Access Students Get Access to American Concert

São Paulo | February 1, 2011

Consul General Thomas Kelly with English Access students at the concert

“I’ve never been to a concert before, and this was amazing”, said one of the five English Access students who attended that attended the Motion City Soundtrack concert on January 29 at Via Funchal.  Such remarks highlight the effect of the Pop Diplomacy initiative, which allowed these high schoolers who are studying English through scholarship provided by the State Department’s English Access Microscholarship program, to attend a major concert with Consul General Thomas Kelly.  After watching the opening bands, the students were thrilled to meet the members of Motion City Soundtrack before they went on, and watched the show from the backstage VIP area.  The Consulate’s Pop Diplomacy program introduces talented students from underprivileged backgrounds to American artists who are performing in Brazil, enabling them to share their experiences and learn more about each other’s  cultures.