Global Ties U.S.

"The best way to lead is to serve," shares Shannon Rowbury OLY, a three-time Olympian and Sports Envoy #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept. "To really help a community, you need to be fully immersed in it. Be present, ask questions, pay attention." We spoke with Shannon about #SportsDiplomacy, community engagement, and the role of athletes as ambassadors for local and global impact. Her thoughts in #ExchangeMatters: gties.us/ShannonRowbury

In June, we worked with GlobalAustin to host Mexican law enforcement representatives for a U.S. Department of State Law Enforcement and Security Exchange Program (LESEP) on trafficking and transnational crime in Austin, TX. Through the #InternationalExchange, participants learned how U.S. law enforcement handle trafficking and other transnational crimes at the border.     Programming included insightful meetings with Michelle Fernald and Kathi West from the Texas Attorney General on investigating and prosecuting human trafficking; Brody Burks from the Human Trafficking Section on combating transnational organized crime; and Susanne Crane from The SAFE Alliance on supporting survivors of child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence.     Discover more about LESEP at https://gties.us/LESEP. #SeguridadCompartida #INLMexico   

In May, San Diego Diplomacy Council facilitated an #InternationalExchange connecting Mexican law enforcement reps with U.S. counterparts in sunny San Diego, CA through the U.S. Department of State Law Enforcement and Security Exchange Program (LESEP). Participants gained valuable insights from San Diego PD Sergeant and Law Enforcement Instructor Elias Estrada, and Officer Homayoun Nabizadeh of the Multicultural Relations Department, and delved into the academic foundations and real-world applications of problem-oriented policing, focusing on building trust and collaboration between law enforcement and the community. The group also visited the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for Southern California, learning about the DA’s CARE Center's comprehensive services that enhance public education on policing, narcotics, and public safety. The CARE Center also addresses critical issues like mental health, housing, and employment needs. #SeguridadCompartida #INLMexico

What drives International Visitor Leadership Program (#IVLP) #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept. Sachiyo Sakaguchi to empower the next generation of leaders? "I believe in the power of individuals coming together to bring about positive changes in the community. This belief fuels my passion for this work." We spoke with Sachiyo about civic engagement, mentorship, her IVLP Impact Award project, and how empowering the next generation can foster positive changes for women in Japan. Read more in #ExchangeMatters: gties.us/Sakaguchi Meridian International Center

Ahead of the Summer Olympics, we are excited to announce our next Global Ties Forum virtual event: "The Power of Sports Diplomacy," on Wednesday, July 24 at 12:00 p.m. ET (noon). The program will feature a conversation in two parts: first with athletes who have served as #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept. Sports Envoys and will share their experiences, and then with #InternationalExchange programmers from the Global Ties Network who have been involved in #SportsDiplomacy programming. Spread the word and join us as we explore the impact of athletes as ambassadors for local and global engagement: https://lnkd.in/gbBNcFy5

The traveling U.S. #ExchangeAlumni exhibit, #ImpactOfExchange, was just in Boise, ID with Global Ties Idaho and impressed local audiences with its combination of #InternationalExchange stories and photos from around the world. As one attendee shared: "Yes, exchanges can bring us together as a world, but so can sharing about these exchanges with others, as these photographs so vividly shared with me.” Learn more about the U.S. #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept. exhibit and its impact on almost 2,000 viewers here: https://lnkd.in/erkKSriv There are two more city stops for the traveling exhibit. Up next is Cedar Rapids, IA with Global Ties Iowa beginning August 9. See details at: http://gties.us/ImpactIowa

How can comic books connect and empower communities worldwide? Two #ExchangeAlumni Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (#CDAF) teams discuss their projects, the power of storytelling, and why #ExchangeMatters. Meet Ram Devineni, an #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept. of the American Arts Incubator Program, who led the #CDAF2022 project “Resilience Augmented Comic Book and Street Art Workshops in Bogota, Colombia,” and Leorian Ricardo, an alumni of the YLAI / Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, who led the #CDAF2023 project “Be the Superhero of Your Own Story / Sé el Superhéroe de tu Propia Historia.” Shared Ram: "Although the process of drawing comics can be very solitary, the process of developing stories is very communal...This is where community is built and brings together many disparate people to tackle complex issues.” Said Leorian: "I consider myself a result of these fantastic stories, where I learned values such as the importance of not giving up, the strength of being a good person, and the unbreakable human spirit in the face of adversity. When you create a character, you are not just adding letters to move the story forward, you are developing a medium to share experiences, whether your own or of those you know." More: https://gties.us/3XCWNuM

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the International Visitor Leadership Program (#IVLP) “Towards a More Safe and Secure World” initiative, which has connected more than 430 law enforcement, security, judicial, public officials, academics, and NGO leaders from around the world with U.S. counterparts to explore cooperative efforts to combat transnational crime. This professional exchange builds understanding of the interagency dynamics of international security cooperation, promotes bilateral partnerships, and strengthens rule of law capacities in nations around the world. Learn more about the history and #ExchangesImpact at: https://gties.us/TMSSW U.S. Department of State #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept.

Thanks to all the U.S. #ExchangeAlumni who joined us last week for #CareerConnections DC. Hosted in partnership with #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept.., attendees explored careers in the federal government through in-depth chats with current employees and peers, info sessions, and networking with agency representatives at the federal career fair. As speakers shared:, “Be okay with understanding you won’t know everything all the time....[but] know you do have an add to a program, that’s why you’re there.” Added others: hone your briefing skills; learn how to write fast and concise and remember that “regular people connecting with each other sets the stage for big diplomacy efforts.”    Our next Career Connections event will be in Detroit, MI (Global Ties Detroit) from September 26-27. Save the date. Details soon at: http://gties.us/CC

Curious about the motivations and pathways to globally focused careers? Dive into this #ExchangeMatters read from #GlobalTies2024 Emerging Leader Lily Fowler. She shares how a volunteer opportunity with Utah Global Diplomacy inspired her diplomatic odyssey: https://lnkd.in/eeBQ4NRm