NBCUniversal & Millennial Trains Project Announce New Partnership

The Millennial Trains Project today announced that NBCUniversal will be the lead sponsor of its May 2015 journey. The Millennial Trains Project (MTP) is an innovative non-profit organization that leads crowdfunded transcontinental train journeys for young entrepreneurs, artists, and changemakers to explore America and advance projects that will help benefit local communities nationwide.

MTP will select 20 participants, aged 18-34, for its May journey to ride on caravans of vintage rail cars that serve as a mobile innovation lab and campus for participants, who earn their way on board by crowdfunding support for a project they want to advance across the country. Working with MTP to support a diverse pool of participants on the journey, NBCUniversal will provide scholarship funding to select additional participants after the crowdfunding deadline of April 1st. Similarly, the U.S. Department of State will underwrite the participation of several foreign Fulbright Scholars in the interest of fostering international collaboration.

MTP's May 2015 journey across the American South will move from Los Angeles, CA to Washington, D.C. with stops in San Antonio, TX; Austin, TX; New Orleans, LA; and Atlanta, GA. The tour will begin on May 21 and end on May 31.

"The Millennial Trains Project is about moving people and communities forward with innovation, ideas, conversation and collaboration," said Beth Colleton, NBCUniversal's Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, "As a company uniquely positioned to inform, empower and inspire, we embrace the opportunity to create conversation and mobilize action to address issues in local communities across the country."

Throughout the journey, MTP participants advance their projects in collaboration with local innovators, public officials, civic leaders, educators and others in each community where the train stops. Past projects have focused on a wide range of issues including: disaster preparedness, small business growth, sustainable agriculture, climate change, racial dialogue, creative placemaking, and public art.

In addition to providing scholarship funding, NBCUniversal will pledge financial support for the ongoing development of impactful MTP projects.

Committed to advancing pro-social initiatives and diversity through its emerging Open Possibilities social innovation platform, NBCUniversal will work with MTP to enable individual potential and inspire collective action by sharing the stories of the participants, and local innovators they encounter through their journey.

"NBCUniversal believes that Millennials can make a difference and supports our aspirations for a better world," said Patrick Dowd, Founder and CEO of the Millennial Trains Project. "We are grateful to have such an iconic organization supporting the diverse interests of our community of young changemakers."

Emerging leaders are encouraged to apply for MTP's May 2015 journey, and must be among the first 20 applicants to reach their crowdfunding goal before April 1st in order to get on board.

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