Cultural Vistas

We eagerly anticipate Exchange Day on August 5, a time to celebrate international exchanges and their impact. In a typical year, thousands of international students come to the U.S. to learn more about our culture, to travel around our beautiful landscapes, and to create new friendships. Now more than ever, Exchange Day is the day to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of international exchanges. At Cultural Vistas, every year, we offer 20+ programs designed to help people and institutions increase critical thinking skills, enhance their intercultural awareness and sensitivity, build strong networks of collaboration, and approach complex challenges with a global mindset. Get ready to share your #ExchangesImpact story with us to #CelebrateExchangeDay

We were delighted to hear from U.S. Department of State officials at the BridgeUSA Program Roundtable event today hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Our President and CEO, Jennifer Clinton, joined the panel alongside representatives from allied organizations dedicated to facilitating exchanges through BridgeUSA. Last year, 480,000+ people from around the world came to the United States through BridgeUSA exchange visitor programs, contributing an estimated $1.2 billion to the US economy. Beyond their substantial economic impact, exchange programs like BridgeUSA offer an invaluable cultural benefit by fostering personal connections across borders. If you would like to find out how your organization could host an exchange participant as a research scholar, specialist, intern, or a variety of other categories, feel free to get in touch: https://lnkd.in/eEeUjaM9

The CBYX for Young Professionals program is seeking host families for the 2024-25 program year! We are especially in need of host families near the following cities: Cedar Rapids, IA; Fairfield, IL; Palatine, IL; Palos Hills, IL; Lowell, MA; Baltimore, MD; Rockville, MD; St. Louis, MO; Kalispell, MT; Thomasville, NC; Devils Lake, ND; Lincoln, NE; Santa Fe, NM; Las Vegas, NV; Binghamton, NY; Jamestown, NY; Utica, NY; Portland, OR; Johnson City, TN; Austin, TX; Houston, TX; Ephraim, UT; Longview, WA; Seattle, WA; Appleton, WI; La Crosse, WI; Madison, WI; Bluefield, WV; Martinsburg, WV; West Liberty, WV. Hosting with CBYX serves as an exciting cultural exchange opportunity, not only for our German participants, but for U.S. hosts as well. In addition to unique intercultural learning opportunities, hosts can expect a modest monthly stipend, assistance with household tasks, and engagement with family activities. In return, we ask that hosts provide a safe, clean, and welcoming environment, a private bedroom, and some meals for participants. Participants are expected cover their own transportation, telecommunication, and other expenses. We welcome host families of all sizes and backgrounds. Please reach out to ccox@culturalvistas.org or submit a brief host family interest form on our website under “Host” to get started! #cbyxppp #CulturalVistas #ExchangeOurWorld https://lnkd.in/eHiMwwKw

As we enter the second half of 2024, our Cultural Vistas #IVLP team is looking back at all the wonderful groups of visitors we've had the opportunity to host. Most recently, a group of professionals from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Philippines, and Taiwan on a project titled "Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management for the Indo-Pacific". This group examined best practices in the field among federal, state, and local government and the private sector; discussed how stakeholders develop contingency plans for natural disasters, pandemics, technological hazards, and/or terrorism threats; learned from Emergency Management Service (EMS) personnel; and explored programs that help communities heal from disasters by offering leadership and strengthening recovery plans. Through the IVLP, they met with leaders and organizations in Washington, DC; Jacksonville, FL; Cincinnati, OH; Louisville, KY; and Salt Lake City, UT to discuss these objectives and learn from one another. GlobalJax World Affairs Council - Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana Utah Global Diplomacy #InternationalExchange #ExchangeOurWorld #PublicDiplomacy

🎆 Happy Fourth of July from Cultural Vistas! 🇺🇸 As we celebrate this day of independence, let's also embrace the values of unity and collaboration that make us stronger. Every year, we offer 20+ programs designed to help people and institutions increase critical thinking skills, enhance their intercultural awareness and sensitivity, build strong networks of collaboration, and approach complex challenges with a global mindset. #IndependenceDay #GlobalMindset #CulturalVistas

