Creating international connections
Cultivating local innovation
Activating global potential
March 2022
CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NEWS
Expand Your World Today
In This Issue...
  • Quote of the Month
  • In Solidarity with Ukraine
  • World Expo Dubai
  • Sharing a Global Perspective
  • Los Angeles to Host the Ninth Summit of the Americas
  • Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund
  • Fulbright Program 75th Anniversary
  • Community Events
  • Stay Informed on COVID-19
  • Upcoming International Programs
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Quote of the Month:

“I learned a lot about American culture during my visit. The diversity of international people was amazing. Also, the value of democracy is obviously high, and people can live their dreams in the USA. I felt these things mostly.”

– Oyuntsetseg Rinchinbat, Mongolia, visiting for a project on "COUNTERING DISINFORMATION, MALIGN INFLUENCE, AND PROPAGANDA"
IVCLA stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and we find hope as people around the world unite in condemning the unprovoked attack on Ukraine and the violence against its citizens. We must come together and do our utmost to make sure badly need aid is provided in this humanitarian crisis.

To our Ukrainian friends and colleagues, may you know you are not forgotten. Your heroic fight to preserve your democracy is an inspiration to the entire world.
World Expo Dubai
Katherine Brown, President and CEO of Global Ties U.S., and Jennifer Hall Godfrey, Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of State join Youth Ambassadors from across the U.S for a photo op in front of the USA Pavilion.
 
The World Expo in Dubai, which began on October 1, 2021, will be ending on March 31. This spring we look forward to holding an IVCLA reception to welcome back our Greater Los Angeles Youth Ambassadors, Jesús Fernández, Alban Martinez and Crystal Rabizadeh, and to hear about their experiences during the Expo. A report on an oral history project that has been underway to gain a better understanding of the socio-cultural impact of the Expos, will also be presented. The project is supported by the National Endowment for Humanities and the U.S. Department of State. More details about the reception will be provided in the coming weeks.
Click below for a virtual tour of the USA Pavilion at Expo
Sharing a Global Perspective
IVCLA to Welcome Senegalese Filmmakers
IVCLA in-person international programming is back! We are so excited to welcome our first in-person group in over two years. On March 31st, eight International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants from Senegal will arrive in Los Angeles for their program on the Film and Television Industry in the U.S. These visitors previously "visited" L.A. on a virtual program in November of 2021, and now they will be able to experience the full person-to-person, hands-on experience that IVCLA’s work is all about. As part of the return of in-person programming, international participants are required to be vaccinated and have weekly testing while in the U.S and will be following all COVID protocols for their meetings.
Combating Holocaust Distortion
Holocaust distortion and denial is a dangerous rhetoric that seeks to intentionally downplay the seriousness of the Holocaust and dehumanize victims. As Dr. Kori Street of the USC Shoah Foundation explained, “Holocaust distortion is uniquely pervasive in that it consistently appears in every extremist political movement.” Holocaust denial and distortion involve a process of “othering”, of separating ourselves from each other. In doing so, we dehumanize the other by consciously dissociating from them. The Shoah Foundation plays an important role in counteracting "othering” by sharing personal stories and testimony and increasing human connections.
 
Last month IVCLA arranged a virtual meeting with Dr. Street for a group of International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants from Europe who are Holocaust and anti-Semitism specialists. Dr. Street shared the meaning of Holocaust distortion with the visitors and why it is so dangerous. “Distortion is the use of rhetoric, whether it’s written or shows up in the media, that somehow excuses, minimizes, or misrepresents known historical record of the Holocaust,” and, Dr. Street added, “Is currently one of the most dangerous attacks on civil society.”
 
Dr. Street and the visitors are involved in educating their communities about the history of the Holocaust and the lives affected by continued anti-Semitic discourse. Dr. Street shared the Shoah Foundation’s focus on educating youth as a way to combat the virality of false narratives they are particularly exposed to online. 
 
One of the Shoah Foundation’s methods is using archival materials to enhance their outreach and the personal testimonies of survivors. Learning directly from individuals deeply affected by the Holocaust, gives students and community members a more direct tie to history. The Shoah Foundation conducted a study of High School students and found that when exposed to personal survivor testimony of the Holocaust, the students scored higher in their sense of social responsibility, showed more comfort for difference, were more engaged in social issues, had a higher level of interpersonal tolerance, and were more likely to stand up against injustices.
 
This meeting with the European visitors and Dr. Street showcases the importance of international communication. By sharing diverse perspectives and expressing their own insights and experiences, exchange participants and Los Angeles professionals gain new understanding to continue the fight against these harmful narratives. 
Los Angeles to Host the Ninth Summit of the Americas
Seventh Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Friday, April 10, 2015.
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
On January 19, the White House announced the United States has been selected to host the Ninth Summit of the Americas, with Los Angeles serving as the host city.

The Summit, taking place this June, is the only hemispheric meeting of leaders from the countries of the Americas, The Summit, which will focus on “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future” for our hemisphere, serves as the most important forum to address our region’s shared challenges and opportunities.

