The Russian American Youth Alliance (RAYA) is a student-led organization dedicated to building a multi-national network of young adults from Russia and the United States to foster bilateral discourse about culture, language, and politics in a mission to advance international unity. In our current unsteady political climate — one full of misunderstanding and animosity — we aspire to bridge the gap between Russian and American youth to achieve mutual understanding and cooperation. We hope to cultivate an environment where our members can immerse themselves in the culture and politics of both countries and build long-lasting friendships and ties.