Luke Christie, 14, is a long way from his hometown this week. The Due West teenager is one of 30 young people selected to attend the Just Peace Summit in New York City Saturday through April 4.

“I’m thrilled. I am so happy,” he said Friday. “This is the chance of a lifetime and a phenomenal way to spend spring break.”

The summit is sponsored by Three Dot Dash, a global initiative of the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) designed to recognize and support the efforts of teen leaders around the world. The summit was inspired by the late 13-year-old poet and peacemaker Mattie J.T. Stepanek, who wrote six “Heartsongs” poetry books about hope and peace.

The 2008 Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leaders are between the ages of 12 and 19 and represent 18 countries and five continents. Each teen has created a program to help promote positive change and peace by solving problems related to basic human needs -- food, water, health, shelter, safety and education.

Christie was chosen because of his work as the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Goodwill Ambassador to raise awareness about muscular dystrophy and needed research funds.

“I have been involved with MDA for six years running now. I just exited the National Goodwill Ambassador post and taken a new position working with Harley-Davidson Motor Company,” Christie said, pointing out that the company is one of the MDA’s biggest sponsors.

“The most important thing to know about MDA is its mission, and MDA’s mission is to find a cure for over 40 neuromuscular diseases,” he said. “What I hope people can take away knowing about MDA is that it’s here to serve. I’m along with MDA, here to serve. I’m represent MDA in the best possible way I can, going to conferences, talking to people and sharing. I’m very, very blessed to be a part of that.”

Through the ambassador position, Christie was able to meet Jeni Stepanek, Mattie’s mother, who told him about WAFF and how the organization was working on a global initiative with teenagers who followed Mattie’s mentality and his projects for peace making. As part of the Mattie Foundation, they wanted to nominate someone for the conference.

“She said, 'The only person who came to mind was you,’” Christie said. “It’s a tremendous honor.”

This is the teen’s first trip to New York, and he said he arrived early in the week as part of a media training team to practice interview techniques and learn about media interviews. During the summit, he will be sharing that information and his beliefs about peace.

“For me, inner peace is the root of all peace. World peace is not achievable without being comfortable with what’s going on inside you,” he said. “My goal is to help people to understand that’s it’s OK to be in a wheelchair, to ask for help, to have limitations. If we can make peace with ourselves, be OK with who we are, we can go out and bond and make peace with other people.”

Through the summit, the teenagers will be mentored by Three Dot Dash instructors, including authors Ishmael Beah and Sebastian Junger; Associated Press reporter Ian Stewart; Vanity Fair photographer Teun Voeten; Oscar-nominated Jamal Joseph, chairman of Columbia University's Graduate Film Division; and activist Derrick Ashong.

The participants will also receive guidance in improving their communication and creative skills.

“Overall I get to bond with other peacemakers and learn,” Christie said. “Here in New York, I get to learn about all the other global teen leaders projects. I get to share ideas with them and learn about media techniques and how to get our projects out there. I’m probably most excited about some of the small-group workshops, where it’s in-depth discussion.”