Creating international connections

Cultivating local innovation

Activating global potential

July 2025

CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NEWS

Expand Your World Today

In this Issue...

• Quote of the Month
• Photo of the Month
• Advocating for International Exchange
• Flavors from Afar Mixer
• Sharing a Global Perspective
• ICDLA Alumni Insights
• Welcome ICDLA Summer Intern
• Upcoming International Programs
• Are you a U.S. Citizen Exchange Alumni?
• International Opportunities
• Community Events

Click the button below to check out our past newsletters:

Dear ICDLA Members and Friends,

With all that is happening in the world, it gave me pause to realize June 26th marked the 80th Anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter. Written to enshrine the principles of peace, justice and fundamental human rights, the Charter’s promise is to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” Other organizations and programs also arose following WWII to create better international understanding and ensure the same principles.

One of those programs, the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), was actually founded before the end of the war in 1940 by President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration. The IVLP is ICDLA’s primary program. ICDLA (formerly IVCLA) is celebrating our 45th Anniversary this year. 

I mention these milestones because as I write this, the future of many of those programs, including the IVLP, are in doubt. As our members, professional resources and friends, you know the value of the IVLP. Many of you have experienced it first hand as you engaged with the IVLP participants. 

On July 15^th the Senate is expected to bring the recissions package to the floor, proposed by the Trump administration, the package will take back $9.4 billion in previously approved spending. The package, which narrowly passed the House, will make cuts to the State Department, USAID, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and other international programs. We need your help to make our Senators understand this package will have unintended consequences for U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Could you please reach out this week? Your voice can make a difference.

Send an Email to Your Senators.



Since cost, rather than value, is the motivating factor for Congress, it is important to point out most of the money for IVLP is spent in the U.S. It has been calculated by Global Ties U.S. there is an eleven-to-one return on investment of IVLP funds to local community organizations such as ICDLA. In 2024 ICDLA received $182,597 in funding from the Department of State (less than one fourth of our annual budget). In 2024 ICDLA’s programs generated $1,027,500 for the L.A. area economy. Check out our 2024 Impact Report.

Although things are changing by the day, I will do my best to keep you informed on the status of international exchanges. They are so critical for keeping our country and our world better informed and better connected - and therefore making us safer and stronger.

Warm Wishes,

Janet Elliott

ICDLA CEO

Board member Wafa Hobollah (center) and ICDLA members Pam and Clive Fleissig engaging with our International Visitors.

On Hollywood Boulevard there is a unique new social enterprise restaurant named Flavors from Afar. The restaurant was founded by social entrepreneur Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, so it was the perfect partner for ICDLA’s event celebrating 23 extraordinary women entrepreneurs from around the world. The women were participants in the IVLP program Women and Small Business Entrepreneurship.

The restaurant began with inspiration from Meymuna’s nonprofit organization the Tiyaa Foundation. In addition to creating delicious food, it also creates positive social impact by assisting immigrants, refugees and displaced Indigenous communities. Meymuna and her mother, Owliya Dima, founded Tiyaa Foundation in 2010. Their catering service soon followed, and the first restaurant opened in 2020. The Michelin Guide said about Flavors from Afar “This is authentic homestyle cooking in the best of ways, a spotlight on undiscovered talent and a striking reminder of the many flavors the world has to offer.”

L to R: IVLP women entrepreneurs: Serbia - Bojana Mumović, Republic of North Macedonia -

Besarta Izairi, Republic of Kosovo - Rudina Qosja.

The IVLP group of women, and ICDLA’s professional resources and guests, were able to enjoy a very special type of Home Hospitality, as the chefs are immigrants and refugees who prepare family recipes passed down with love through generations. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed a delicious Sudanese meal prepared by the talented refugee chef Heidi Alsangak.

For the IVLP group’s professional programming in L.A. ICDLA arranged meetings with the UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator, Downtown Women’s Center, New Economics for Women, and a session with Meymuna to discuss the challenges and successes of being a woman business owner and social entrepreneur. Their meetings highlighted training and mentorship programs for women entrepreneurs, empowering disadvantaged women to build economic opportunities, and promoting entrepreneurial skills among students. Their program ended with a motivating synthesis session by Mary McCormick, MBI Media Managing Principal, where the participants reflected on what they gained throughout their visit and explored ways to share the information to help create change in their home countries. 

Sharing a Global Perspective

Singing Sweet Notes with Azerbijan

International Visitors with SONA representative and Grammy award winning composer Andrae Alexander, (3rd from left) and Senior Program Officer Victoria Meza, (far right).

In Los Angeles, where music fuels both culture and commerce, ICDLA had the pleasure of welcoming a talented group of IVLP participants from Azerbaijan for a program on Entrepreneurship and Music for Community Impact.

ICDLA arranged their professional meetings which explored how creative entrepreneurship can spark not only business growth but real social change. Through their exchanges with industry professionals from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, Street Poets, Songwriters of North America, and IPR Attorney Paul Supnik, participants dug into topics ranging from artist rights and business models to music’s healing potential.

