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Creating international connections
Cultivating local innovation
Activating global potential
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May 2025
CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NEWS
Expand Your World Today
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In this Issue...
- Quote of the Month
- Photo of the Month
- Tell Congress to Save International Exchanges
- The 2025 International Women of Courage
- Meet the Newest ICDLA Board Member
- International Chambers Panel and Mixer
- Sharing a Global Perspective
- Upcoming International Programs
- International Opportunities
- Are you a U.S. Citizen Exchange Alumni?
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Click the button below to check out our past newsletters: | | |
“L.A. is not only a huge city but also a vibrant and diverse place that in the few days I was there, I could get to know and enjoy. Its art and glamour, its restaurants and food, its beaches and weather, its cultural diversity and of course its traffic and congestion."
~A visitor from Peru in April 2025 , for the project 'Enabling Space Cooperation'
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International Women of Courage enjoying a
magical day at Disneyland.
| | | Tell Congress to Save International Exchanges | | |
Dear ICDLA Members and Friends,
With all the news regarding the Administration’s budget cuts and cancellations of international programs, I want to let you know how ICDLA has been impacted. Our primary program is the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which is the Department of State’s premier exchange program. This year it celebrates its 85th Anniversary. So, although we are an independent non-profit organization, we work closely with the Department of State. As you can probably imagine, 2025 has been a roller coaster.
In late January, upcoming IVLP projects were cancelled because the topics did not align with the Administration’s values. In February, DOGE began a comprehensive review of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) within the State Department, which included freezing all funding for the ECA during the review. As a result, funding was not available to pay for upcoming IVLP projects – we had only one program in the first quarter. Funds were finally released at the end of March, and as you can see in this newsletter, we had three wonderful groups in April, and in the Upcoming International Programs list, we have four interesting groups arriving this month.
Although things are hardly back to normal (the roller coaster has lots of curves). We are invigorated by each international group we are able to welcome to Los Angeles. And you, our members, professional resources, and community partners, inspire us to think positively. However, the President’s proposed budget for FY26 was released on May 2nd, and we need your help!
The President’s proposed budget cuts the Educational and Cultural Exchange budget by 93%, which essentially eliminates all State Department international exchange programs. The proposal demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of exchange programs, and it would do the exact opposite of making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. As many of you know first-hand, international exchange programs are a proven investment in the U.S. – an investment in our economy, in our people, and in our foreign policy interests.
This is a proposed budget, the final budget is up to Congress. We are asking for your help to make sure Congress understands the important benefits of international exchange programs. Please reach out to Members of Congress and let them know the value of international exchanges. In collaboration with Global Ties U.S. and the Alliance for International Exchange HERE is a helpful advocacy tool to spread the word.
Warm Wishes,
| | Celebrating the 2025 International Women of Courage | | Meet this Year's International Women of Courage. | | |
Since 2015, ICDLA has had the honor of welcoming the International Women of Courage (IWOC) award recipients to Los Angeles. Presented annually by the U.S. Department of State, the IWOC Award has recognized more than 190 women from over 90 countries who are champions for change in the areas of peacebuilding, human rights, social justice, and the empowerment of women and girls, while demonstrating extraordinary courage and sacrifice.
The IWOC recipients began their journey in Washington, D.C., with a special award ceremony where their awards were presented by the U.S. Secretary of State and the First Lady. Next, they traveled to Los Angeles, where ICDLA arranged opportunities to amplify their voices and connect them with like-minded leaders and institutions.
At Peace Over Violence, an L.A. non-profit organization that has been dedicated to eliminating all forms of interpersonal violence for five decades, the women engaged in meaningful dialogue about building healthy families, relationships, and communities free from violence. These topics resonated with all the IWOC recipients.
| | L to R: IWOC Amit Soussana (Israel), speaker Melissa Berton from The Pad Project, and IWOC Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit (South Sudan). | | |
L to R: Deysy Donis-Santos, County of L.A. Commission on Human Relations, Joumana Silyan-Saba, L.A. Civil Rights Department, IWOC Henriette Da (Burkina Faso), and County of L.A. Commission on Human Relations,
Aneisa Bolton.
| | In order to bring the women together with each of their Los Angeles counterparts, ICDLA arranged a session with L.A. civil society and local government organizations at L.A. City Hall's Tom Bradley Room. This discussion provided an opportunity for the IWOC honorees to meet directly with local organizations whose missions align with their particular work. The roundtable discussions focused on key areas including Trafficking in Persons, Rights and Freedoms, Good Governance, and Women’s Empowerment. This unique format fostered in-depth conversations and opened the door for potential future collaborations. | | |
A special thank you to our L.A. civil society and local government partners who took time out of their day to meet with and inspire the IWOC awardees:
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UCLA Anderson School of Management also organized a networking opportunity for the women to engage with UCLA faculty, followed by an inspiring panel discussion featuring three of the awardees, Amat Al-Salam Al-Hajj (Yemen), Namini Wijedasa (Sri Lanka), and Georgiana Pascu (Romania), and moderated by Diplomat in Residence Katelyn Choe. The three awardees shared powerful stories highlighting their work in good governance, democratic values, and government accountability around the world.
