Dear Friends,
This month, WorldBoston is sending good vibes to Washington. Yes, really. Congress is now voting on the budget appropriation that funds the International Visitors Leadership Program. As you may know, IVLP is the core of WorldBoston’s Citizen Diplomacy work, by means of which we bring over 800 visitors a year to Greater Boston for professional exchange with local peers, in every possible field from choreography to climate change.
This flagship exchange program of the U.S. State Department, currently celebrating its 80th anniversary, has always enjoyed robust bipartisan support because it’s recognized as a critical vehicle for international people-to-people
impact. (In other words, this is not an
expensive program for taxpayers!)
We’re contacting our legislators to thank them for their ongoing support of IVLP, and to urge the speedy authorization of the FY21 State & Foreign Operations bill. (Please consider joining in by writing your Senatorsand Representative.)
Wait — international exchange during a pandemic? Yes — please! More than ever, we must maintain and refresh our international connections and recommit to global engagement. We need to do both not only to get through this global pandemic now but also to rebuild when we get to the other side of it. Read more, below, about how WorldBoston and our national network are creating meaningful virtual exchanges.
We hope to see you soon,
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Mary P. Yntema
President & CEO
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Help WorldBoston bring the world to you!
As a non-profit organization, WorldBoston relies on the generosity and support of members, donors, and sponsors to accomplish our mission: foster engagement in international affairs and cooperation between people of all nations.
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Global Engagement events are on pause in August as we plan our fall schedule of Great Decisions, Chat & Chowder, and exciting special events. Even in a virtual world, we promise high quality content and vital community as we come together to engage with key international issues. During this break you might want to catch up on past events on our YouTube page (links below).
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IVLP Returns (Virtually)
Our partners at the U.S. State Department announced that in-person programming for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is on hold through the remainder of 2020. WorldBoston is delighted to support the change to virtual implementation until it is safe to resume in-person programming. Our citizen diplomacy staff has already been able to make the swift change and hosted on Zoom a group from Luxembourg last month focused on K-12 STEM education! They met with citizen diplomats of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as well as the Boston Latin School.
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This month, catch up on any International Exchange in A Time of Isolation webinars on our renewed YouTube channel, including these recent episodes:
You can also see what WorldBoston has contributed to the national citizen diplomacy network through this virtual map, which was launched on July 30 to celebrate International Friendship Day.
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Dr. Atyia Martin from All Aces, Inc. is joined by IVLP alumnus Clement Manyathela in discussing community-driven movements, such as the end of Apartheid in South Africa and recent Black Lives Matter protests across the United States.
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Our new Virtual Programming Map highlights the alumni who helped keep WorldBoston’s mission of international exchange alive through the pandemic.
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Upcoming Virtual Visitors
This month, we look forward to welcoming visitors virtually from Jordan and Canada! To learn more about our upcoming or previous international visitors, click here!
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Extracurricular Activities for Youth
Jordan
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Impact of AI in Workforce
Canada
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You are able to contribute to WorldBoston at no additional cost to you! If you shop at Amazon through this link or the AmazonSmile logo to the right, a portion of your purchase will be donated to WorldBoston. Bookmark our page today.
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Membership
Welcome to last month’s new and returning WorldBoston members: Layla Ferguson, Janet Ghattas, Michael Glanz, John Hand, Larry Lencz, Reuel Liebert, Francis Lomami, Hilary Sinclair, Tracey Vickery, and Preston Williams. Thank you, we appreciate your support!
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Check your inbox every Friday for “WorldBoston Recommends” — our staff picks international virtual programs in the coming week.
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Wait, Did You Miss Something?
Don’t forget to check our News section for announcements and past newsletters.
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The International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program and WorldBoston’s main citizen diplomacy partner. Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. These visits reflect the International Visitors’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.
The U.S. Department of State’s bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the IVLP. In doing so, the bureau enters cooperative agreements with National Program Agencies, a group of private, not-for-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C., that design and implement national IVLP itineraries. In addition to the National Program Agencies, the IVLP relies on the commitment and skills of local community organizations across the U.S., known as Community Based Members (CBMs). Under the professional association of Global Ties U.S., local CBM members develop professional programs, arrange cultural activities, and provide home hospitality for international visitors.
WorldBoston is part of the Global Ties Network of more than 90 CBMs in 45 states.
WorldBoston is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America,
a network of more than 90 independent Councils in more than 40 states.
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