|
| |
Creating international connections
Cultivating local innovation
Activating global potential
| | |
September 2025
CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NEWS
Expand Your World Today
| | |
In this Issue...
- Quote of the Month
- Photo of the Month
- Advocating for International Exchange
- Sharing a Global Perspective
- ICDLA Alumni Insights
- Upcoming International Programs
- Community Events
- International Opportunities
| |
Click the button below to check out our past newsletters: | | |
"Before my visit, I saw the United States primarily as a global leader in innovation and technology. After experiencing the program firsthand, my perception deepened to include the strong community focus, openness, and willingness to collaborate across diverse groups. I was especially struck by how inclusive and supportive the ecosystem is for entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. This experience has broadened my understanding of the U.S. as not only a place of innovation but also one of genuine connection and shared purpose."
~A visitor from Iraq, June 2025, on the IVLP project 'Economic Prosperity: Science and Technology Entrepreneurship
| |  | CEO of Lights Camera Action Diaspora! Christian Epps and an IVLP participant from Côte d'Ivoire are showcasing a traditional Ivorian pillowcase. | | | Advocating for International Exchange | | |
Dear ICDLA Members and Friends,
As you know, Congress is back in session after their August recess, and they face a full agenda as they try to fund the government for FY 2026. This is a critical stretch before the September 30th budget deadline, and the next milestone for international exchange programs to survive.
In these rapidly changing times, so far, ICDLA has been lucky. Our primary program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), remains intact. My apologies for all the financial details below, but I just want to keep you informed about where international exchanges stand now.
Before the recess, the House Appropriations Committee advanced an FY 2026 appropriations bill, which included $700,964 million for all Educational and Cultural Exchange programs. This amount is $41 million less than the FY 2025 budget, but it’s a big improvement over the Administration’s earlier budget proposal to reduce that funding to a total of just $50 million.
On the Senate side, Global Ties U.S. (GTUS) and other international exchange organizations are urging flat funding from FY2025 of $741M for these programs, and within that, specifically $105M for the IVLP.
We need your help to make Congress understand these programs are important for U.S. national security and economic prosperity. They are also critical for making our country and our world better informed and better connected. Keep in mind, for all its benefits, the budget for the entire U.S. Department of State is less than 1% of the federal budget.
It is also important to point out that most of the money for the IVLP is spent in the U.S. GTUS has calculated there is an eleven-to-one return on investment of IVLP funds to local communities through 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.
This LinkedIn post by an interpreter for IVLP participants beautifully explains the power of the program.
It is important to keep visibility and momentum up. Every message to Congress counts to help secure funding for exchange programs, and especially for IVLP next year. It would be greatly appreciated if you could reach out to your Member of Congress and Senators. You can visit the GTUS Advocacy Hub HERE for messaging information.
Warm Wishes,
| | Sharing a Global Perspective | | Creative Tourism with Cote D'Ivoire | | |
Creative tourism is defined by engaging in and co-creating authentic experiences between locals and visitors. Los Angeles, where the creative industries are among the city’s leading economic drivers, is the perfect place to explore this concept. When ICDLA welcomed an IVLP group from Côte d’Ivoire on the topic of Creative Industries and Tourism as Strategic Contributors to Economic Growth, the group discovered how cultural expression and artistic talent can serve as powerful engines for both community development and national prosperity.
Their meetings highlighted strategies to build and expand Côte d’Ivoire’s creative industries - not only as a source of cultural pride, but also as a foundation for sustainable economic growth. During their program, the participants engaged with leading organizations such as the Songwriters of North America (SONA), SAG-AFTRA, Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), and the UCLA Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. Each meeting offered unique insights into how artists, institutions, and advocates in L.A. are shaping a vibrant creative economy, providing inspiration and practical lessons that can be pivotal for building the future of Côte d’Ivoire.
| |
One of the standout sessions featured a meeting with Christian Epps, CEO of Lights, Camera, Diaspora! (LCD!). LCD! is a non-profit social enterprise that bridges the gap between African and African-Diaspora entertainment industries. The organization works to elevate the aesthetic quality and expand business opportunities for African film, broadcast, and live events both on the Continent and across the Diaspora.
Christian Epps, who has spent more than two decades as a lighting designer for major motion pictures, broadcast television, live theater, dance, music videos, and special events, led a discussion with participants alongside prominent LCD! members from across the entertainment industry. Among them were actor and executive producer Jimmy Jean-Louis, agent and producer Ozi Menekaya, producer Kady Kamakaté, Ahmadou Seck, VP of Scripted at MACRO TV, director and producer Osahon Tongo of the NFL Network, Oby Okoye, executive producer at 51 B Entertainment, director Justin Polk, Bruce Cecil, executive producer and director of EP-Africa Celebrates, producer Steven Adams, and actor Bambajan Bamba.
The discussion was lively and insightful, with each voice representing the African Diaspora and the creative industries. They underscored the need to honor Côte d’Ivoire by using its official name rather than its translated form, as a way to preserve both the nation’s history and its identity. Together, they also explored strategies for positioning Côte d’Ivoire’s creative talent on the global stage, placing it alongside African powerhouses such as Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.
| | Visitors from Brazil Explore Artificial Intelligence | | |
Artificial Intelligence isn’t just science fiction anymore - it’s in our cars, our phones, and even in the way doctors treat disease. To see how the U.S. is using this powerful tool, ICDLA welcomed IVLP participants from Brazil for a program on Artificial Intelligence – Harnessing the Power of Technology.