ICDLA extends our gratitude to the Los Angeles Mayor's Office of International Affairs and ICDLA Board Member Wajenda Chambeshi, Director of International Relations Policy and Protocol, for securing the beautiful Tom Bradley Room for the event.
We were also honored to welcome our colleagues from Washington, D.C., representing the Office of Global Women’s Issues and Meridian International Center.
| | Meet the Newest ICDLA Board Member | | ICDLA Welcomes Julie Duhaut-Bedos to the Board of Directors | | |
We are delighted to welcome Julie Duhaut-Bedos to the ICDLA Board of Directors. A seasoned French diplomat with over two decades of experience across five countries, Julie served as the Consul General of France in Los Angeles from 2020 to 2024. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in strengthening French-American relations, notably fostering collaboration between Paris and Los Angeles in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Now living in Los Angeles with her husband and two children, Julie continues to be a dynamic force in international diplomacy. She currently serves as the Interim Director of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy and the first USC International Diplomat-in-Residence. She is also the founder and CEO of Julinks, a consulting firm that builds transatlantic partnerships in education, research, culture, sports, and business.
Julie’s deep commitment to mentorship, inclusive leadership, and elevating women in diplomacy perfectly aligns with ICDLA’s mission. We are honored to have her insight, energy, and global perspective helping to guide our work.
| | International Chambers Panel and Mixer | | Navigating Tariffs, Policies, and Business Growth | | Thank you to everyone who attended our International Chambers Panel and Mixer on April 15th at No.10 Restaurant. Set against the chic backdrop of the Italian restaurant created by World Cup champion Alessandro Del Piero (whose jersey number inspired the venue’s name) guests enjoyed an evening of connection, conversation, and delicious Italian bites. | | |
L to R: Nevina Satta, ICDLA Board Members Wafa Hoballah and Yael Swerdlow, ICDLA member Gabrielle Kelly, Project Coordinator Odora McCauley, ICDLA member Jason Liggins, and
ICDLA CEO Janet Elliott.
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| Shadi Saroufim Founder of LaBay Gin with ICDLA CEO Janet Elliott. | | |
We were delighted to partner with the British American Business Council Los Angeles, German American Business Association Southern California, Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West, Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce Southern California, Sweden-American Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles, and French American Chamber of Commerce on this exciting event.
The evening featured a timely panel discussion which explored the economic implications of current tariffs on business owners and American consumers. Featured speakers were Christian Scali and Matthew Clark, and was moderated by Maggie Switek.
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Following the discussion, attendees had the chance to network and continue conversations sparked by the panel. We want to thank our beverage sponsor, LaBay Gin who provided tastings of LaBay’s signature blend, Lebanese juniper berries mixed with California botanicals, distilled right here in Los Angeles.
As Jason Liggins, one of ICDLA's young professionals, shared, “It was truly inspiring to learn, share, and grow together as part of an international community. Events like this are a powerful reminder of the value in coming together — not only to exchange ideas, but also to meet new faces and build lasting connections.”
| | Sharing a Global Perspective | | International Visitors with Astranis Space Technologies Representatives and Senior Program Officer Victoria Meza. | In recent years, space diplomacy has seen a steady rise in global interest and engagement. A notable example is the growing collaboration between the Peruvian Space Agency CONIDA under the Ministry of Defense, and NASA. Aimed at promoting scientific research and the development of advanced technologies, this partnership marks a significant step forward in scientific and technological cooperation between the two nations. | | International Visitors tour Space Systems Command and The Aerospace Corporation Headquarters in El Segundo. | | International Visitors at the AeroTel Telescope, a 1-meter testbed for new sensors and on-site observatory at The Aerospace Corporation. | | |
ICDLA was proud to be part of this historic moment, welcoming seven Peruvian space diplomacy leaders to Los Angeles and organizing a series of high-level meetings. The delegation met with four prominent organizations at the forefront of space exploration and diplomacy. Their itinerary included discussions with industry leaders from USC Viterbi Startup Garage, Astranis, Space Systems Command, The Aerospace Corporation, and Vast Space. Each contributing unique insights into the evolving space landscape and the role of international collaboration in shaping its future.
