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Creating international connections.
Cultivating local innovation.
Activating global potential.
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September 2019
CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NEWS
Expand Your World Today
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In This Issue...
- Quote of the Month
- Register For Our Women in Diplomacy Luncheon
- Summer Program Connections
- IVCLA Board Member Honored for Human Rights Work
- Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summit
- Adventures in Georgia
- Community Events
- Upcoming International Visitors
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When you shop on AmazonSmile, use the link below and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to IVCLA!
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Quote of the Month:
“The United States is a country of rationality, tolerance, diversity and rule of law. I believe that through strengthening exchanges, China-U.S. relations will improve in the future. Blessings to the great people of these two countries!”
~ Visitor from China on a program about
Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement/Protection in the U.S.
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Join IVCLA for a fascinating conversation with women Consul Generals from around the globe as they share their experiences navigating the diplomatic world. In this historically male-dominated field, these inspiring women have overcome significant obstacles to achieve success in the intriguing career of diplomacy. Honored guests will include
The Honorable Ivonne Eulalia Guzmán (Consul General of Ecuador), T
he Honorable Silvia Chiave (Consul General of Italy), moderated by
Yael Swerdlow, CEO and Founder of Maestro Games and Co-Founder of the Women’s Empowerment Foundation.
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Location:
The LUXE Hotel
11461 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Don't miss the opportunity to hear their stories!
Members: $55 Non-Members: $65
Attend Luncheon + 1-Year IVCLA Membership
(New Members Only)
: $80.00
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This summer IVCLA had the pleasure of hosting 222 visitors from 47 different countries. They met with our members and local resources to discuss a wide range of topics, such as countering disinformation, water resource management, youth empowerment, and many more. We enjoy connecting local Angelenos with changemakers from every part of the world. Here are a few highlights from some of this summer's programs:
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In June a group of officials and cybercrime experts from the Philippines came to Los Angeles on an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to discuss
Sustaining Cybersecurity
. While in L.A. their activities included a meeting and boat tour at the
Port of Los Angeles
and a discussion at the
Los Angeles Cyber Lab
,
which was established by the City of L.A. and is the first of its kind public-private-partnership. Their program ended with a synthesis session conducted by IVCLA Board Member
Rima Nashashibi
(
pictured center in the photo
) to evaluate the information gathered here and how it could be applied in their communities back home.
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Government officials from Afghanistan came to Los Angeles in July as participants in the IVLP to discuss
Government Procurement Practices
and the issues of international standards, transparency and oversight. During their L.A. program their meetings included discussions with the
County of L.A. District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division
and
Carlos J. Valderrama
, Senior Vice President for Global Initiatives at the
L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce
(
pictured center in the photo
). At the end of their program they expressed the importance of their discussions and how they were inspired to go home and work even harder to instill fair practices and prevent corruption for the Afghan people.
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In July a group of researchers and policy makers from the region of China traditionally known as Manchuria, which has the largest ethnically Korean population in China, came to L.A. to examine issues of caring for an aging population. The region also has one of the highest proportions of elderly in China, primarily due to the migration of younger residents to other parts of China and South Korea for better job opportunities. During their Los Angeles IVLP on
Elder Care in the U.S.,
IVCLA arranged meetings with
UCLA Professor Dr. Gary Small
, and non-profit service providers such as
Area Agency on Aging
and
Happy 50 Plus
. They also had the chance to have some fun in the sun at Santa Monica Pier.
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IVLP participants from Mexico were in Los Angeles in August to discuss
Addressing the Needs of Underserved and At-Risk Youth
. They were able to see first-hand how the programs of nonprofit organizations such as
A Place Called Home
,
Home Boy Industries
and
Youth Mentoring Connection
, as well as local government programs including
L.A. Mayor's HIRE L.A.'s Youth
provide vital opportunities for L.A.’s youth. In addition they enjoyed getting to know IVCLA members personally at their home hospitality dinners with
Allie Madrid
,
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Zigic
, and
Dagoberto Meza & Deborah Dovitch
and their daughter
Victoria Meza
(
pictured above
).