Over several days in Los Angeles, the group met with experts across sectors to see firsthand how AI is transforming communities and shaping the future. At Cedars-Sinai’s Division of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, visitors explored how AI is being used to close gaps in diagnostics, risk assessment, and treatment of major diseases. Conversations at the UCLA School of Law centered on governance, ethics, and privacy — critical issues as societies around the world work to balance innovation with responsibility.
IVLP visitors also explored how AI supports environmental research. At the University of California, Irvine’s Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing, scientists shared how AI helps interpret satellite data to predict rainfall and understand global water cycles.
Education and public service offered more perspectives. At the Los Angeles County Office of Education, our visitors learned how AI tools are being integrated into K–12 classrooms with an emphasis on ethics and data privacy. The California Policy Lab at UCLA demonstrated how AI and data-driven research are shaping public policy on pressing challenges like homelessness, healthcare, and education.
The exchange also highlighted communication and innovation. Associate Professor of Professional Practice at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Shub A., shared insights on how AI is influencing media, instruction, and strategy.
From healthcare to education, law to climate science, the exchange showcased the many ways AI is shaping our world and the opportunities for global collaboration in harnessing its power responsibly.
| | Professional Exchange in Action: U.S. – Ukraine Cooperation | | |
Marisela Caraballo Diruggiero, Director of Trade Development at Port of Los Angeles,
with IVLP visitors from Ukraine.
| | |
In May, ICDLA welcomed an IVLP group from Ukraine on the project Strengthening the Management of Ports. It is our goal that our professional exchanges will open doors for global leaders to share expertise, discover new practices, and build lasting partnerships. So, following their program, it was fulfilling to receive their thoughts about what the program meant to them.
One of the participants, on behalf of the Ukrainian Sea Port Authority (USPA), shared, "We are confident that the knowledge gained during the program will contribute to the restoration and modernization of Ukrainian ports and strengthen their role in economic development and global trade."
ICDLA works to ensure each program runs smoothly and combines professional connections with meaningful cultural exchange. We were happy to hear they valued both during their time in L.A. “We express particular gratitude for the impeccable organization of the program, which included not only professional activities but also cultural events that allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of American society and its values.”
By welcoming representatives from organizations like USPA, ICDLA continues to foster collaboration and understanding between the United States and international partners. As the USPA shared: “We highly value the United States’ support for Ukraine’s efforts to restore and strengthen its maritime infrastructure. We hope that our participation in the program will serve as an important step in deepening cooperation between our countries, fostering the implementation of joint projects, and strengthening partnerships in the field of maritime transport and trade.”
Through programs like this, ICDLA demonstrates the power of citizen diplomacy - building bridges between professionals, communities, and nations.
| | 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
| | | September 9 - 13: Advancing Economic Prosperity: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development | Pakistan | | September 10 - 14: Judiciary Reform and Independence | Hungary | | September 17 - 23: Desert Technologies Research and Development | Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, United Arab Emirates | | September 19 - 24: U.S. Approaches to Blood Donation: Case Studies for Leaders in Georgia | Georgia | | September 23 - 27: Technology Innovators: Artificial Intelligence- Harnessing the Power of Technology | Bhutan | | | 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 |
| HOLA MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL | | |
September 12th - 20th
Join the 17th edition of the Hola Mexico Film Festival with a spectacular Opening Night premiere at the historic Montalbán Theater. From bold new voices to acclaimed directors redefining storytelling, celebrate the start of nine days showcasing the very best in Mexican cinema.
Established seventeen years ago to promote and showcase the very best of Mexican filmmaking, the festival has become a cornerstone of the cinematic calendar, offering an immersive experience into the world of Mexican cinema, culture, and storytelling.
| |
Sunday, September 21
2 - 4:30 pm PDT
644 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Don’t miss the 3rd Concert for Peace, a special evening where music brings people together in the spirit of harmony and unity. This event will feature uplifting performances that celebrate understanding and the power of cultural connection.
| | International Opportunities | | Environmental Sustainability Internship in Denmark | | |
Applications are now open for the inaugural Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship in Denmark, taking place from May 19 to 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 that can be used for one year on any CIEE summer or semester study abroad programs.
Application deadline: November 21, 2025.
| | CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: BCOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM | | |
Building Cultures of Remembrance (BCOR) is a reciprocal transatlantic exchange program for individuals who have a professional interest in the intersection of remembrance work and corporate social responsibility in Germany and the United States.
Each program year consists of one Germany-focused and one U.S.-focused professional exchange. Participants take part in a study tour in the host country and in their home country to gain comprehensive knowledge of the transatlantic dimensions of the topic.
In 2025 and 2026, the program will focus on the intersection of remembrance work and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). You will explore the role of corporate responsibility in strengthening social cohesion, critically examine the importance of addressing (company) histories, and discuss lessons from the past that can inform both corporate and societal action today.
Applications are being accepted from representatives of the private sector who have a professional interest in remembrance work, as well as remembrance practitioners from civil society and academia who are interested in collaborating with the private sector in the fields of remembrance and civic engagement.
-
The U.S. study tour will take place from November 2 to 9, 2025, in Atlanta, GA, and Montgomery, AL (TBC).
-
The study tour in Germany is scheduled for March 22 to 29, 2026 (TBC).
Applications are being accepted until September 14, 2025
| | 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 and Kristina Yucel
Share your comments with us at omccauley@icdla.org or kyucel@icdla.org
| | © 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 | | | | |
