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Board of Directors

Honorary Chairs
Mayor Eric Garcetti
City of Los Angeles
 
Mark Ridley-Thomas
Chair, L.A. County Board of Supervisors

Chairman
Matthew Olsen
Boston Private Bank & Trust Company


Vice Chairs
Mathias Fobi, M.D.
Bariatec Corporation

Michele A. Franchett
Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP
 
Michael McDowell
Japan House Los Angeles
 



Secretary
Deanne Neiman
Honorary Consul of Botswana    


Legal Counsel
Wafa J. Hoballah
WJH Law Group, APC 
 

Laman Alani
Retired Pharmaceutical Executive
 
Haifa Azawi, M.D. 
New Women Medical Care

Kathy Jones Irish
Kathy Jones Irish Consulting
 
Jonathan Kaji
Kaji & Associates

Patti MacJennett          
 Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board 

Kristin McCowan
Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti


Michael McDowell
Japan House Los Angeles
 
Rima Nashashibi
Nashashibi International Consultants
 
Stephen Ozoigbo    
International Advisor
Relativity Education
 
Lourdes Saab
L.A. County Office of Protocol
 
William Silva
Southern California Edison

David R. Stepp
Bryan Cave LLP   


Yael Swerdlow
Women's Empowerment Foundation 
 
Tina Tangalakis
Della 
 
Tim Watkins
Watts Labour Community Action Committee

Nivine Woods 
Johnson & Johnson
 
 

President & CEO
Janet Elliott
Corporate Diplomats

AMD Logo



July 2017


In this month's issue you will find:

Quote of the Month

A Place for Miracles
 
Welcome New Communications and Events Coordinator! 
 
Welcome New Intern!  

International Opportunities 
   
Upcoming International Visitors in July
 
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: How did your perception(s) of the United States change during/after your visit?

A: The United States is very diverse, both geographically and culturally. What I liked the most was how everything was preserved and displayed for the future generations to learn from. The best example of this are the Smithsonian museums where the history is so well preserved and it is a plethora of knowledge.

--Snehal Ashok KHEDKAR, Technical Officer, Enforcement, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), India
A Place for Miracles

On April 18th, a book launch was held at USC, co-sponsored by the International Visitor's Council of Los Angeles, in partnership with the Consulate General of Afghanistan and the Aga Khan Council for the Western USA. The author Lee Hilling discussed his book A Place of Miracles: The Story of a Children's Hospital in Kabul and the People Whose Lives Have Been Changed by It.

This article was written by author Lee Hilling.


As terrorist attacks keep occurring at an unprecedented pace, populations are being displaced around the world. In Afghanistan, a recent attack in Kabul resulted in over 100 deaths and 300 victims injured. Sadly, this was only the most recent of such carnage in the country. As America's longest war, the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan is important to the security of not only the U.S., but the world. Today, there are more American combat troops are on the ground in Afghanistan than the rest of the world combined, and consideration is being given to adding even more. Aside from military expenditures, the U.S. has spent more towards the development of Afghanistan than was spent to reconstruct Europe after World War II. Based on reports by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan, there is good evidence that the results of U.S. investments in Afghanistan have been poor.

Inaugurated on April 2006, the French Medical Institute for Children (FMIC) is the product of an unusual partnership, a four-party public-private partnership, comprised of two private organizations, the Aga Khan Development Network and the France-based humanitarian entity La Chaine de l'Espoir, and two governments, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and France. The result is an institution that has enabled children's lives to be saved that might have otherwise been lost. Out of nearly 2,500 cardiac surgeries performed at FMIC, approximately half were open-heart cases. In recent years they were almost exclusively performed by an all-Afghan team trained by the founding partners, with results that meet or exceed international standards. Over 1 million patients have been served from all of Afghanistan's 34 provinces. Over 400,000 patients have received welfare support or subsidized care amounting to more than $28 million.

FMIC also conducts a Postgraduate Medical Education program that is unique in Afghanistan. The program has graduated two classes: 20 students trained for four years in 7 specialties, some of which aren't trained any place else in Afghanistan. Its second graduating class made history. Two radiologists, one cardiologist and one pathologist were the first physicians ever to be trained in these specialties in Afghanistan - and the pathology graduate, as well as two graduates in pediatric surgery, were the first women to be trained and work in these specialties in Afghanistan.

FMIC is one of Afghanistan's most remarkable reconstruction success stories. It is a model that can be emulated as the U.S. and others strive to complete their development mission there. The potential is that Afghans can receive care of an international standard - delivered by Afghans.

Lee's inspiring book is available online at amazon.com, at barnesandnoble.com, and at outskirtspress.com/aplaceofmiracles.

Anyone reading the book and wanting to know how they can support this remarkable institution can contact Lee at LNHilling@verizon.net.
Welcome New Communications and Events Coordinator!



Hannah Stoddard is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College with a B.A. in International Affairs. In 2015, Hannah spent a semester in Northern India, where she studied public health policy. After graduating, she traveled to Haiti with a solar technology start-up to conduct a feasibility study for residential solar products. Originally from Seattle, WA, Hannah moved to Los Angeles last year, and is interested in international development, global health, women's rights, and education. She is thrilled to be joining IVCLA's team and looks forward to increasing her understanding of key issues through dialogue with professionals from all over Los Angeles and the world.
Welcome New Intern!

My name is Charlotte Schulman and I am the new high school intern at IVCLA. I am in my senior year at Campbell Hall and I am interested in studying environmental science, as well as fitness and nutrition. I spend a lot of my time working with charities such as Project Angel Food and Alexandria House. I am also a member of the Hands for Haiti team, a program started three years ago by Campbell Hall students and faculty. I recently returned from visiting our sister schools in Port de Paix, Tortuga, and Rosette where we are finishing the construction of a new school campus. From kindergarten to fifth grade I attended the Lyc ée International de Los Angeles where I became fluent in French. I plan to incorporate this skill in my studies throughout university. My family and I have been hosting IVCLA visitors for home hospitality dinners for many years. I have always enjoyed meeting fascinating and diverse international visitors through this program. One of my favorite groups consisted of Fulbright Scholars, most of whom had studied environmental science. I am excited to be a part of IVCLA because I want to learn more about cultures and individuals from around the world, and become a more global and aware citizen.
International Opportunities

 
Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit international leadership organization with a distinguished history of awarding exceptional U.S. leaders ages 32-45 from all professional fields a four or five-week fellowship abroad. Each year, 10 USA Eisenhower Fellows travel for five weeks to one or two countries in the EF network. In addition, 10 Zhi-Xing China Eisenhower Fellows are awarded a four-week fellowship focused exclusively on China.

The deadline for the Zhi-Xing China Fellowship is September 1, 2017.

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.
 
July 2017
 
United Kingdom

Countering Violent
Extremism
July 8 - 15    

Korea
Economic
Development and Stability in Northeast Asia
July 11 - 15 
Pakistan
Strengthening Pakistani Youth: Young Academic Leaders and Influencers
July 12 - 18  
 
Algeria
Egypt
Morocco
Tunisia 
African Women's Entrepreneurship Program for North Africa
July 13 - 19
Japan
Labor Policy and Gender Equality
July 19 - 22
Russia
Good Manufacturing Processes in the Pharmaceutical Industry
July 22 - 26
Israel
Palestinian Territories
Education Innovation
July 27 - Aug 1
Libya
Conflict Resolution and the Role of Tribal Leaders
July 27 - Aug 2
United Kingdom
British-American Parliamentary Group
July 28 - 30   






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