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June Newsletter, 2024
Letter from the Director
As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, June marks the official start of summer and all the comes with it….including lots of international visitors!!And man o’ man, we’re getting’ busy!!
We just said good-bye to our amazing Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) fellows, these five talented, innovative and inspiring leaders stayed in our enchanted city for four weeks.They hailed from Austria, Georgia, Kosovo, No. Macedonia and Slovakia, each having created their own upstart initiatives in a myriad of sectors: art, museum management, solar energy storage, accelerator labs and makerspaces.Wow, did we have fun!And thanks to all members who joined us for a picnic over the Memorial weekend, a great time was had by all!! Read more about these inspiring young professionals below.
We also hosted three groups from the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP): 8 visitors from Iraq under Tourism Development, 5 from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Transparency and Accountability and a multi-national group on Business Entrepreneurship who also joined us at the picnic.
This month will see us hosting two new IVLP groups on Combatting Trafficking in Persons from numerous African countries.Also, a group from the Baltic States addressing the use of Low Carbon Energies.We won’t have hosting opportunities, but as always, members are welcome to tag along and attend meetings!If you’d like to, please let us know at info@globaltiesabq.org.
Thank you to all for your commitment to supporting citizen diplomacy in our city, you are what J. William Fulbright said, “educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations”.Let’s keep doing it!!
Salutations,
Melora
What do promoting Eastern Europe artists, solar energy storage, accelerator labs, museum management, and makerspaces have in common?All were innovative initiatives pioneered by our recent cohort of Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) Spring 2024 fellows!
Meet:
YTILI is the U.S. Department of State's flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs from Europe. Since its launch in 2016, approximately 300 alumni from across Europe have bolstered their business skills and transatlantic partnerships through the YTILI Fellowship Program. YTILI uses entrepreneurship as a tool for economic empowerment to promote mutual understanding, enhance business and leadership skills, and build lasting partnerships between business leaders from Europe and the United States. The program is an opportunity for young European business professionals to expand their networks, gain perspective, and engage with the U.S. business sector to exchange innovative ideas and best practices.
Spring 2024 is the 2nd cohort that GTABQ hosted and each have been inspiring and rewarding!
Our work was to place them with local organizations/businesses which worked with them hand-in-hand to develop their initiatives, create ideas and expand their networks, a BIG HUGE thank you to our Placement Hosts: Dr. Shelle Sanchez and Elsa Menendez of the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts and Culture, John Chavez of the New Mexico Start-up Factory, Jeff Bargiel of CNM Ingenuity and Stemulus, Robert Delcampo of the UNM Accelerator Academy and Jeremy Sment at Sandia’s Concentrating Solar Technologies department… also, a BIG thank you to GTABQ members who opened their homes for homestay.You all have changed the fellow’s lives forever, creating lasting bonds and showing us all what it means to be a citizen diplomat, you rocked it!
In addition to professional development and exchange, we also got in some fun with the fellows, first planting trees in Los Lunas for the TreeNM project, a super-chic soiree hosted by the World Affairs Council of Albuquerque, a United soccer game and a visit to Acoma Pueblo.
We’re scheduled to get another group this fall!
Our recent spring picnic was a resounding success, bringing together members of our community in the spirit of citizen diplomacy. Attendees had the unique opportunity to mingle with two distinguished visitor groups: our YTILI fellows and a delegation from the IVLP focusing on business development. The event was filled with vibrant conversations, cultural exchanges, and shared experiences, highlighting the power of grassroots diplomacy in fostering mutual understanding and collaboration. Thank you to everyone who joined us in making this a memorable and impactful day!
We are thrilled to announce that GTABQ has been recognized in a recent media note from the US State Department, highlighting the remarkable achievements of one of our IVLP groups. This acknowledgment underscores our community's impactful work and dedication to fostering international cooperation and business development. We thank all involved for their commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.
“...Mexican health and security officials, researchers, legislative advisors, and legal professionals visited their counterparts in Washington, D.C.; Portland, OR; and Albuquerque, NM.They examined key federal, state, and local practices to combat illicit synthetic drugs, including through policy and programmatic interventions, regulatory frameworks, private sector engagement, and investigative practices...”
May 8th Tourism Sector Development
Project for Iraq
This project Leadership Program, brought together a diverse group from Iraq to explore the development of the tourism sector. From engaging with cultural preservation efforts at the Bear Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition to experiencing the rich heritage of the National Hispanic Cultural Center, they gained profound insights into the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity. Meeting with industry leaders at VisitABQ and Acoma Sky City, they discovered innovative strategies for destination management and sustainable tourism practices. Amidst their exploration, they reflected on the importance of collaboration and community engagement in fostering positive growth and development in the tourism sector.
May 13th Transparency & Accountability in Government
A single-country project for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
This delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo visited Albuquerque and Santa Fe to explore transparency and accountability in government. Engaging with key officials at the District Attorney's office and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, they delved into the intricacies of prosecuting official misconduct and promoting open government. Their meeting with the Mayor’s office highlighted Albuquerque’s role in fostering municipal transparency. Conversations with Phil Casaus of the Santa Fe New Mexican offered valuable insights into investigative journalism’s impact on state governance. Throughout their journey, the delegation reflected on the transformative power of transparent governance and the crucial role of dedicated public servants in fostering accountability.
May 23rd Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development II
A Multi-Regional Project
This multi-regional group visited Albuquerque to delve into the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship and small business development. From engaging with dedicated professionals at the City of Albuquerque Economic Development Office to witnessing the impactful work of the Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST), they gained profound insights into economic empowerment, innovative strategies, and the nurturing of entrepreneurial spirit. Meeting with visionary leaders at CNM Ingenuity and FUSE Makerspace, they discovered the transformative power of community-driven solutions and technological innovation. Amidst exploration of Albuquerque's rich cultural heritage at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and enjoying the collaborative spirit at our local picnic. Their exploration of Q-Station highlighted the intersection of technology and economic development within New Mexico’s aerospace and energy sectors. They reflected on the invaluable lessons learned, highlighting the importance of collaboration and grassroots initiatives in fostering positive change.
June 12 - 15: Baltic Cooperation on Innovative Low-Carbon Energy Technologies
A Sub-Regional Project for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ( 12 Visitors )
Project Goals are:
Examine best practices of U.S. agencies in conducting R&D in low-carbon technology.
Discuss strategies for introducing and effectively utilizing low-carbon technologies in the Baltic countries.
Review successful regional coordination and cooperation examples in developing low-carbon energy plans and infrastructure.
June 27 - July 1: Combating Trafficking in Persons
A Regional Project for Africa ( 10 Visitors )
Project Goals are:
Review strategies to combat international trafficking in persons, including crimes against women and children, by examining the formulation, administration, and enforcement of policy.
Explore initiatives to recognize, protect, and assist victims of abuse and trafficking, including victim recovery and reintegration programs
There are no dinner-hosting opportunities at this time, we will reach out to members when more projects arise!
The WAC is hosting a meeting on Thursday, June 27th at 6 PM at Tanoan Country Club, 10801 Academy Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
This talk will present the stories of the successes and failures in the pursuit of the release of Americans held a captive by our adversaries. Mr. Bergman will discuss the tactics used, the patience required and the frustrations of the start-stop timelines of hostage negotiations. The Richardson Center’s record of success speaks volumes for their approach to this most difficult task.
GTABQ Members can attend at the member price, please use the link below to register online for the event
