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Mayor Eric Garcetti
City of Los Angeles
Hilda L. Solis
Chair, L.A. County Board of Supervisors
Matthew Olsen
Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
Vice Chairs
Mathias Fobi, M.D.
Bariatec Corporation
Michele A. Franchett
Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP
Michael McDowell
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Deanne Neiman
Honorary Consul of Botswana
Legal Counsel
Wafa J. Hoballah
WJH Law Group, APC
Haifa Azawi, M.D.
New Women Medical Care
Jonathan Kaji
Kaji & Associates
Kristin McCowan
Director of International Relations and Chief of Protocol, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
Rima Nashashibi
Nashashibi International Consultants, LLC
Stephen Ozoigbo
International Advisor
Relativity Education
Richard Peterson
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
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
Tracy Young
Former Anchor, CNN HLN Local Edition
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In this month's issue you will find:
Quote of the Month
Resource Spotlight: Youth Mentoring
Intern Researches Sustainability on Catalina Island
Event Recap: Annual Fulbright Luncheon
International Opportunities
Upcoming International Visitors in November
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
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Q: What did you learn about American Culture during your visit that you didn't know before?
A: The diversity of the U.S.A. is so huge, every state is a country, with its own culture, establishments etc... It is not one country, but more like 50 different countries. I feel the need to discover all the states, all the culture, and all of the markets of the U.S.A.. It is a place where you can do a lot, where your imagination has no limit. It's a land where you can create opportunities for your community.
-- Sonia Angele MAKOUDI, Founder and CEO, MAK Bijoux, Cameroon
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Resource Spotlight: Youth Mentoring
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"You can't help at-risk youth without taking risks"
This month, we want to shine a spotlight on one of IVCLA's resources, Youth Mentoring.As a resource, Youth Mentoring kindly share their expertise with IVCLA's international visitors through our international exchange programs, and they're always a huge hit! Their unwavering commitment to undeserved youth exceeds the expectations of our international visitors during each discussion with Tony Lore, CEO and Founder, and Gretchen Kuhlman, Executive Assistant.
The mission of Youth Mentoring is to awaken at-risk youth to their power, unique gifts and purpose by matching them with caring adult mentors and placing that "match" within a structured group dynamic that provides the resources youth need to reach a productive, conscious adulthood. They further seek to awaken society to the needs, promise and value of this overlooked population. Their vision is of a community where young people are truly seen and not just watched, where society understands and accepts its responsibility in meeting the needs of all young people, and where young people bring their gifts back into their communities as productive members of society.
Our international visitors had this to say about their meetings with Youth Mentoring:
"Words for me are not enough to describe or explain how beneficial Youth Mentoring was to my life and the life of my project way back in Nigeria. The experience was awesome because it was the missing element in my project. Tony is doing a great job!"
--Okechukwu PETERSIDE, Program Coordinator, Center for Human Development and Social Transformation, Nigeria
"This session was very informative, inspiring, and motivating. The techniques and methodology employed by this program are truly life-changing."
--Mtima SOLWAZI, Community Action Officer, Citizen Security Program, Ministry of National Security, Trinidad and Tobago
Youth Mentoring Executive Assistant, Gretchen Kuhlman, pointed out the value of mutual exchange in their meetings with IVCLA visitors: "
Please know that we learn invaluable information from them as well and keep in contact with several of them via email. We have made some terrific contacts with our international partners in mentoring and in some cases developed friendships that we hope will one day materialize in our being able to visit their countries and collaborate in a mutual way."
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Intern Researches Sustainability on Catalina Island
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The article below was written by IVCLA intern Luyi Xu, a junior at the University of Southern California who is majoring in International Relations and Environmental Studies.
This summer, I participated in an environmental field study program focusing on water and soil sustainability. It was a unique research experience, both fun and educative, and it helped me to improve my working experience at IVCLA.
Our research focused on the study of water and soil sustainability on Catalina Island. It offered me a great opportunity to get hands-on research experience and enjoy an incredible California summer. Our team traveled to the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on Catalina Island and stayed for three weeks. We performed research on water and soil qualities on Catalina, as well as explored alternative strategies for freshwater shortage. My group had the opportunity to explore the possibilities of using solar still to help with the the water shortage on Catalina.
In September 2016, Catalina Island was entering "stage 3" drought and facing 50% water reduction. Though the solution appears to be all around us, via seawater desalination, the truth is that a seawater desalt plant is very expensive and energy inefficient. A more favorable option is the less energy-intensive practice of using a passive solar still. We collected 20L of freshwater within 1 week of testing using a small scale solar still. It was really exciting for us to see direct results and positive feedback after the experiment.
The scientific outreach helped me improve my researching skills which directly relate to my research tasks as a programming intern. I also learned about more resources in the environmental area, which will definitely help me with developing future programs for IVCLA's international visitors.
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Event Recap: Annual Fulbright Luncheon
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We love celebrating international exchange! On October 22nd, IVCLA hosted 85 Fulbright students from 33 countries at Dr. & Mrs. Amarjit Marwah's beautiful Malibu ranch home. A former Fulbright student and long time IVCLA member, Dr. Marwah has hosted the Luncheon for the past twenty-six years. The Luncheon recognizes fellow Fulbright students and encourages global exchanges and dialogue. Fulbrighters spent the afternoon mingling with IVCLA members and Consular Corps officials over delicious Indian cuisine. What a great way to kick off their time in California!
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International Opportunities
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Share your exchange experience and inspire others to go abroad! You could win prizes such as a trip to Washington D.C. for conversations with senior officials on issues that matter to you. All participants will receive global recognition by the U.S. Department of State.
Submissions close at Noon EDT on November 18, 2016.
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The
Cultural Vistas Fellowship, a funded professional development program, is now accepting applications for the 2017 program year! The Cultural Vistas Fellowship is an 8-week summer internship program that gives undergraduate students who have not yet participated in a formal study or internship abroad program the opportunity to gain practical work experience in Argentina, Germany or India.
The application deadline is January 6th, 2017.
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Want to start your international career? Americans with international language and job experience may apply for positions with International Organizations (IO).
To ensure they submit the most competitive resumes possible, interested applicants should reach out to the IO team via e-mail at IOCareers@state.gov for guidance prior to preparing their application. Please review openings on the IO website.
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Upcoming International Visitors
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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.
November 2016
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Algeria
Benin
Botswana
Gambia
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Mauritania
Mauritius
Senegal
Tanzania
Zimbabwe
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Emerging African Leaders: Campaigns and Elections
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November
5 - 9
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Philippines
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2016 U.S. Presidential Elections
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November
6 - 10
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Indonesia
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Political Activism, Community Organizing, Lobbying and Campaigns
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November
15 - 19
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Mexico
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Transgender Rights
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November
16 - 21
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Oman
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Trafficking in Persons
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November 29 - December 3
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Editor: Danica Kreculj
Projects Coordinator
(213) 388-1428
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