Creating international connections

Cultivating local innovation

Activating global potential

October 2024

CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NEWS

Expand Your World Today

In this Issue...

• Quote of the Month
• Photo of the Month
• Port of Long Beach Networking Mixer
• Sharing a Global Perspective
• Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summit
• ICDLA Board Member Highlight
• Upcoming International Programs
• International Opportunities

Click the button below to check out our past newsletters:

Port of Long Beach Networking Mixer

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the incredible boat tour of the Port of Long Beach! Special thanks to the Port for hosting such an insightful evening filled with great views, conversations, and international connections.

As one of our key professional resources, the Port of Long Beach continues to impress our visiting international professionals, especially on topics like port security and sustainability. Its leadership and innovative practices make it an exemplary model in global logistics.

We were also delighted to collaborate once again with the British American Business Council Los Angeles, GABA Southern California, Italy America Chamber of Commerce West, Swiss American Chamber of Commerce Southern California, and the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, California Regional Chapter. Together, we shared insights, forged new connections, and celebrated the spirit of international business. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success.

Sharing a Global Perspective

Healing Through Beats: The Power of Music at Street Poets Inc.

ICDLA recently had the pleasure of hosting international professionals from 13 countries as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Promoting Social Change Through Music. The visitors spent their time in L.A. diving into the local scene, with ICDLA organizing a series of meetings to show different ways music and the arts are driving social change and bringing people together. One of the standout sessions was with Street Poets Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to using poetry and music as powerful tools for healing and community transformation.

The discussion focused on Working with Impacted Youth to Heal Trauma with Music, exploring how Street Poets empowers at-risk and incarcerated youth to overcome trauma and break cycles of violence through creative expression. The visitors even joined in on some of the organization’s hands-on activities like using rocks as manifestation tools. One of the team members showed how to state your hopes to the group, then toss the rock into the water to affirm that those dreams will come true. It was a powerful moment that had everyone reflecting.

The group also got to see the Beats & Rhymes music program in action, where art becomes a way for young people to express themselves and find healing. And in true Street Poets style, they wrapped up the session with their signature move: hands up in the air, building anticipation for that final all-together-now clap to refocus the energy. It was a day that truly showed how creativity can change lives and build bridges between different cultures.

Connecting Cultures Through Dinner Diplomacy

ICDLA had a blast hosting some amazing visitors from Uzbekistan as part of the Dinner Diplomacy Program. Through a partnership with Marriott International and Global Ties U.S., we came together to connect cultures over good food and great conversation.

After a scenic stroll along Santa Monica Beach, our community members, friends, and visitors from an IVLP on Climate-Smart Sesame Cultivation sat down for a tasty lunch. From stories of Uzbek landscapes to American traditions, the day was all about laughter, learning, and making friends across the globe! Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this experience unforgettable.

Home Hospitality Highlights

ICDLA was delighted to welcome participants to Los Angeles as part of the IVLP on Social Change through Music. Our members opened their homes to international visitors, giving guests a true taste of American life and creating some special moments. Check out the highlights of the memorable experiences hosted by our dedicated community members:

Deborah Dovitch and her family welcomed visitors from Latvia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda into their home. Reflecting on the evening, Deborah described it as the "best home hospitality EVER." The gathering lit up with an impromptu piano performance by one of the guests, adding a fun musical vibe that resonated with the IVLP program's topic.

ICDLA Young professionals Brian Frankel, Janika Berridge, and Jason Liggins hosted visitors from Bolivia, Nicaragua, Brunei, and China, and it was anything but a typical dinner. Jason summed it up as "both memorable and insightful," with conversations that jumped from swapping stories and industry insights to tackling global challenges. The fun didn’t stop at the dinner table, though - the group took the energy out onto the streets of L.A., where Janika captured everyone singing songs in different languages, turning the night into a spontaneous celebration of music and culture.

Ruth Amanuel and her family welcomed guests from Cuba, Qatar, and Belgium, offering a warm and engaging atmosphere. Ruth’s children added a special touch by preparing flags representing each guest's country, which brought smiles and sparked conversations about traditions from around the world. The night was all about laughter, stories, and making new friends - just the kind of thing that shows how powerful shared cultural moments can be.

ICDLA Board Member Yael Swerdlow hosted visitors from Belarus, Estonia, and Nigeria, facilitating meaningful conversations that explored global issues, cultural commonalities, and the unique experiences of each participant.

Through these gatherings, ICDLA members demonstrated the power of home hospitality to create lasting bonds and celebrate cultural diversity. We are grateful to Deborah, Dagoberto, Brian, Janika, Jason, Ruth, and Yael for their generosity and commitment to building a more connected world.

Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summit

ICDLA Team at the Regional Summit in New Orleans

Danica Kreculj, ICDLA Director of International Programs, and Victoria Meza, ICDLA Senior Program Officer, recently attended the Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summit in New Orleans. Hosted by Global New Orleans in partnership with Global Ties U.S. and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the summit brought together leaders from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors to explore the vital role of international exchanges in advancing U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy.

The summit, themed Crescent City Connections: Creativity Through Exchange, provided a platform for attendees to build connections and celebrate the power of public and citizen diplomacy programs, such as the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The event featured engaging sessions, keynote addresses, and activities designed to foster a deeper understanding of the benefits of international exchanges.

Victoria participated in a panel on Strategic Impact: Leveraging Evaluation Data to Strengthen Organizational Capacity, sharing insights on how ICDLA, as a Community-Based Member (CBM) within the Global Ties U.S. network, uses evaluation data to enhance program effectiveness and drive positive change.

ICDLA Board Member Highlight

Stephen Ozoigbo Welcomes the President of Senegal

ICDLA Board Member Stephen Ozoigbo recently welcomed the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Arm, in collaboration with the Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships. The visit featured an Executive Roundtable where President Faye shared his vision for advancing Senegal's digital economy through the Deal for Technology program.

The discussions focused on leveraging technology to drive economic growth, enhance digital infrastructure, and support innovation within Senegal. Participants included representatives from the Silicon Valley tech community, investors, and members of the Senegalese diaspora, all of whom contributed valuable insights on accelerating the nation's digital transformation. The event highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving economic development and technological innovation.

Executive Roundtable at the Arm's office.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of Senegal.

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

October 2024

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

Apply to be a Youth Ambassador representing the United States at the USA Pavilion during World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Sister Cities International is recruiting Youth Ambassadors to serve as cultural representatives to millions of Expo attendees and as cultural liaisons who highlight the geographic and cultural diversity of the United States. Apply by next Tuesday, October 15.

Applications are open for the BIE-Cosmos Prize at Expo 2025 Osaka. This prize supports not-for-profit projects that align with the Expo’s theme, Designing Future Society for Our Lives. Interested applicants should submit their projects by Wednesday, November 20. The winning project announced on BIE Day on Sunday, October 12, 2025, will receive 20,000 euros.

If you are a past participant in a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program 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.

Editor: Kristina Yucel

Communications & Events Coordinator

Share your comments with me at kyucel@icdla.org

International Citizen Diplomacy

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