Excited for the upcoming BridgeUSA Program Roundtable with State Department Officials! 🤝 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Each year, BridgeUSA brings together 300,000 individuals from 200 countries and territories to the U.S. 🇺🇸 They come to study at high schools and universities, build networks, improve English skills, and contribute to American education. As a designated sponsor, Cultural Vistas proudly facilitates international Research Scholars, Interns, Teachers, and more, supporting career growth in the U.S. Trusted by 600+ American entities and 3,000+ global participants annually, we're honored to lead J-1 Visa programs worldwide. Learn more by visiting our website www.culturalvistas.org Let's connect and innovate together! 🚀 #BridgeUSA #CulturalVistas #J1Visa #GlobalEducation

Last week marked the end of my journey in Germany as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX-YP). Our experience concluded with a seminar in Washington D.C. and a memorable 40th-anniversary dinner with current participants and alumni of the CBYX program. The CBYX-YP fellowship aims to strengthen German-American relations by sending Americans to Germany and vice versa, serving as Junior Ambassadors to represent their countries and build meaningful relationships. The program is structured into three phases: language school, university studies, and a professional working phase. This year has been a period of great personal and professional growth for me. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to complete internships with the Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut Sachsen and the CDU-Kreisverband Dresden. These experiences have been invaluable and have taught me so much about German-American Relations and introduced me to the German political landscape. A heartfelt thank you to the Cultural Vistas team for their dedication and hard work in making this year such a success. I also want to express my gratitude to my managers and mentors for their support and guidance throughout this journey. Lastly, thank you to my fellow American participants for making this year unforgettable. 🇺🇸 🇩🇪

From May 15-28, I had the grandest experience of traveling and studying in Rwanda. During this period, I studied the culture, language, and way of life of the Rwandan people. I immersed myself deeply, gaining a wealth of knowledge. This unforgettable experience included engaging with students from the African Leadership University, where we discussed the similarities and differences in our higher education systems. Additionally, I had the opportunity to interact with primary students and converse with their educators about their curriculum, while they were curious to learn more about our educational circumstances in the United States. Visiting the villages was particularly impactful. I was amazed to see how the villagers worked in the fields, which reminded me of my studies on the transatlantic slave trade and how my ancestors worked on plantations, often united through song. Experiencing the harvesting stages of coffee and tasting the fruits of our labor was a memorable highlight. Given my research interests in the Africana diaspora, it was invaluable to gain firsthand experience of the culture in Rwanda. Before visiting, I had researched and read extensively about the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. However, visiting the memorials and speaking with survivors provided a profound perspective that I was not fully prepared for. The most important takeaway from this trip was the friendships I formed—an intangible gift that I will cherish. East Africa has truly captured my heart, and I am eager to explore other regions of Africa. Global Livingston Institute Morehouse College

I recently returned from a transformative two-week study abroad experience in Rwanda, where I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in the vibrant culture and learn about community development firsthand. During this time, I engaged with local leaders, learned about community projects, and witnessed the resilience and innovation of Rwandan communities. From visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial to understand the nation's history and path to reconciliation, to engaging with initiatives that promote sustainable development and social entrepreneurship, every moment was eye-opening and inspiring. As a student pursuing a career in global health, a special highlight was visiting one of two Zipline distribution centers in the country. This American startup has partnered with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, the Rwanda Agricultural Board, the National Child Development Agency, the Rwanda Biomedical Center and other agencies to improve access to blood, animal health products, human vaccines, childhood nutrition products and medical supplies for communities living in rural regions. Autonomous drones are programmed to fly these items all across the country in an efficient and cost-effective manner. I gained valuable insights into the importance of community-driven solutions and the power of collective action as I observed the inner workings of this initiative. It was amazing for me to learn about an innovative solution to an issue that can be observed all over the world! This entire visit has broadened my perspective on global development and reinforced my passion for making a difference. I am immensely grateful to everyone who made this journey possible and to the people of Rwanda for their warmth and hospitality. Special thanks to John Wetenkamp with the Global Livingston Institute Team for guiding us through this experience and Jan Tasci with Cultural Vistas for making this trip possible. As I return home, I carry with me a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the impact we can have when we work together. I look forward to applying these lessons to my future endeavors and continuing to advocate for sustainable community development. #StudyAbroad #Kigali #Rwanda #CommunityDevelopment #GlobalLearning #SustainableDevelopment #CulturalExchange #Gratitude

At the SelectUSA conference this week promoting the U.S. Department of State's #EarlyCareerSTEM initiative. @GinaRaimondo talks about massive investments in the US around tech and innovation. Cultural Vistas's #J1 Visa Program can help international talent contribute to our economic growth!