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Creating international connections
Cultivating local innovation
Activating global potential
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August 2024
CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NEWS
Expand Your World Today
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In this Issue...
- Quote of the Month
- Photo of the Month
- Sharing a Global Perspective
- Thank You to ICDLA Intern
- ICDLA Alumni Insights
- Upcoming International Programs
- Community Events
- Are you a U.S. Citizen Exchange Alumni?
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Click the button below to check out our past newsletters: | |
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“Although I was not particularly aware of it before the visit, I felt that freedom and equality were viewed as important within the U.S. I think that policy makes various ethnic groups united into one country."
~A visitor from Japan in July 2024, for the IVLP project 'Enhancing Japan's Academic Research Integrity through Export Controls and Visa Screening'
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As part of the Advocacy through Social Media project, IVLP visitors from Africa visited UCLA. | | |
Sharing a Global Perspective | |
Empowering LGBTQI+ Policy Engagement | |
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ICDLA recently had the pleasure of hosting an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) group from Germany, focused on empowering LGBTQI+ through policy engagement and community support. During their time in Los Angeles they met with various local organizations including the LA LGBT Center to explore a range of health and youth-focused programs and services.
Los Angeles, with its rich diversity and dynamic community, provides countless opportunities for the LGBTQI+ community to thrive. The LA LGBT Center, which welcomes nearly a quarter-million visits annually, offers a broad array of free and low-cost services. These include health care, mental health support, legal aid, and specialized programs for youth, seniors, and families.
We extend our gratitude to the LA LGBT Center for sharing their expertise and hosting activists from around the world. Together, we are making significant strides in creating inclusive communities and supporting LGBTQI+ rights globally.
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Thank You to ICDLA Intern | |
Farewell to Ryan Hwang: Reflecting on a Transformative Internship | |
Danica Kreculj, ICDLA Director of International Programs, Ryan Hwang, and Victoria Meza, ICDLA Program Officer. | |
As the summer draws to a close, ICDLA bids farewell to Ryan Hwang, our dedicated summer intern. Ryan, an undergraduate student at Pomona College majoring in International Relations and Economics, enriched our organization with his passion for grassroots diplomacy and his exceptional research skills. He shared his impressions from the internship.
"During my time at ICDLA, I was involved in many IVLP meetings and improved my research skills. However, the most valuable part of this experience was the genuine relationships I built with the international visitors and the staff. These relationships remind me of the reason why I study international relations: the power of human connections in bridging divides and fostering understanding.
It is easy to think that international relations and diplomacy are just pages of policies and presidents shaking hands, but my experience with ICDLA has taught me that everyday people play a crucial role at the global table. Ultimately, everyday people of the United States bear the impact of the increasingly interconnected world from issues regarding public health, trade, and the climate. I am grateful that this opportunity further enriched my studies, and I look forward to being more involved in the IR sphere.
Thank you to my supervisors Danica Kreculj and Victoria Meza, along with the rest of the team at ICDLA for making this experience valuable."
It was a joy having Ryan intern with ICDLA this summer and we wish him all the best in his future studies. Ryan’s journey with ICDLA is a testament to the vital role young leaders play in shaping a more interconnected and understanding world.
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Fostering Global Connections: Participant's Journey in L.A. | |
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ICDLA is delighted to share the experiences and insights of our international visitors, and this month, we want to showcase participant Capt. Harsha Sandamal Weerasuriya from Sri Lanka. Capt. Weerasuriya visited Los Angeles in June 2024 for a project on Secure and Sustainable Infrastructure for Ports.
His program included visits to the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles, and the International Longshore Warehouse Union - Local 13. He discovered the scale and efficiency of the Port of Long Beach, supporting over 2.6 million jobs, was eye-opening. Visiting the advanced Cyber Security Operations Center and Cyber Resilience Center provided invaluable insights into security measures.
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The program significantly influenced Capt. Weerasuriya's professional goals. “Sri Lanka's Port of Colombo, though a key transshipment hub, is still developing. Access control methods and the sophisticated security equipment which the U.S. authorities are using, gave me foresight on having those at our ports, to enhance security levels,” he noted.
Capt. Weerasuriya emphasized the lasting value of the personal connections he made during the program. “Observing well-planned community spaces in U.S. ports was enlightening. I’ve connected with experts like Mr. Scott Gallic and Ms. Marisela Caraballo Diruggiero to integrate similar spaces in Colombo while meeting security needs.”
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Reflecting on the broader impact of the exchange experience, Capt. Weerasuriya shared, that developing community spaces and enhancing cyber security preparedness at the Port of Colombo are essential steps toward achieving international standards. He has already communicated these observations to the higher management at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, emphasizing the need for these improvements. | |
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Capt. Weerasuriya’s journey underscores the transformative power of international exchange programs. We wish him continued success in implementing these insights in Sri Lanka. | |
Upcoming International Programs | |
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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
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| Aug 7 - Aug 10: Building Drought Preparedness and Resilience | Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Republic of Kosovo, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Türkiye, Romania, Rome USIO - Italy, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay | | Aug 28 - Aug 31: Combatting Trafficking in Persons | Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay | | Aug 28 - Sep 3: Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement and Development | Iraq | | |
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. | |
Are you a U.S. Citizen Exchange Alumni? | |
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Did You Participate in a U.S. Government-sponsored Exchange Program?
Career Connections brings together U.S. Exchange Alumni and leaders in business, government, civil society, and other diverse fields to leverage their skills and networks. Programming is offered in two formats: virtual (Career Connections Global+) and in-person (Career Connections) as part of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program, which is implemented in partnership with the Office of Alumni Affairs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. ICDLA is assisting by reaching out to our Greater Los Angeles alumni.
There's one in-person event planned this year:
- September 26-27 | Detroit, MI
Hosted in partnership with Global Ties Detroit
To participate in Career Connections and Career Connections Global+ programming, attendees must be U.S. citizen Exchange Alumni. You will be asked about your U.S. alumni program when applying for these events.
If you are a past participant in a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program contact Kristina Yucel, kyucel@icdla.org. Whether you participated long ago or you recently completed your exchange program, we will keep you informed of opportunities such as events, programs, and grants.
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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. | |
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Editor: Kristina Yucel
Communications & Events Coordinator
Share your comments with me at kyucel@icdla.org
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© 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 | | | | |
