As part of the African Cultural Festival Pennsylvania 2025, the NextGen Connect – Youth Leadership Forum will serve as a powerful platform to bridge the gap between African diaspora youth and the opportunities on the continent. This one-hour experience will occur just before the high-energy Fashion Show - Africa Steeze on the Runway event. It will focus on empowering young people to explore, innovate, and collaborate across technology, creativity, and culture.

Thousands of young people from across the United States, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, other part of Africa, and beyond will connect virtually and in person to share ideas, learn from industry trailblazers, and explore how their talents—ranging from tech to fashion, music to filmmaking—can be transformed into profitable ventures through the the festival ecosystem.

The event marks the beginning of a diaspora-driven movement that reconnects young people to their heritage while equipping them to shape Africa’s future from anywhere in the world.