From spoken word to songwriting, every meeting showed how music, no matter the language or genre, has the power to connect people across borders, tell untold stories, and build community.

It was a pleasant surprise to also have renowned singer and composer Tunzale Agayeva as part of the group. Tunzala is known as the Beyonce of Azerbijan. As a powerhouse vocalist it is easy to see why. Here is a link to some of her best hits.

A cultural excursion to the GRAMMY Museum, wrapped up their visit with a behind-the-scenes look at the global sounds and cultural forces that shape our world and reminds us all just how deeply music moves us.

Blockbuster Hits with Estonia

Los Angeles is known around the world as the home of Hollywood, where blockbuster hits, indie films, red carpets, and iconic stars all converge. From the Hollywood Walk of Fame to countless film festivals, creativity flows through every corner of the city.

ICDLA was proud to implement the IVLP project for Estonia, “Film and Multi-Media Innovation in the U.S” This program was especially exciting because we had the opportunity to host the opening in Los Angeles, as many of our groups typically begin their programs in Washington, D.C. before traveling to other cities.

Participants explored L.A.’s engagement in storytelling through innovation, technology, and collaboration. Highlights included a welcome lunch at SAG-AFTRA, where they learned the way unions advocate for media professionals in the age of streaming and AI, and a behind-the-scenes visit at the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television, which prepares students to thrive in today’s entertainment industry.

Their program wrapped at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA), where creatives shared their strategies for expanding independent cinema and ideas for breaking into the business.

Oman - An Accessible World for All

At ICDLA, we believe in building a world where everyone has equal access to opportunity, education, and community. We were honored to host ten IVLP participants from Oman for a program on Disability Rights – Equal Access for All.

Throughout their time in Los Angeles, ICDLA organized professional meetings with a range of advocates, educators, and service providers working to break down barriers and create access and opportunity for all communities.

They met with LAUSD Division Of Special Education, Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department, UCLA Center for Accessible Education, AbilityFirst, Inclusion Matters, and the Independent Living Center of Southern California.

On Memorial Day, the group had the opportunity to meet with ICDLA Board Member and President of Global Hope 365 Rima Nashashibi, and Farrah N. Khan, consultant at International Impact Connections and former Mayor of Irvine. The meeting took place at the University of California Irvine (UCI), where a powerful roundtable discussion focused on accessibility and independent living. The conversation explored adaptive technology, shared insights on accessibility-focused policy, and emphasized the importance of empowering individuals with disabilities to lead full, self-directed lives. The day concluded with a lunch hosted by Rima at Sana’a Café, a Yemeni restaurant where guests enjoyed a delicious meal of chicken, rice, and salad, a wonderful moment of cultural exchange and hospitality.

This program reinforced a shared commitment to dignity, access, and opportunity, reminding us all that disability rights are human rights and must be implemented and practiced in both policy and community.

ICDLA Alumni Insights

In the beginning of the year three ICDLA staff members attended the annual Global Ties U.S. (GTUS) National Meeting in Washington, D.C. Each year the prestigious GTUS annual IVLP Alumni Awards for Social Innovation and Change are presented during the Meeting. The award recognizes the recipients’ demonstrated impact on their communities and the effective application of their IVLP experiences to drive meaningful change locally and globally. 

We were delighted that this year’s recipient of the Social Innovation and Change commendation, was also an ICDLA alumnus. Christian Achaleke from Cameroon came to Los Angeles in 2016 as part of the Youth and Community Conflict Resolution IVLP project. 

Christian is Executive Director of Local Youth Corner Cameroon. During his heartfelt acceptance speech, he shared how participating in the IVLP was one of the most transformative moments in his 16-year career, introducing him to experts who validated and helped him expand his peacebuilding efforts. Christian’s Los Angeles program included meetings with Inner City Arts, Youth Mentoring Connection, L.A. County Human Relations Commission, Santa Monica Police Activities League and Homeboy Industries. 

In his speech he shared how it was at Homeboy Industries that he found his inspiration. Hearing former gang members share their experiences, and learning how the Homeboy businesses were established to create jobs for former gang members and keep the youth away from crime, drugs, and violence - he saw the ways he could help the youth he worked with in Cameroon. When he returned home, he was inspired to create his Creative Skills for Peace Project.

Christian’s Creative Skills for Peace Project is a groundbreaking initiative to rehabilitate young offenders through vocational training and civic education. Initially launched in two juvenile centers, the project has expanded to eight prisons and has established more than 20 vocational centers benefiting upwards of 5,000 individuals. Many participants have become successful entrepreneurs The audience was deeply touched as he spoke specifically about one such participant, Tajuigel Michel. Michel participated in the program at his prison, which allowed him to have time cut from his sentence. Tajuigel is a changemaker. He has established a fashion collection, Healing Through Fashion, which has garnered international acclaim. 

