MMUN Historical Facts: 2006 to current

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2006

Inception

The idea of MMUN was born in 2006 in the minds of two individuals – Judith Cunningham, Montessori Educator, Head of Oak Farm Montessori School, and Executive Director of MMUN and His Excellency Francis Lorenzo, United Nations Ambassador from Dominican Republic.

 

First Teachers Workshop

The first Teachers Workshop on Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) for approximately 25 Montessori educators from USA and Canada was held in Manhattan, NYC and UN Headquarters in October 2006

 

2007

First MMUN Conference

The first MMUN Conference was held at the Grand Hyatt, Manhattan, NYC and UN Headquarters in February-March 2007. About 400 student delegates from USA and Canada Montessori schools participated, ages 9-15 years (Upper Elementary to Middle School). This conference was launched in honor of Dr. Maria Montessori’s 100th year anniversary of Montessori education.

 

First MMUN Retreat

The first MMUN retreat for interested Montessori educators who had participated in the first MMUN conference in winter met in summer of 2007 in Upstate New York to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the conference.

 

Second Teachers Workshop

The second MMUN Teachers Workshops were held for both returning and new teachers at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters in October 2007 and at the WAFUNIF Offices in December 2007.

 

 

2008

Second MMUN Conference

The second MMUN Conference was held at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters in April 2008. To eventually build leadership from bottom up and make MMUN a truly Montessori centered organization, a group of five Montessori teachers stepped up in leadership roles as Rapporteurs and Vice Presidents in training. The student delegation rose to 500 with four countries represented.

 

Third Teachers Workshop

Three MMUN Teachers Workshops were held in summer (1) and fall (2) of 2008, two at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters; and one at the La Quinta, Houston, Texas.

 

 

2009

Third MMUN Conference

The third MMUN Conference was held at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters in February-March, 2009. About 600 student delegates participated. It also witnessed Montessori educators assuming leadership roles on the Dais as Rapporteurs, Vice Presidents, and Presidents.

 

Fourth Teachers Workshop

Two MMUN Teachers Workshops were held in summer and fall of 2009 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters. Leadership training for the Dais was added to the summer workshop.

 

 

2010

First High School Intern Training Workshop

The first training workshop for MMUN Alumni (current high school students who had participated in MMUN as middle school students) was held in January-February of 2010 at School of the Woods, Houston, Texas.

 

Fourth MMUN Conference

The fourth MMUN Conference was held at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters in February-March, 2010. About 850 student delegates participated from nine countries. For the first time fourteen MMUN alumni (current high school students) took to the Dais along with other Montessori educators as Rapporteurs, Vice Presidents, and Presidents.

 

First MMUN Leadership Institute

The first Leadership Institute was held in June 2010 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC for experienced MMUN educators and alumni. Seven students from USA and Puerto Rico participated.

 

Fifth Teachers Workshop

Two MMUN Teachers Workshops were held in the summer and fall of 2010 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY and UN Headquarters

 

First MMUN Teachers Workshop for Middle School Chinese Teachers

Fifteen Chinese teachers from the Henan Province of China attended a five day specially designed MMUN Teachers Workshop in July-August, 2010 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters. For the first time, a student delegation from China will participate at the 2011 MMUN conference. The Education Bureau of the Henan Province is collaborating with the MMUN organization to introduce the MMUN Global Citizenship curriculum and Montessori philosophy into their public schools.

 

Second MMUN Teachers Workship for Middle School Chinese Teachers

A second group of ten Middle School Chinese Teachers from China attended a five day specially designed MMUN Teachers Workshop during the American Thanksgiving week, 2010 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn NY and UN Headquarters.

 

 

2011

Fifth MMUN Conference

The fifth MMUN Conference was held at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters in April, 2011. Nearly 900 student delegates participated from nine different countries. For the first time, there were student delegations from China and Japan. Also for the first time, MMUN General Assembly Session was held at the UN General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters, NYC. Also for the first time, an in-house Rapporteurs Training Workshop was held for MMUN Middle School alumni as High School students interested to serve on the Dais during the conference, prior to the Opening Ceremony. This was also a historic year when the entire MMUN conference from the logistics to the leadership was completely spearheaded by the Montessori community. All schools who have participated five years in a row were recognized at the Opening Ceremony, 26 out of the very first 30 schools were recognized.

 

Sixth Teachers Workshop

Two MMUN Teachers Workshops were held in summer and fall of 2011 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters. Educators from Canada, USA, Sweden, Nigeria, and Chile attended the workshops.

 

Second MMUN Leadership Institute

The second Leadership Institute was held in June 2011 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC for experienced MMUN educators and alumni. Eight students and five teachers attended.

 

Third MMUN Teachers Workshop for Elementary and Middle School Chinese Teachers

Seven Elementary and Middle School Chinese teachers from Beijing, China attended a specially designed five day MMUN Teachers workshop during the American Thanksgiving week, 2011 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and the UN Headquarters.

 

 

2012

Sixth MMUN Conference

The sixth MMUN Conference was held at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters in April, 2012. Nearly 1200 student delegates participated from nine different countries. For the first time, there were student delegations from Nigeria, Chile, and observers from Pakistan. For the second time, an in-house Rapporteurs Training Workshop was held prior to the Opening Ceremony for MMUN alumni now in High School. Both the Opening and the Closing ceremony took place in the United Nations Headquarters, NY.

 

Seventh Teachers Workshop

Two MMUN Teachers Workshops – one was held in summer and one is scheduled for fall of 2012 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and UN Headquarters. 

 

The first MMUN Teachers Workshop for the Midwest region is scheduled for October 2012 in Fort Wayne, IN.

 

The first MMUN Teachers Workshop for teachers from Europe and Asia is scheduled for November, 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

Third MMUN Leadership Institute

The third Leadership Institute was held in June 2012 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC for experienced MMUN educators and alumni. It exceeded our expectations - twenty students and two teachers attended.

 

Fourth MMUN Teachers Workshop for Elementary and Middle School Chinese Teachers

Six Middle School Chinese teachers and High school students from Beijing, China attended a specially designed four day MMUN Teachers workshop in September, 2012 at the Marriott, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NYC and the UN Headquarters.

 

 

 

Professional Guidance and Leadership

For Key Member Profiles, please click here.