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APRIL 2024, NEWSLETTER
Letter from the Director
Happy Spring!! And like the numerous flowers that have suddenly graced my backyard peach tree, our global exchange buds are starting to bloom!
We have now welcomed two amazing International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) groups:
• In February: “Preserving Cultural Heritage and Combating Trafficking of Conflict Antiquities”, which welcomed 7 delegates from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates to explore strategies to prevent the destruction, looting, and trafficking of cultural heritage.
• Early March: “U.S.-Mexico Shared Fight Against Illicit Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs” which brought 10 highly placed Mexican officials to the U.S. to understand federal, state, and local policy interventions and programs focused on combatting illicit synthetic drugs.
Both of these groups were amazing and showcased the diversity of objectives and communities that IVLP helps the United States address with their foreign policy objectives.
The first group even got us a front-page article in the Downtown ABQ News (an online zine covering issues pertinent to the downtown core, they do a GREAT job and I highly encourage all who love our downtown to subscribe: https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/).See below for the article (and then a following one on my dad who will be cruising Route 66 this May in a tricked-out Cadillac station wagon…wasn’t looking for double-billing, but it is such a fun story, DAN couldn’t resist!).
So, spring is springing forth, we’ll have not less than 2 delegations, sometimes 3 and 4 coming in every month for the rest of the year... lots of opportunities for you to meet, greet, share, and learn! We’ll post them here as well as send out directly to all members.
The GTABQ staff also just got back from an inspiring 3 days in Washington D.C. for the annual Global Ties U.S. National Conference https://www.globaltiesus.org/events/national-meeting/2024-national-meeting/. This year focused on the impact of IVLP and how it dramatically changes the lives of people on both sides of the program: the visitors and our members.
From the GT US’ 2022 community impact report, we learned that, “participating in international exchanges increases global knowledge and cultural competence, encourages civic engagement, deepens community inclusion, strengthens international connectivity, and generates economic impact and workforce development in U.S communities”.
Global Ties U.S. is now developing their 2024 Community Impact Report and I encourage ALL members to give their input on the impact to their lives from supporting our International Visitors. We’ve sent out a survey for members to participate in, please keep an eye out in your inboxes!
Greg Polk an esteemed member recently completed a promotional video for a youth development organization in Cambodia. The video serves as an example of volunteerism and citizen diplomacy, as the organization's founder was a former Peace Corps volunteer. Greg was instrumental in establishing a trust fund for the organization.
Check out Downtown Albuquerque's most recent digital newspaper! Global Ties ABQ was featured twice in a recent edition, highlighting one of our recent IVLP groups and the exhilarating vintage car adventure of our Executive Director's father John Palmer.He will be embarking on an unforgettable journey along the historic Route 66, including a pit-stop in ABQ.A welcome party is planned, let us know if you’d like to come!
U.S.-Mexico Shared Fight Against Illicit Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs - A Project for Mexico
Our group embarked on an enlightening journey to Albuquerque where they delved into critical issues surrounding drug trafficking and substance abuse. Facilitated by Global Ties ABQ, they engaged with various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and healthcare providers, to understand their efforts in combating illicit drugs and supporting those affected by addiction. From insightful meetings with local law enforcement to visits to local initiatives like the University of New Mexico Health's Addiction Substance Abuse Program, they gained invaluable insights into innovative strategies and challenges in addressing these pressing issues. Amidst their discussions, they also immersed themselves in Albuquerque's vibrant cultural scene, exploring landmarks such as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and Petroglyph National Monument.
April 2-6: Venezuela Electoral Participation and Engagement
This is a Single Region group with the following objectives:
dentify strategies to increase voter registration, particularly among young voters;
Strengthen community organizing and capacity to mobilize voters;
Increase levels of political participation, especially among young people; and
Discuss effective voter communications strategies on the part of democratic actors.
No home hosting opportunities for this group
April 24-30 Promoting Human & Civil Rights in Marginalized Communities
This a Multi-Region group, project goals are:
Introduce different political and social perspectives on ethnic, cultural, gender, racial, and religious minority community rights and review the legislative framework that protects equal rights for all communities;
Examine U.S. and international initiatives to promote and protect the human rights of minority, immigrant, and refugee communities, and review how organizations monitor, influence, and advocate for human and civil rights policy at the local, state, national, and international levels;
Explore equal access to educational, economic, and healthcare opportunities for members of minority, immigrant, and refugee communities; and
Learn about U.S. approaches to working across the government and civil society to advance minority rights and protections.
Members let us know at info@globatiesabq.org if you are interested in hosting a dinner or participating in any meetings for this group.
We have two other groups lined up in May (but there may be more):
May 15-18: Transparency and Accountability in Congo: Single Region
May 23 -24: Business Enterprise and Development: Multi-Region
Special visit in May from two amazing international women:
Chef Mhlelusizo Ncube from Zimbabwe and Thembi Silundika
Global Ties ABQ Member, Gordon Bronitsky of Indige Now, will be hosting these women in May and there are opportunities for our members to host them for dinner!
Chef Mhlelusizo Ncube, her accomplishments include:
• State Department Mandela Washington Fellow, University of Nevada at Reno, 2022
• Head Chef and Ambassador of the African Food Revolution
• Events & Networking Coordinator, Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) Southern Africa Region, Zimbabwe Chapter
In addition, Chef Ncube comes from a rural village. She and her family raise cattle. goats, sheep, and chickens. She would be especially interested in meeting with Native American agriculturalists and sharing about her work founding the African Food Revolution africanfoodrevolution.com, which seeks to Indigenize African diets by working with food producers in rural villages.
Thembi Silundika is a Zimbabwean-Canadian and serves as the Circumpolar Analyst at the Circumpolar Affairs Directorate of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in Ottawa.She is the highest-ranking Canadian official dealing with the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic.
Thembi Silundika is the daughter of Narcisius Malan George Silundika, a hero in the struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence from Rhodesia. Ms Silundika would welcome the opportunity to meet with government officials, students, faculty, Native Americans, and the general public to discuss her work with the people of the Arctic.
Members if you are interested May 6 or 7 are available to dinner host, please contact info@globaltiesabq.org.
Members check your inboxes for the Global Ties Us 2023 Impact report.Tell the national network how hosting IVLP participants impacts your life!
We’re excited to share the photos, plenary videos, and resources from the Global Ties U.S. 2024 National Meeting, Diplomacy in Action: Raising Community Voices.
Check out the link above for all the highlights from the week, including announcements on the National IVLP Impact awardees (pictured above), and find all the action on social media via the hashtags #GlobalTies2024 and #IVLPCommunity.
The WAC is hosting a meeting on Wednesday, April 17th at 6 PM at Oasis at 3301 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite 18, Albuquerque, NM 87107
Join Dr. Paul Pillar and Dr. Emile Nakhleh will speak on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its historical basis, and the state of affairs in the conflict.
GTABQ Members can attend at the member price, please use the link below to register online for the event or use the PDF version.