ICDLA is proud to have played a small role in Christian’s work changing lives. He has been recognized as a leading figure in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. His work has been honored with the Luxembourg Peace Prize, UNESCO RealLife Hero recognition, and inclusion among CNN’s African Voices Changemakers. His efforts have also been featured at the UN Security Council and African Union Peace and Security Council. 

Meet our Summer Intern

Hassan Walukonde is an Ugandan-born graduate student in Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California, holding a B.A. in Political Science from California State, Los Angeles. He brings over eight years of experience in humanitarian and international affairs, having worked with the International Rescue Committee, Human Rights First, the San Diego Diplomacy Council, and the American Red Cross.

He also served as an Application Reviewer for the U.S. Department of State’s Mandela Washington Fellowship, supporting the selection of emerging leaders across the African continent.

Passionate about global cooperation, human rights, and inclusive diplomacy, Hassan is eager to intern with ICDLA to gain hands-on experience in international program coordination, research, and event planning.

Hassan shared, "I am looking forward to contributing meaningfully to ICDLA’s mission while preparing for a future career in international affairs."

Upcoming International Programs

The following are international guests of the U.S. government and other diplomatic organizations whose professional appointments in Los Angeles will be arranged by

International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles

July 2025

ICDLA knows it is important to maintain our connections with our international visitors beyond their programs. As such, ICDLA continues to reach out to our international alumni. If you are an Alumni who would like to share your thoughts about your L.A. experience, or if you are an ICDLA member or resource who has stayed in touch with alumni and would like to share your experience, please contact Odora McCauley at omccauley@icdla.org

Are you a U.S. Citizen Exchange Alumni?

Did You Participate in a U.S. Government-sponsored

Exchange Program?

Apply Now: Join the ARC Career Development Cohort

The Alumni Resource Center (ARC) is an exclusive online platform offering professional development opportunities for U.S. citizen Exchange Alumni. Through interactive cohort-based programming, ARC provides access to courses, trainings, and tools to help you build your skills, grow your career, and explore paths both within and beyond public service. ARC operates on a cohort model, with each cohort lasting three weeks. To participate, you must apply for a cohort by the stated registration deadline. New users must first request access HERE and will be verified as U.S. Exchange Alumni before joining a cohort. If your verification is delayed past the cohort start date, you’ll be offered access to the current or a future cohort.

Next Cohort Deadline: July 28 at 11:59 PM ET

If you are a past participant in a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program contact Odora McCauley at omccauley@icdla.org. Whether you participated long ago or you recently completed your exchange program, we will keep you informed of opportunities such as events, programs, and grants.

International Opportunities

CIEE and the Scan Design Foundation are launching a new Environmental Sustainability Internship in Copenhagen May 19 - July 12, 2026. Eight undergraduate or graduate students will be selected to intern with sustainability-focused companies while completing a 6-credit internship seminar, exploring the local Danish sustainability culture, and participating in networking opportunities, including events at local sustainability start-up hubs. The fellowship covers all program costs, airfare, and a living stipend.

Those not selected will receive a $1,500 CIEE grant toward other study abroad programs.

Applications Open: September 15, 2025.



Community Events

Amplified Voices in the Amphitheater

Free! Outdoors!

All Ages!

All Summer!

Founded in 1986, Grand Performances is the longest running presenter of free outdoor concerts, poetry, theater and dance in downtown Los Angeles. Grand Performances' mission is to inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts. GP’s summer concert series has featured Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Seun Kuti, Ana Tijoux, Aloe Blacc, Angelique Kidjo, Vieux Farka Touré, Chucho Valdes and more. Seating is open and filled on a first come, first-served basis. Disabled seating is available on the Lower Plaza.

California Plaza

350 S Grand Ave,

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Friday Nights: June 20 - August 1

7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Jerry Moss Plaza

FREEE

Feel the rhythm this summer when The Music Center’s free Dance DTLA series descends on Downtown L.A.! Join thousands of fellow Angelenos and dancing fanatics who are ready to move and groove under the stars on Jerry Moss Plaza at L.A.’s performing arts center. On six select Friday nights, learn new dance styles—Bollywood, Afrobeats, salsa, cumbia, reggaeton and disco—with free, easy-to-follow beginner dance lessons taught by top L.A. dance artists and instructors. After each lesson, hit the open dance floor to practice new moves, keep the summer vibe going and dance the night away to live DJ sets. Absolutely no dance experience necessary! 

Food and beverages will be available for purchase onsite. No outside alcohol is permitted.

International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles depends on its members and friends to help support its programs. If you are not an ICDLA Citizen Diplomat, please review our membership benefits here and consider joining. We need your support now more than ever! Please make a contribution today.

Editor: Odora McCauley

Project Coordinator

Share your comments with me at omccauley@icdla.org

International Citizen Diplomacy

of Los Angeles

213-388-1428

info@icdla.org

www.icdla.org

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