What do BridgeUSA programs mean to you? What does it mean for America?
If you don't know, BridgeUSA programs promote U.S. foreign diplomacy through various opportunities, where both Americans and Foriengn Countryman connect, share ideas, learn from one another and build life long relationships. I can't express how important it is to not just us as a nation, I'm knee deep in seeing the amazing impacts of these programs. The development individuals experience on a personal and professional level is amazing.
Don't just sign this, but help advocate for FY25 (Fiscal Year 2025) funding of these programs. These funds not only help us in on the ground, but it helps these programs have the proper oversight from the top down!
#exchangesmatter
ACTION ALERT! A sign-on letter led by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA, 4) is currently circulating in the House for signatures supporting FY25 funding for educational and cultural exchange programs.
Encourage your Representative to show their support for educational and cultural exchanges, and sign on to this letter by 4/19: https://lnkd.in/eF-9-6ii#ExchangesImpact#ExchangesMatter
Please reach out to your Representatives to vote NO on the following amendments that would decimate the Educational and Cultural Exchange programs budget. Our work through the International Visitor Leadership Program is important and I wish everyone knew this!
Amendment 38 (#158) introduced by Rep. Mast (R-FL, 21) that seeks to eliminate all funding for the Educational and Cultural Exchange programs account in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2025 (H.R. 8771).
- Amendments 1 (#83) and 13 (#15), introduced by Rep. Gosar (R-AZ, 9) and Rep. Brecheen (R-OK, 2), that seek to cut ECE funding in various ways.
Department of State educational and cultural exchange programs are a proven and cost effective way for the United States to remain internationally competitive, engage current and future international leaders, and promote American values. As established by the Fulbright-Hays Act, exchanges are a key instrument of U.S. foreign policy and essential to strengthening U.S. global leadership, and building respect and partnerships based on shared interests and mutual ties around the world. Eliminating funding for State Department exchange programs would negatively impact Americans and their communities across the country. These programs are a cost-effective investment that provides significant and immediate economic impact, with more than 90% of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs budget going to American organizations, businesses, and individuals.
If enacted, these amendments would significantly damage, or in the case of Amendment 38 (#158) devastate, State Department educational and cultural exchange programs going forward, which would greatly harm not only our national security during a critical time, but also the many American communities who host exchange visitors.
"The only way that we can get anywhere is by lifting each other up. Believing in that young child that wants to do something different. Believing in the idea that might sound crazy. That's how change happens for the better in our villages and that's how we help each other progress." AFN, Alaska Federation of Natives.
How can we adapt old #NativeWisdom, #IndigenousWisdom to help us create new ideas today to help our children face life's challenges tomorrow?
The AFN, has now started to plan for their future generations, what about the rest of the world? Are we listening?
If you are anywhere around Anchorage, Alaska. Join us. The 2024 Convention theme is "Our Children - Our Future Ancestors," and will be held on October 17-19, 2024 at the Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska.
The Convention is free and open to the public, so no registration is required.
AFN Convention Broadcast Information
The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Annual Convention, including Quyana Alaska cultural performances, is exclusively broadcast statewide by KTOO 360TV. Reaching over 200 villages and 18 cities, viewers can watch via:
Over-the-Air KTOO 360TV:
KTOO, Juneau (channel 3.3)
KAKM, Anchorage (channel 7.3)
KYUK, Bethel (channel 10.3)
KUAC, Fairbanks (channel 9.9)
ARCS Translators Statewide
Cable: KTOO 360TV channel on GCI's Yukon TV
Satellite: Dish Network and DirectTV
Streaming KTOO 360TV:
KTOO website (ktoo.org/watch)
KTOO Roku App
KTOO Apple TV App
The 2024 Convention theme is "Our Children - Our Future Ancestors," and will be held on October 17-19, 2024 at the Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska. AFN President Julie Kitka will serve as the 2024 keynote speaker.
The annual convention serves as the principal forum and voice for the Alaska Native community in addressing critical issues of public policy and government. The convention convenes thousands of official delegates and participants from membership organizations across the state.
At the Convention, delegates discuss strategic opportunities and challenges, listen to memorable keynote speeches, hear reports from political leaders and presentations from expert panels, and share stories of resilience, experiences, strengths, knowledge, and hope for the future.
The resolutions passed by the voting delegates set the priorities for the year and guide AFN’s efforts. The Convention is the largest representative annual gathering in the United States of Native peoples.
#Wearestillhere, #NativeWisdom, #Indigenouswisdom, #Ourchildrenourfuture, #IndigenousWisdom, #AFN, #Alaska, #Sustainability, #EndPoverty, #EndHunger, #Subsistence, #Community, #RockefellerFoundation, #SDG, #SDGs, #ClimateChange, #Timtebow, #BETHECHANGE
Operations and Development Director at SAPERE, co-founder of The Philosophy Foundation. President of SOPHIA. Director Thinking Space. Actor. WISE100 2020. KCL VRA. Fellow of Royal Society of Arts.
