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Dear Friends,
Congratulations! Over forty colleges and universities in our amazing region are graduating this month. Here’s to all the grads — and to the families and friends who surely helped make it all happen.
One of our favorite community members likes to say that WorldBoston is kind of like university, too — that is, the best parts, without the papers. WorldBoston offers us so many opportunities for learning, whether by reading, sharing views with community members, meeting new and different people, or simply listening.
We have a rich opportunity menu in May, with two first-class Global Engagement events just this week, and a busy agenda of visitor projects throughout the month. (And June is a blockbuster, including our signature State of the State Department event on June 25 with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma. Save the date! More details below.)
It’s easy to focus on this compelling content. But look at the state of discourse online, on campus, and beyond, and it’s clear that WorldBoston is serving more than information.
Last week I ran across a great quote in the introduction to the Great Decisions briefing book (which you should get, by the way), describing that series in a way that actually fits all our work,
The world is suffering from intolerance and from the belief that vigorous action is admirable, even when misguided; whereas what is needed in our very complex, modern society is calm consideration, with readiness to call dogmas into question and freedom of mind to do justice to the most diverse points of view. (Bertrand Russell)
See you in class.
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Mary Yntema
President & CEO
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Help WorldBoston bring the world to you!
As a non-profit organization, WorldBoston relies on community support to deliver our mission of fostering engagement in international affairs and cooperation between people of all nations.
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WorldBoston is hiring! We are seeking applications for our open Citizen Diplomacy Internship. The Intern will contribute to our work both on the International Visitor Leadership Program and Custom Visitor Programs by conducting research, arranging logistics, communicating with Boston area professionals, and updating our CRM database.
This role will begin on May 20th and will end on September 2nd (dates negotiable).
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We’re thrilled to announce that our annual State of the State Department program will take place on Tuesday, June 25th, and will feature Richard Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, for a timely discussion of US national security.Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information coming soon!
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Thursday, May 2, 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Hybrid Event at Foley and Lardner LLP
Join us for this installment of our popular Chat & Chowder series, featuring Calder Walton, Assistant Director of the Applied History Project and Intelligence Project at Harvard’s Belfer Center, to discuss his new book, Spies: The Epic Intelligence War between East and West.
The in-person program is sold out, but you can still register to attend on Zoom!
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UP NEXT:
Great Decisions on NATO’s Future featuring Dr. Sonja Kreibich, Consul General of Germany to New England, and Mustafa Soykurt, Consul General of France in Boston. Monday, June 3rd, 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET. Register here.
Chat & Chowder featuring Steven A. Cook on his book The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present and Future in the Middle East. Tuesday, June 11th, 6:00 – 7:30 PM ET. Register here.
You can view and register for upcoming events in June and beyond on our website calendar here.
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WorldBoston Event Reporting Opportunity
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Highlight
With our typical focus on quality professional programming, sometimes we can use a reminder of the important cultural and natural wonders our visitors also experience. In April, we had the pleasure of hosting two delegations of journalists for whom we made time to view the historic solar eclipse (with more than 90% totality in Boston), as well as a group of visitors from landlocked Tajikistan who were thrilled to see — and touch — the Atlantic Ocean!
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A Regional Project for the Near East and North Africa
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A Regional Project for the Near East and North Africa
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A Regional Project for the Near East and North Africa
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A Single Country Project for Canada
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A Single Country Project for Germany
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A Single Country Project for Morocco
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A Single Country Project for Thailand
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A Regional Project for the Western Hemisphere
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We welcome your thoughts and ideas for in-person visitors programming. If you have suggestions, please contact Vice President for Citizen Diplomacy, Sarah Sibley.
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In April, we bid a fond farewell to our Boston cohort of 13 Fellows participating in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative. To wrap up their time in the U.S., the Fellows and Director of Citizen Diplomacy Programs Josh Bruno gathered in Washington D.C., along with Fellows who had been placed in other U.S. cities. They reflected on their month-long program, shared their experiences, and solidified lasting connections. We wish the Fellows the very best in their business endeavors in their home countries!
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Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and implemented by IREX and WorldBoston, the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program is the flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders from the Western Hemisphere. To learn more about YLAI, visit YLAI.state.org.
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May is another busy month for the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Enrichment Program at WorldBoston! We will take advantage of the spring weather and bring the Scholars and their families on a guided walking tour of historic sites in Boston, telling the under-represented story of Black Bostonians and their role in revolutionary America. At the end of the month, we will host a closing ceremony at the Museum of Science, offering Scholars and their families the opportunity to reflect on their time in Boston. Though some Scholars will continue their Fulbright programs beyond May, we always enjoy this chance to gather together at the end of the academic year.
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This Fulbright Enrichment activity is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE), and WorldBoston.
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Now more than ever, WorldBoston relies on the support of our community to fulfill our mission. Donors who contribute $25 – $999 are proudly recognized on our website as Community Supporters. (Donors of $1,000 and above are Sponsors and enjoy year-round benefits; learn more here.)
We encourage you to contribute to WorldBoston to become a 2024 Community Supporter. Donors will receive this year’s special pin to recognize their support!
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Below are new Community Supporters in the past month — we thank them and hope that you will join. You can make a tax-deductible donation on our website at any time.
Raoul Alcala, James Bonanno, Alan Cleveland, Peter Kelley, Jean Kilgore, Chris Kungie, Jan Murray, Yolanda Perez-Shulman, Keith Sonia, Harper Vickery, Madison Vickery, and Barry Wanner
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Check your inbox every Friday for WorldBoston Recommends – our staff picks for high-quality virtual programs on global topics in the coming week.
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Missed any of our recent events? You can find video recordings of our events on our YouTube channel! Below are links to recent events:
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Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for updates!
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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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