Benjamin Quinto,

Founder, Global Youth Action Network

Mentee:

David Z., 18, Colombia

Benjamin Quinto has been a youth advocate since the age of 18. In 1996, he authored a proposal for a United Nations Youth Assembly, which evolved into the Global Youth Action Network (GYAN). As its founder and executive director, he led GYAN to connect thousands of organizations in over 180 countries, mobilizing millions each year, working extensively with the UN, and with teams active in a dozen countries. Benjamin also helped to launch and coordinate Global Youth Service Day, the largest annual celebration of young volunteers, Chat the Planet, a global two-way youth television show broadcast in 17 countries, and the 2000 National Youth Conventions. He speaks 5 languages, lives in New York and has traveled to 29 countries.