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IVCLA Board Member,
Rima Nashashibi,
was recently honored at the Women For: Orange County 39th Annual Women’s Suffrage Day Celebration for her outstanding contributions advocating for human rights around the world. The annual celebration honored dedicated Orange County residents who embody the spirit and characteristics of creating a sustainable world of shared prosperity, freedom, and justice. We congratulate Rima on this well-deserved recognition!
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Online registration closes on
September 13, 2019
.
After that date, you may only register onsite.
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Before heading to Columbia University to begin working on her Master Degree in International Development, our former Communications and Events Coordinator Hannah Stoddard had the opportunity to travel with her mom to Tbilisi, Georgia and experience the awesome impact of exchange programs first-hand. Last September IVCLA hosted an Open World Program from Georgia on the topic of Women Entrepreneurs. While in Georgia Hannah arranged to meet with one of the participants, Baia Abuladze (
pictured left) who is the owner of her own wine label,
Baia’s Wine. Earlier this year Baia was named to the
2019 Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 List.
Hannah and her mom had a wonderful time visiting Baia’s winery and meeting her family, including the newest family member, Baia’s baby! They toured the vineyard and learned all about their unique winemaking process and as Hannah relayed, “Of course we tried the wine, which is DELICIOUS!” In addition to reuniting with Baia, Hannah was introduced to Archbishop Yakob, an influential religious leader in Georgia who last year participated in an exchange program to the U.S. through the
Meridian International Center. The program helped establish a university exchange program between the university in Georgia founded by the Archbishop and Oakland University in Michigan. The Archbishop and his family’s hospitality went beyond their expectations, driving them around to see the sights and arranging interesting meetings with monks at various Georgian monasteries.
Hannah shared her feelings about the trip, “My short time in Georgia was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life, not only because of the amazing hospitality, beauty of the country, and the delicious food and wine, but because it gave me a deeper appreciation for the work of IVCLA and showed me how much of an impact people-to-people exchanges really have. I left Georgia with a better understanding of the country and the culture because of the conversations we had with the Archbishop and his family, Baia and her family, and the many other people we met indirectly because of the two exchange programs. I saw how these types of conversations provide real information and improve relations between countries. I witnessed the lasting effect and collaborations that can result from exchange programs.” IVCLA is proud of the continued collaborations that result from the programs we host!
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Join the
American Women for International Understanding and meet
Dr. Michele “Sheli” Turner as she discusses her new book, “
AFFIRMED: Life Lessons in Racial Healing and Transformation” with moderator Diane Mitchell Henry.
Date: Sunday, September 29th
Time: 2pm-4pm
Location: USC Widney Alumni House,
Board Room
650 Childs Way, Los Angeles, 90089
Parking: Parking on campus is $14. Closest parking is at Gate 3 on Figueroa, across from the Galen Center and the USC Hotel. (In between Jefferson and Exposition)
If you would like to find out more and RSVP, click
here
!
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Museum Day
September 21, 2019
Satisfy your curiosities by visiting one of the 1,500 museums and cultural institutions located across the country. Twenty-two cities, including L.A., proclaimed September 21
st
as Museum Day. Hosted by the Smithsonian Magazine, the annual celebration allows museum attendees to download a free general admission ticket for two people. Participating museums include Japanese American National Museum, Autry Museum of the American West, and many more. Don’t forget to download your tickets
here
!
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Upcoming International Visitors
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The following are among the arriving guests of the U.S. government whose professional appointments in Los Angeles will be arranged by the
International Visitors Council of Los Angeles.
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September 10-14: Breaking the Cycle of Gang Violence through Community Empowerment
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September 11-14: The Role of Traditional and Social Media in Elections
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September 11-15: Building Strong Partnerships: A Comprehensive Approach to Preventing Terrorism
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September 17-21: Combating Trafficking in Persons
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September 18-24: Promoting Social Change through the Arts
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Albania, Barbados, Burma, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Philippines, South Africa, South Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan. Trinidad and Tobago, Zimbabwe
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September 19-24: Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
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Fiji, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
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September 20-25: Film-making in the U.S.
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September 26 - October 2: Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
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