These meetings highlighted the collective efforts of several pioneering organizations whose work spans the development of advanced space technologies including, artificial gravity space stations, resilient spacecraft, and satellite systems, designed to support long-term human habitation and sustainable operations beyond Earth. These companies collaborate with agencies such as the U.S. Space Force, NASA, NOAA, and the National Reconnaissance Office to enhance space-based communications, navigation, scientific research, and national security.
Their focus on engineering, testing, and next-generation systems ensures the continued advancement and strategic strength of the U.S. in the space domain. Many also play a critical role in education and workforce development, offering hands-on programs that prepare the next generation of space professionals through real-world build, test, and flight demonstrations.
As shared by Lt. Gen. Javier Francisco Tryon Carbone Space & Cyber Commander, Peruvian Air Force, "It was a pleasure to interact with Arceloa Navarro from USC Viterbi Startup Garage and learn not only about the important work they lead in scientific research for commercial and strategic projects, but also about the potential to connect with Peruvian students who could participate in these specialized programs."
| | Improving Water Management | | Participants discussing water conservation at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. | |
Last month, ICDLA welcomed an IVLP group from Kazakhstan focused on improving water resource management. Their meetings provided meaningful opportunities to connect with professionals leading the way in water reclamation and engineering and showcased the contributions of two institutions working at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and public service.
The Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant (DCTWRP) plays a crucial role in urban water management through advanced wastewater treatment processes that support water conservation, agricultural irrigation, and the ecological health of the Los Angeles River.
The group also met with Yoram Cohen, a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, a national leader in engineering education and research, driving breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, water purification technologies, mobile communications, and biomedical innovations. UCLA Samueli fosters interdisciplinary solutions to complex global challenges.
Together, both institutions demonstrated how public infrastructure and academic research can align to address critical environmental and technological needs in Los Angeles and beyond.
| | 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
| | | May 11 - May 15: Disaster Preparedness and
Emergency Management | Kyrgyz Republic | | May 14 - May 17: Strengthening Management of Ports | Ukraine | | May 14- May 18: Entrepreneurship and Music for Community Impact | Azerbaijan | | May 22 - May 29: Disability Rights – Equal Access for All | Oman | | May 27 - May 31: Advancing Security | Indonesia | | | 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 Kristina Yucel at kyucel@icdla.org. | | International Opportunities | | |
A World Expo is an event that brings together people and innovations from around the world to address issues facing humankind on a global scale. The Osaka Expo 1970, Japan’s and Asia’s first ever, symbolized Japan’s rapid economic growth and was one of the country’s most lauded events. Twenty years after the Aichi Expo 2005, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, brings the international community back to Japan.
The Expo will feature initiatives aimed at creating a future society for our lives presented by 150 countries and 25 international organizations, as well as companies, NGOs, NPOs, citizens’ groups, and others from around the world, to provide a vision of achieving the SDGs and the future beyond that.
Explore a world filled with culture, innovation, and possibilities.
Osaka | April 2025 – October 2025
| | Are you a U.S. Citizen Exchange Alumni? | | |
Did You Participate in a U.S. Government-sponsored Exchange Program?
Career Connections brings together U.S. Exchange Alumni and leaders in business, government, civil society, and other diverse fields to leverage their skills and networks. Programming is offered in two formats: virtual (Career Connections Global+) and in-person (Career Connections) as part of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program, which is implemented in partnership with the Office of Alumni Affairs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. ICDLA is assisting by reaching out to our Greater Los Angeles alumni.
Calling all U.S. citizen Exchange Alumni: The application is now open for Career Connections DC: Powering American Innovation. Hosted by Global Ties U.S. annually in Washington, D.C., programming will take place from July 10-11 and provide invaluable opportunities for U.S. Exchange Alumni at all stages of their professional development to forge new connections, develop skills, and explore ways to leverage their international exchange experiences.
Apply by Sunday, June 15 at the button below.
If you are a past U.S. government-sponsored exchange program participant, contact Kristina Yucel, kyucel@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 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. | | © International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles. A non-profit, non-partisan organization. Partial funding is provided by the United States Department of State, the County of Los Angeles, and the City of Los Angeles. | Privacy Policy | | | | |
