By Claire Schafer, Public Diplomacy Intern, Global Ties U.S.
Global Ties U.S. has been busy this summer facilitating international exchange programs across the United States in partnership with our incredible global Network! From professional development programming to cultural events and workshops, here is a snapshot of our summer activities.
Thank you Franklin University, Global Ties Miami, and International Visitors Council, Inc. for hosting a Polish MBA Study Tour; a huge shout out to International Focus and North Carolina University for supporting our third annual Mexico Meet America delegation; a special thanks to The International Center and the International Institute of Buffalo for taking care of our Mexican law enforcement professionals; and thank you Georgia Council for International Visitors, Global Minnesota, GlobalPittsburgh, Global Ties Alabama, Rochester Global Connections, and WorldBoston for supporting our events with the Middle East Institute and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture. Learn more about these programs below.
MBA STUDY TOUR FOR MBA STUDENTS OF WSB UNIVERSITIES IN POLAND
Polish visitors meet with Damon Jones, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Washington Nationals.
In partnership with Franklin University, Global Ties U.S. hosted a delegation of twelve Polish MBA candidates and administrators from the Wroclaw School of Business in June. The visitors were here to develop connections and exchange ideas and best practices with their American counterparts.
Global Ties Miami, a Global Ties U.S. Community-Based Member, welcomed the delegation in Miami, Florida where they visited MasterCard International and Barfield, Inc. Visitors also had time to explore South Beach and take an airboat tour of the Everglades as part of their program.
The second phase of the exchange took place in Washington, DC. Visitors met with organizations and corporations such as Boeing, Marriott International, the EU Delegation to the U.S., and the World Bank, which afforded them a variety of perspectives on management and international business. Along with their meetings, the delegation visited the National Mall and the United States Capitol.
Their last stop was in Columbus, Ohio, where they were hosted by International Visitors Council, Inc., a Global Ties U.S. Community-Based Member. The delegation visited Honda of America and toured the Honda Heritage Center, before closing out their visit at Franklin University, where they learned about the University’s MBA and doctoral programs aimed at early- to mid-career professionals. To cap off their program, the delegation enjoyed a homemade dinner with Palmer McNeal, Executive Director of International Visitors Council, Inc., and his wife, Barcy, before returning to Poland.
Thank you Global Ties Miami, Franklin University, International Visitors Council, Inc., and Christopher Washington, Ph.D., Vice Chair of the Global Ties U.S. Board of Directors, and Executive Vice President and Provost at Franklin University, for arranging this successful exchange program!
MEXICO MEET AMERICA PROGRAM
Mexico Meet America participants pose with the Sir Walter Raleigh statue in Raleigh, NC.
The Mexico Meet America program, now in its third year, is a professional development program for college students interested in building their networking skills and preparing for the global workforce. In July, Global Ties U.S. brought a group of twenty undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors from the Universidad de Guadalajara to the United States for a ten-day program focused on social entrepreneurship and innovation. The program began in Washington, DC and continued in Raleigh, North Carolina where programming was managed by International Focus, a Global Ties U.S. Community-Based Member.
While in DC, the visitors met with organizations such as the Center for Social Value Creation at the University of Maryland, which empowers students to create a better world through business principles; Seed Spot, a social entrepreneurship incubator; Ashoka, which identifies and invests in social entrepreneurs seeking solutions to world problems; and Atlas Corps, which engages leaders committed to the nonprofit sector through international professional fellowships. During their stay, the students worked with Sandra Buteau, a leadership development and career coach in Washington, DC, to assess their strengths and establish goals for themselves.
The Mexico Meet America program continued in Raleigh, North Carolina where the participants worked on their leadership and career planning with Marcy Bullock, Director of Professional Development at North Carolina State University, at the University’s Career Development Center.
The visitors also met with First Flight Venture Center, a technology incubator; the Consulate General of Mexico in North Carolina; and HQ Raleigh, a shared workspace designed to empower companies that produce long-term growth and positive social impact. At the end of their program, the participants gave presentations on their career goals and outlined steps to achieve them.
Participants enjoyed the workshops and career coach sessions. “The workshops help[ed] me to clarify my goals and taught me to see my talents as an opportunity to improve myself and do things better,” said one student. Another participant added that “This program opened up my mind about social entrepreneurship. I loved meeting entrepreneurs from diverse sectors and different [industries] in DC and Raleigh.”
Thank you Sandra Buteau, Marcy Bullock, and International Focus for taking care of our Mexico Meet America visitors!
POLICE PROFESSIONALIZATION EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Participants on the Police Professionalization Exchange Program visit New Era Field, home of the Buffalo Bills NFL team.
Global Ties U.S. and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City launched the Police Professionalization Exchange Program to provide training and professional development for 3,800 Mexican police officials over the next three years.
This summer, two groups of law enforcement professionals came to the United States on the exchange. One delegation visited Buffalo, New York and the other visited Indianapolis, Indiana, where they were hosted, respectively, by the International Institute of Buffalo and The International Center, both Global Ties U.S. Community-Based Members, before they reconvened in Washington, DC to conclude the program.
While in Buffalo and Indianapolis, visitors met with various law enforcement agencies such as police departments, sheriff’s offices, local FBI offices, forensic laboratories, and criminal analysis centers to learn about data-driven policing. Additionally, the Buffalo group visited New Era Field, home of the Buffalo Bills NFL team, to learn about major event management and security.
Once the groups rejoined in Washington, DC, they met with organizations such as the Police Foundation, a nonprofit focused on community-building, effective policing, and crime reduction; the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, where they learned about collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data; the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where they learned how the DOJ helps state and local police agencies use data in law enforcement; and the National Sheriffs’ Association, a professional association serving the Office of the Sheriff and its affiliates through police education, police training, and general law enforcement information resources.
Special thanks to The International Center, the International Institute of Buffalo, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City for making this program so successful!
BRIDGES: A MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE – GLOBAL TIES U.S. PARTNERSHIP
Mohammed Saad, a blind photographer and disability rights advocate, takes a photo of an audience member on stage at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, NY.
Global Ties U.S., in partnership with the Middle East Institute and with the support of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, organized a series of summer events through the Global Ties Network on topics ranging from arts and culture, to science and innovation. Following is a snapshot of several events, hosted by Global Ties U.S. Community-Based Members.
In June, the Georgia Council for International Visitors hosted curator Noor Aldabbagh for a discussion of her recent art exhibit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As part of her visit, Noor toured the Goat Farm Arts Center where she spoke with several resident artists about the work of the Center and other organizations in Atlanta supporting the arts.
Mohammed Saad, a photographer and disability rights advocate who is himself blind, was hosted by Rochester Global Connections and GlobalPittsburgh in July. While in Rochester, Mohammed joined the local Beep baseball team, a league for visually-impaired players, for practice before delivering a public talk at the George Eastman Museum.
Also in July, Global Minnesota and WorldBoston hosted Hosam Zowai, Ph.D., a microbiologist and global health advocate. As part of his visit, Hosam gave a talk on antimicrobial resistance to a group of leading scientists, and took a private tour of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Public Health Laboratory.
In August, Global Ties Alabama hosted aerospace entrepreneur Mishaal Ashemimry for a conversation series on how to make space accessible and cost-effective for all.
Thank you Georgia Council for International Visitors, Global Minnesota, GlobalPittsburgh, Global Ties Alabama, Rochester Global Connections, and WorldBoston for supporting our events with the Middle East Institute and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture!