LEWISTON — The 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, sponsored by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at UMaine, Orono, will visit Lewiston as part of their six-week program at the Public Management Institute.

A public reception will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, in Callahan Hall, Lewiston Public Library.

The Policy Center is bringing the leaders to Lewiston in partnership with the city, USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services, New Mainers Public Health Initiatives, Maine Community Integrations, Lewiston Public Library and Djibouti Community and Voluntary Services.

Dr. Jonathan Rubin, director of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, said the young leaders will sharpen their skills in business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership or public management, and continue their professional development once back in their home countries.

Examples of their academic areas of study include Environment/Climate Change, Engineering/Water Research, Conservation/Wildlife, and Mental Health/Youth.

This year’s 25 leaders hail from 18 countries in Sub-Saharan African, representing many of the African immigrants in Maine, and are part of 1,000 who were rewarded for the competition across Africa. Civic leadership, business development and youth development are some of the topics that will be addressed in their visit with leaders in the Lewiston community.

Mayor Robert Macdonald will welcome the group to Lewiston during the reception. Community leaders will speak and there will be networking and ethnic foods. Additionally, the Fellows will meet with the youth, visit the ethnic community-based organizations and tour the ethnic stores in downtown Lewiston.