This is our new SOPHIA LinkedIn page. And here is our first post!
We are pleased to announce our Annual Network Meeting will be held in Cambridge, England on May 25th and May 26th and the theme of this years meeting is 'Unity of Opposites' (one of the original motos of SOPHIA as with the EU was: Unity through Diversity).
Call for papers / workshops now open and closed 29th February. Come and join us.
https://lnkd.in/g8Xzvmfd
✏️ Want to learn more about the Canada Council for the Arts and how to apply for a grant? Register for the webinar being offered on March 8!
Find out more about the application process and meet some program officers. This 1-hour webinar includes a 30-minute presentation followed by a question-and-answer period.
To reserve your spot: https://lnkd.in/eQtBuvMP
BCMA Regional Workshop: Candid Actionable Reconciliation Education (CARE)
Well-intentioned actions can cause harm, and museums’ attempts to act in supporting truth and reconciliation are overwhelming many Indigenous communities. Settlers and non-Indigenous organizations must take steps to redress centuries of injustice without relying on Indigenous communities and knowledge holders to be the sole drivers of change.
The BCMA has provided CARE Resources online, including a Relationship Building Workbook. While organizations may be rushing to create relationships that will help move reconciliation work forward, they must take the time to learn, question, and reflect on their own practices and histories, instead of expecting Indigenous communities to reflect for them. The goal of the workbook and associated resources is to avoid the inequality in labor, both physical and emotional that stems from these interactions.
Join Leia and Lorenda for this regional workshop to unpack the Relationship Building Workbook, self-reflect, and lay a foundation for better relationships with Indigenous communities and partners.
Registration fee is $50.00. To register, visit: https://lnkd.in/g5qGtKre#BCMA#BCMuseums#BCCulture#Reconciliation#RelationshipBuilding#Workshop#ProfessionalDevelopment
Yesterday, we and FIEC EU with the support of the AEIP - European Association of Paritarian Institutions held the kick-off meeting of the EU-funded project “Social Identity Cards in Construction” (SIDE-CIC) 🏗 👷♂️
We
- shared the key findings from the mapping exercise showing the current situation of social identity cards, highlighting the diversity and potential for linking national ID cards despite technological and legal differences.
- Discussed the next steps of the project including a feasibility study on the interconnectivity of the existing national schemes.
**The Prince of Wales Title in 2024: Relevance and Opposition in Modern Wales**
Despite my generally limited attention to UK affairs post-Brexit, viewing it as a step towards economic precariousness and diminishing global significance, the Royal Family's social media prominence has piqued my interest. Particularly, the title of Prince of Wales, which holds historical weight yet seems increasingly out of touch in today's context. Having witnessed the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales on television during my prep school years, I question the title's relevance in 2024, especially when Prince William, the current titleholder, does not speak Welsh, an essential element of Welsh identity and culture.
The title's significance is under scrutiny, not just for its linguistic expectations but also for its contemporary relevance. The debates and opposition from Welsh political figures and nationalist groups underscore a broader question: does modern Wales need a prince? Calls for the title's future to be democratically decided by the Welsh people have gained traction, echoing a desire for self-determination. The reluctance towards another ceremonial investiture, akin to that of Charles in 1969, reflects a changing societal attitude, with a notable portion of the population opposing such an event. This sentiment is further complicated by Prince William's acknowledgment of his limited Welsh language skills and the ongoing discussions about the necessity and form of an investiture ceremony.
Furthermore, the discourse surrounding the Prince of Wales title is intertwined with the Welsh independence movement, which seeks to redefine Wales's political and cultural landscape. This movement, advocating for sovereignty and self-governance, frames the Prince of Wales title as a relic of historical subjugation, questioning its place in a potentially independent Wales. The fluctuating support for independence, influenced by various political factors, adds another layer to the debate, suggesting that the title's future is as much about political identity as it is about cultural heritage.
In essence, while the Prince of Wales title carries historical significance, its relevance in 2024 is contested amidst changing political sentiments, cultural identity debates, and a growing movement for Welsh independence. The discussions around this title encapsulate broader questions about tradition, modernity, and the future direction of Wales within the UK and the world.
My comments at the March 18, 2024 Rochester City Council meeting about the need to improve the 2020 Intercultural City Indexing results in the area of public communication (aka Media). Learn more on Beam: https://bit.ly/3TrEYei
The 10th Anniversary Edition of the Moldovan-American Convention (MAC10) will take place in the city where it all began, the capital of the USA – Washington, DC, on April 19-21, 2024.
Moldovan-American Convention is a public platform for dialogue and communication, advocating for expanding economic, cultural and political connections. The main goal of the Convention is to build a strong and united community that is capable of improving the lives of Moldovans in North America and help people in Moldova at the same time. The Convention is a platform to bring together the brightest minds and most enthusiastic hearts of Moldovan diaspora in North America. The annual Conventions are hosted in different cities of North America and each of them focuses on several themes that are relevant to the ever changing needs of the community and developments in the Republic of Moldova.