Sharing a Global Perspective | | Collaboration Against Human Trafficking | |
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What can professionals from Los Angeles and across Latin America learn from one another about combating human trafficking? This important issue was the topic of an ICDLA International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) with a delegation from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru. ICDLA arranged meetings for the participants to exchange ideas, experiences, and effective practices with their Los Angeles counterparts.
During a meeting at the Los Angeles Hall of Justice, representatives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Saving Innocence, and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services shared how the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force connects law enforcement, social services, and nonprofit organizations in support of survivors. LASD also explained how their organizations combine their expertise and resources to identify victims and connect survivors with appropriate care and support.
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Just as importantly, the visitors shared approaches and practices from their own countries, creating a thoughtful, two-way conversation among colleagues working toward the same goal. While their communities and systems may differ, participants found common ground in the importance of strong partnerships, open communication, and survivor-centered support.
These exchanges remind us that some of the most meaningful ideas emerge when professionals come together across borders, not only to share what works, but also to listen, learn, and gain new perspectives.
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| Board Member Spotlight: Rima Nashashibi | Advocacy Brings California Closer to Ending Child Marriage | |
We are proud to celebrate the work of our Board Member Rima Nashashibi, Founder and President of Global Hope 365, whose years of advocacy have helped bring California one major step closer to ending child marriage.
On August 26, the California State Assembly approved AB 1267, legislation that would establish 18 as the minimum age of marriage in California, with no exceptions. Following unanimous approval by the State Senate, the bill now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature.
This milestone is the result of years of persistent advocacy by survivors, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, elected officials, and advocates across the state. Rima and Global Hope 365 have been at the forefront of that effort. Through the California Coalition to End Child Marriage, which Rima founded, Global Hope 365 launched the “No Child Marriage Under 18, No Exceptions” Resolution Campaign, working city by city and county by county to build grassroots support for changing California law.
Beginning with Irvine in 2020, the campaign grew to secure unanimous support for the resolution in communities across California, helping transform a local advocacy effort into a broader statewide movement. As Rima reflected, “Every resolution mattered.”
We are incredibly proud to have Rima as a Director on the ICDLA Board and congratulate her, Global Hope 365, the survivors who have courageously shared their stories, and all those who have worked tirelessly toward this milestone.
The work is not completely finished yet: AB 1267 still awaits the Governor’s signature. But California is now closer than ever to establishing a clear standard: 18 means 18. No exceptions.
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| Welcome ICDLA Summer-Fall Interns | | |
This summer, ICDLA has been pleased to have Caroline Fu join our team as a Communications and Events Intern. An incoming senior at The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, Caroline has spent the past several weeks supporting our communications work while gaining a behind-the-scenes look at citizen diplomacy and international exchange.
Caroline’s interest in global affairs began well before joining ICDLA. Last summer, she took a pre-college course in International Relations at USC, where she wrote a research paper exploring global security, international relations theories, and humanitarian crises.
Beyond ICDLA, Caroline is a Policy Associate with the California division of Voters of Tomorrow, where she conducts policy research on issues affecting young voters. This fall, she will also take on a leadership role in her school’s Model United Nations program and participate in conferences throughout Los Angeles.
Caroline noted, “I am drawn to ICDLA's work in fostering global conversation and cooperation, and am excited to have the opportunity to further my interests in global affairs and gain professional experience by assisting ICDLA in advancing international dialogue.”
As Caroline approaches the final weeks of her internship, we’ve loved having her on our team and seeing her curiosity about international affairs and citizen diplomacy in action. After graduating in spring 2027, she plans to pursue a major in International Relations or Global Studies.
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This fall, ICDLA is excited to welcome Samantha Saldana as our Advocacy and Communications Intern. Sam is a junior at the University of Southern California, where she studies history and game design on the pre-law track.
At USC, Sam serves as a tour guide for prospective undergraduate students, is a scholar with the Center for the Political Future, and participates in Girl Gains, a women’s weightlifting club. Her previous professional experience includes work with Rotary International, congressional district offices, and immigration law firms. Her interests range from international law and the entertainment industry to the social and ecological effects of wildfires.
“Citizen diplomacy is meaningful to me because it gives everyday people, not only government officials, a role in building international understanding,” Sam said. “During my internship, I look forward to learning from ICDLA’s international visitors, helping share their stories through social media, and supporting outreach that strengthens relationships across cultures.”
We’re delighted to have Sam join the ICDLA team this fall and look forward to seeing her bring her interests, experience, and perspective to our communications and advocacy work!
| | America 250: From San Pedro Bay to the World | | |
It is hard to imagine Los Angeles without its ports. Today, the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach together form the nation’s busiest port complex and one of the most important gateways for international trade. But their rise to global prominence was far from inevitable.
A recent Los Angeles Business Journal feature exploring the history of the San Pedro Bay ports traces their development from a relatively undeveloped harbor into an economic engine for Los Angeles and the nation. Phineas Banning, remembered as the “father of the Port of Los Angeles,” established commercial shipping operations in San Pedro in the 19th century. Decades later, the famous “Free Harbor Fight” helped determine whether Los Angeles’ major harbor would be developed at San Pedro or Santa Monica. San Pedro prevailed, setting the stage for more than a century of growth.
Today, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach connect businesses and communities across the country with markets around the world. Their development helped establish Southern California as a major center for trade, logistics, and global commerce.
For ICDLA, these globally significant institutions are also an important part of our citizen diplomacy work. The Port of Los Angeles, an ICDLA Corporate Sponsor, and The Port of Long Beach are longtime valued Professional Resources for ICDLA. Depending on the focus of our international program, these conversations can explore international trade, supply chains, port security, sustainability, infrastructure, technology, and more. Visitors have the opportunity to meet with port professionals, ask questions, compare experiences from their own countries, and discuss challenges shared by communities around the world.
Both ports continue to evolve through investments in cleaner technologies, infrastructure, innovation, and more resilient approaches to global commerce. For ICDLA’s international visitors, they offer a unique window into both Los Angeles’ history and its future while creating opportunities for professional exchange and international collaboration.
| | 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 ICDLA.
September 2026
| | | September 15 - 19: Sports Management and Youth Leadership | Federal States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu | | September 29 - October 3: Combating Cybercrime Against Children | 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 alumnus 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. | | 18th Annual Hola México Film Festival | | | |
The 2026 Festival is here! Celebrate the best of contemporary Mexican cinema in Los Angeles. Explore this year’s films, special events, showtimes, and tickets.
Founded in 2008, Hola México Film Festival has grown into the largest Mexican film festival outside of Mexico. Every year, audiences discover award-winning films, emerging voices, celebrated filmmakers, and unforgettable cultural experiences in the heart of Los Angeles.
September 25 - October 3, 2026
| | International Opportunities | | |
The San Diego Diplomacy Council invites you and your guests to join its private delegation for a journey through Morocco. Morocco’s location at the crossroads of Europe and Africa has endowed the country with a richness of culture and heritage preserved and perpetuated to this day. Organizers expect this trip to reach capacity, so enroll today to guarantee your spot.
Join their journey through the country's diverse food, music, customs, and architecture, as well as a deep dive into the Moroccan legal and political system. Today, Morocco is a thriving society embracing modernity and diversity. The delegation will learn about Morocco’s social fabric and political systems, rewarding the open-minded traveler with a better understanding of the nature of Islam and challenging many popular preconceptions from the Western world.
For more information and a link to register, click the button below.
| | 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 | | | | |
