The Washington, DC-based nonprofit Global Ties U.S., in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), is proud to announce it will host Career Connections professional development seminars beginning in Summer 2022 in three communities across the United States this year, with additional events to come in 2023 and beyond.
Last held in-person in 2019, Career Connections seminars bring together U.S. citizens, who have participated in U.S. government sponsored or funded exchange programs, with leaders who have diverse backgrounds in the business, government, civil society, and nonprofit sectors to strengthen and facilitate new global connections through citizen diplomacy.
The dates and locations of the 2022 events are:
July 29: Washington, DC
Note: This is a hybrid event; in addition to the in-person event on July 29, adjacent programming will take place virtually on July 21 and August 4.
September 16-18: Albuquerque, NM
Hosted in partnership with Global Ties ABQ
October 15-16: Boston, MA
Hosted in partnership with World Boston
Career Connections seminars are funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Global Ties U.S. in collaboration with local Community-Based Members (CBMs). These events are an opportunity for U.S. exchange program alumni to forge new connections, build on their exchange experiences, and elevate their role as community leaders locally, nationally, and globally.
“We are thrilled to work with our partners in DC, Albuquerque, and Boston on these Career Connections events and highlight the important role that international exchange programs play in shaping career trajectories, developing global competencies, and enriching communities,” said Katherine Brown, Ph.D., President & CEO of Global Ties U.S. “The Global Ties Network is the infrastructure for U.S. public diplomacy efforts, and a powerful resource for U.S. exchange program alumni to connect and build on their global experiences.”
“We live in a time in history where individuals play an unprecedented role in shaping both domestic and international affairs,” said Nini Forino, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and the Director of Alumni Affairs in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “We are excited to partner with the Global Ties Network to support these citizen diplomats as these U.S. citizens build on their exchange experiences at home in the United States.”
With more than 450,000 U.S. citizen alumni in the United States and around the world, the Office of Alumni Affairs opens the door to alumni networking, professional development, and the many opportunities that exist in citizen diplomacy. In addition to Career Connections (which includes in-person events as well as Career Connections Global + virtual events), the partnership with Global Ties U.S. includes the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund, a small grants competition for exchange program alumni to carry out public service projects that make the most of the skills, knowledge, and networks gained through their exchange experiences.
More Information
Global Ties U.S. powers individuals, communities, and nations to build trust and advance peace and prosperity through international exchange. It is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of State and supports a Network of 120+ nonprofit organizations representing all 50 U.S. states and more than 20 countries. Global Ties U.S. members are international exchange professionals who provide the domestic infrastructure for U.S. public diplomacy efforts, implementing the International Visitor Leadership Program and a wide variety of educational, cultural, and professional exchange programs.
The Office of Alumni Affairs at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) leads and coordinates efforts to engage alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and funded people-to-people exchanges in order to maintain relationships with these current and emerging leaders. Through programs targeting U.S. ExchangeAlumni, the Office of Alumni Affairs is committed to providing resources which allow alumni to expand upon their global experiences to address shared global challenges, use the skills they developed abroad to make an impact in their communities, leverage their expertise to prosper in a globalized world and professional marketplace, and promote mutual understanding between the United States and countries around the world. For more information, visit alumni.state.gov.