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Board of Directors

Honorary Chairs
Mayor Eric Garcetti
City of Los Angeles
 
Hilda L. Solis
L.A. County Board of Supervisors

Chairman
David Stepp
Bryan Cave LLP

President
Matthew Olsen
Boston Private Bank & Trust Company

Vice Presidents
Michele A. Franchett
Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP
 
Michael McDowell
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Secretary
Ahmad Iqbal
BPM Advisors, LLC

Lynnette Amerian
City of Los Angeles 
Office of the Mayor
 
Haifa Azawi
New Women Medical Care
 
Rae Linda Brown
 

Associate Provost, Undergraduate Education Professor of Music Loyola Marymount University

 
Mathias Fobi
Bariatec Corporation
 
Wafa J. Hoballah
WJH Law Offices
 
Steve Jones
Los Angeles World Airports
 
Yuko Kaifu
MUFG Union Bank
 
Jonathan Kaji
Kaji & Associates

Alexander Kramer
Millennium Capital
 
 
Deanne Neiman
Honorary Consul of Botswana
 
Stephen Ozoigbo    

International Advisor

Relativity Education

   
Lourdes Saab
L.A. County Office of Protocol
 
William Silva
South California Edison

Yael Swerdlow
Women's Empowerment Foundation
 
Rinaldo Veseliza
Alisto Engineering Group

Tracy Young
Former CNN Anchor 

Executive Director
Janet Elliott
Corporate Diplomats

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Sponsors

LA Tourism & Convention Board




January 2016


In this month's issue you will find:

Quote of the Month

Registration is Open! Join IVCLA on a Trip to Kyrgyzstan!

Combating Corruption in Law Enforcement: A Worldwide Effort

Volunteer with Young Professionals on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

International Opportunities

Upcoming International Visitors in January

I hope you enjoy hearing about the recent goings-on at IVCLA. Please feel free to share your comments with me by sending an email to dkreculj@ivcla.org
Quote of the Month 
Q: What did you learn about American Culture during your visit that you didn't know before?

A: People are very tolerant despite the cultural and social differences in the community! People respect each others' views, and freedom of expression is impressive, especially among the youth.

-- Shammoon ADAM, Director General, Policy Planning and Monitoring Division, Maldivian Local Government Authority (LGA), Maldives
Registration is Open! Join IVCLA on a Trip to Kyrgyzstan!  
Explore the vast array of music, architecture, and art of Kyrgyzstan, interact with the local people, taste authentic food, and gain unique memories you will never forget when you visit this country less traveled!

Highlights for the Trip Include: 
  • Greetings at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek
  • Meetings and group dinners with IVCLA alumni
  • Trip to Avrora Resort at Beautiful Lak Issyk Kul, or 'hot lake.' Rich in history, the lake was a resting point along the Silk Road in the 14th Century
  • Enjoy a cultural performance at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre 
  • Private tours with IVCLA Alumni at the Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Memorial Estate of Cholpon-Ata; the State Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic; Kyrgyz National Muesum of Fine Arts

 Last day to register is January 25th, 2016!

 

Combating Corruption in Law Enforcement:
A Worldwide Effort 

Our last IVLP group of 2015 came from a country not many could locate on a map. Nestled in the Central Asian Mountains, the Kyrgyz Republic's beauty remains a well-kept secret. Snow-capped mountains tops reflect in the deep blue of Issyk-Kul Lake, a popular vacation spot for locals who enjoy its pristine beaches and warm water. While Kyrgyzstan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, it inherited some structural issues which make the path to meaningful reform challenging. The combination of newfound independence and inexperienced, divided leadership means that police go unpoliced themselves, leaving room for corruption and collaboration with organized crime and equally unethical politicians. Corruption is a profitable game for those who play it, namely law enforcement officers and political elites, who have little incentive to protect the public. In a post-Soviet context, police reform must: ensure transparency and accountability, involve civil society organizations in oversight of law enforcement, reintroduce ethical standards, and promote effective police-community relations.


Our Kyrgyz IVLP group's topic was "Combating Corruption in Law Enforcement", so IVCLA arranged their meetings in an effort to help them achieve their goal of a democratic police reform in Kyrgyzstan. Their first appointment was with the Executive Director of the Josephson Institute, Jeff McMurdy, who explained the institute's dedication to improving the ethical quality of society by offering certified training courses and materials that teach policing professionals ethics fundamentals. At a meeting with the Pasadena Star News, the group learned how local publications have the leverage to hold law enforcement officials accountable by allowing the public to monitor injustices, in turn improving not only the quality of community life but restoring trust between citizens and their protectors. In Downtown LA, the group visited the District Attorney's Public Integrity Division, which ensures that public and appointed officials, and their subordinates, fulfill their legally mandated duties. The investigation and prosecution of criminal misconduct at all levels of public service is essential in increasing the public's level of confidence in its elected and appointed officials.