This Summit marks the first time the United States has hosted the event since the inaugural Summit in Miami in 1994. The nation hosting the Summit of the Americas also serves as Chair of the Summit process, and the previous host serves as Vice Chair. This year, Peru will serve as Vice Chair.
 
Los Angeles will welcome world leaders from throughout the Americas to promote regional cooperation and address the region’s most pressing issues, including increasing economic competitiveness, improving pandemic response and resilience, promoting a green and equitable recovery, building strong and inclusive democracies, and addressing the root causes of irregular migration. At each Summit, civil society organizations, representatives of indigenous communities, civic leaders, and business executives and young entrepreneurs also meet to promote dialogue and develop plans of action to address the challenges and opportunities facing the people of the Americas. 
Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund
Did You Participate in a U.S. Government-sponsored Exchange Program?
 
The Office of Alumni Affairs at the U.S. Department of State is developing new opportunities for U.S. citizens who participated in U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. IVCLA is assisting by reaching out to our Greater Los Angeles alumni. If you are a past participant in a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program contact Ellie Alberg, ealberg@ivcla.org.
 
The exchange programs include, but are not limited to, these offered by the ECA Bureau. Returned Peace Corps volunteers and Boren Fellows are also qualified alumni. 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 - check out the opportunity below to apply for up to $10,000 in funding for a public service project.
Are you an alumni looking to use skills and knowledge gained during your exchange experience to create change? Do you have a great public service project in mind, but need funding to get it off the ground?

If you answered yes, then you could apply for – and win! – up to $10,000 through the 2022 Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) for U.S. Alumni. The competition provides small grants to teams of two or more U.S. government-sponsored exchange alumni to carry out public service projects related to one of the following five themes:

  • Strengthening democratic institutions,
  • Protecting the environment,
  • Bolstering outreach to underserved communities,
  • Building community through arts, sports, language, and technology and/or,
  • Fostering alumni network development

CDAF Open Office Hours

CDAF staff will also hold three (3) office hours throughout March to answer any questions about the program and the application process:

  • March 1 at 12:00 p.m. ET | Register here
  • March 14 at 4:00 p.m. ET | Register here
  • March 28 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Register here

Applications close Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Fulbright Program 75th Anniversary
Last year, marked the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Government's flagship educational and cultural exchange program, conceived by Senator William Fulbright and signed into law by U.S. President Harry S. Truman on August 1, 1946. Today the Fulbright Program is a global public-private partnership dedicated to supporting the best and the brightest by offering exchange opportunities for dynamic and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers and professionals of all backgrounds.
 
Each year, IVCLA hosts our Fulbright Luncheon with current International Fulbright students studying in Southern California as our honored guests. Last fall, we hosted over 85 international students, along with IVCLA members and guests, at the home of Dr. Amarjit Marwah. Dr. Marwah is a member of IVCLA's advisory board and a former Fulbright student from India. The Fulbright students and other guests have the opportunity to get to know one another – and often build lasting relationships. We look forward to hosting our 32nd Fulbright Luncheon this fall. 

To learn more about the history of the Fulbright program watch the video below.
Community Events
World Trade Week Southern California is hosting the annual Kickoff Conference on May 5, 2022 from 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE.

For over 95 years, World Trade Week Southern California has been the most extensive program of its kind in the nation, actively promoting global trade, which has supported our region in crisis and will be one of the most important drivers of economic recovery in the coming years. The annual Kickoff Conference convenes prominent business leaders, diplomats, government and civic officials as we discuss the crucial role of international trade in sustaining our global economy and launch more than 30 events held throughout the month of May by organizations throughout Southern California.
Stay Informed on COVID-19
As the world moves towards less stringent pandemic restrictions and more normal lifestyles, the information below remains valuable for tracking global problem areas. Being prudent and remembering COVID is still with us continues to be crucial in helping to prevent new variants from emerging. It is important to continue sharing knowledge, expertise, and goodwill throughout the world. We are stronger together!      
 
An informative, infographic global report of the COVID-19 data is HERE
Upcoming International Programs
The following are international guests of the U.S. government whose
professional appointments in Los Angeles will be arranged by the
International Visitors Council of Los Angeles

MARCH 2022
Mar 4: Murrow Program for Journalists:
New & Traditional Broadcast Media - VIRTUAL
Bolivia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Hungary, Jordan, Kenya, Palestinian Territories, Romania, and South Africa
Mar 22 - 23: Religious Pluralism - VIRTUAL
Indonesia
Mar 31 - Apr 5: Film and Television Industry
in the U.S: Secrets of American Success -
IN-PERSON
Senegal
IVCLA knows it is important to maintain our connections with our international visitors beyond their programs. As such, IVCLA 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 IVCLA member or resource who has stayed in touch with alumni and would like to share your experience, please contact Eleanor Alberg at ealberg@ivcla.org.
Editor: Eleanor Alberg
Communications & Events Coordinator
Share your comments with me at ealberg@ivcla.org!
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