the leaders concluded the tour with expanded knowledge that they can take back and implement in their home countries across the Western Hemisphere.”
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Learn more about the McCain Institute’s McCain Global Leaders Program here.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.