No country is perfect when it comes to community-law enforcement relations. Some communities feel targeted, while police officers feel unappreciated and overshadowed by antagonizing headlines. The hot-button debate surrounding law enforcement and civilian deaths serves as a reminder that ongoing community engagement is critical to ensuring that police departments are democratically accountable institutions. Reform is needed in both Ferguson and Bishkek.

Later, they met with Brian Buchner, current president of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE), which is the nation's most prominent police oversight organization. There, they learned about best practices at the national and local levels, and the importance of building bridges between police and civilians. The delegation also met with several civil rights attorneys from the Coalition for Increased Civilian Oversight of Pasadena Police (CICOPP) to discuss the organization's advocacy efforts and other activities in support of creating a civilian police oversight board in the City of Pasadena. Finally, an appointment at the Sheriff of Los Angeles County was also made to cast light on the law enforcement's perspective. Let's not forget that the reason police officers risk their lives and civilians take to the streets in protest is the same: for pursuit of justice in civil society.

Kyrgyz Visitors with Brian Buchner at Los Angeles City Hall
Volunteer with Young Professionals on
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 
 
Where:                                                                                       When: 
Woodcrest Elementary School                          Monday January 18, 2016 
1151 W 109th St.                                                      8:00 am to 1:00 pm 
Los Angeles, CA 90044  

Help IVCLA's Young Professionals, International Visitors, and LA Works make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a Day On, Not a Day Off.

Share the spirit of American Volunteerism with our Latin American delegation as we revitalize Woodcrest Elementary School in South Los Angeles.

Roll up your sleeves and join these Latin American activists, journalists, and police officers in a community beautification project at this Title I school, where 96% of students come from low income families.

Work side by side with our International Visitors as we give the murals, hallways, and landscaping a much needed upgrade to make a meaningful difference in these children's learning environment.

 
Space is limited, so please register by January 14th! 
International Opportunities


YSEALI Generation: Oceans Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia,
 March 16-20


Cultural Vistas is recruiting 'leader mentors' to develop and deliver an interactive workshop involving ocean stewardship or coastal development during the YSEALI Generation: Oceans Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 16-20. This regional workshop is part of the Obama Administration's Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI), which engages 18-35 year old rising leaders in all ten ASEAN member states.  The ideal session will be interactive, engaging 30-35 persons to practically and proactively explore ways in which young people can help their governments and communities to address a full range of ocean resource and coastal development issues.



Application Deadline is 20 January 2016 at 17.59 (ICT)

_____________________________________________________________


Local Coordinator Position Available

Are you looking for meaningful part-time work with a flexible schedule? Are you passionate about building relationships in your community? Do you have an interest in fostering intercultural connections?
 
If so, consider becoming a Local Coordinator for Student Ambassador Exchange! The Student Ambassador Exchange is looking for Local Coordinators to help place foreign exchange students with host families in your city. This is a part-time, contract position, meaning you will work on your own schedule and are compensated for the number of students you place.

Student Ambassador Exchange is a 501(c)3 that aims to provide high quality educational opportunities that promote and enhance the interchange of education, knowledge, and culture between the United States and other countries of the world.

Please submit your resume and a cover letter to: ryan@studentambassadorexchange.org

Upcoming International Visitors
The following are among the arriving guests of the
U.S. government whose professional appointments in
Los Angeles will be arranged by the
International Visitors Council of Los Angeles.
 
January 2016
 
Armenia
Bangladesh
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guyana
Hungary
Jamaica
Lebanon
Malaysia
Moldova
Nepal
Poland
Romania
Senegal
Slovakia
United Kingdom
Ukraine
Children in the U.S. Justice System
January 14-20
Argentina
Bolivia
Ecuador
Honduras
Panama
Paraguay
Venezuela
Law Enforcement: Community Policing
January 14-20
Chad
Egypt
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Morocco
Interfaith Dialogue
January 26-30
European Union
U.S. - E.U. Security Challenges
January 28- February 2
Brazil
 
Young Political Leaders
January 28- February 3

Editor: Danica Kreculj
Projects Coordinator
(213) 388-1428