Growth, relationships, culture and beauty: Alberta Brown reflects on her experiences in Kalamazoo

Above, Prof. Linda Reeser (center) from the WMU School of Social Work, dove into the intricacies of social policy and social change with the 2024 IJAB/CIP cohort during their orientation with participants (from left) Alberta Brown, Kathrin Rücker,  Wiebke Matthießen, and Philip Hofmann. Below, the group explores Kalamazoo with the Global Ties Kalamazoo team (Executive Director Jodi Michaels, Program Manager Emma Baratta, Intern Sofia Hartman, and Social Media and Storytelling Specialist Beth Clark).

They say time flies when you're having fun. Truer words were never spoken as the two months I spent in Kalamazoo all too soon came to an end for me. I came to Kalamazoo not really knowing whether I’d fall in love with this city midway between Chicago and Detroit, which was/is home to major international pharmaceutical and life sciences companies such Upjohn Co., Stryker Corp., Pfizer well known brands like Gibson Guitars, Checker Motors Corp., and Bell’s Brewery among others. 

Growth, relationships, culture and beauty.

These are some of the words that come to my mind when I reflect on my incredible, unforgettable 2-month experience in Kalamazoo. However, I’ve definitely hit a wall: I have too much to say. I’m serious! I struggled to organize my thoughts, writing and rewriting this blog post.At the end of my fellowship, I could honestly say that this has been the best part of my 2024 thus far.

The IJAB/CIP cohort roasts marshmallows and enjoys a fireside chat.

Professionally, I gained valuable insights into the operations of a small community-based organization while deepening my understanding of their work. I came into this program with an open and curious mind, ready to explore, experience and learn as much as I could, especially in a different work culture in the field of international exchange. I am grateful to Global Ties Kalamazoo for not only giving me the opportunity to fully dive into daily operations with them, but also giving me the opportunity to set an area of interest to work on during my fellowship. During conversations with Emma and Jodi a few days into my fellowship, I identified an area of interest, which was to explore the impact of citizen diplomacy in Kalamazoo, especially what it means for local organizations to host international fellows and other visitors.

This involved identifying people to interview, which I had help with thanks to Emma and Jodi. A typical day for me involved setting up meetings with representatives of organizations who have professionally hosted international guests and also with home and/or dinner hosts,  meeting with my interviewees, attending team meetings and gathering data from the interviews. I was also able to assist in preparing materials for incoming groups for other exchange programs and even accompany them to their meetings. Global Ties Kalamazoo killed two birds with one stone on that as I was not only able to assist, but also I could participate and learn during meetings with organizations such as one with a representative of the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency, a visit to Kalamazoo Public Schools Classrooms at the Milwood Middle School as well as a visit to the Kalamazoo Promise. 

IJAB/CIP fellows Alberta Brown (left) and Wiebke Mathiessen (right) meet Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson at the Canadiana Festival in downtown Kalamazoo.

I really want to commend Global Ties Kalamazoo’s collaboration with local organizations. Their collaboration with local organizations is something that I’m taking with me back to Germany. Through Friday Activities, we were exposed to some of these organizations. One such organization that stood out to me is the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network. I was even able to attend the Black and Brown Leaders Affinity Group through Southwest Michigan First, where I was able to get some ideas for the empowerment of Black and Brown people in Cologne.  

Not only was it my goal to learn from Global Ties Kalamazoo, but also to share ideas, make an impact and contribute to their work during my fellowship with them. Looking ahead, it brings me joy that toolkits that I have developed such as surveys for international guests as well as testimonials which will be created from the interviews I conducted will be used in various ways such as marketing purposes for host recruitment, while also being used to improve the overall performance and effectiveness of the engagement with the local community. Interviewing people in Kalamazoo also offered me a chance to expand my personal and professional network, and I intend to stay in touch with the network of people I now have here in Kalamazoo.

Personally, I have appreciated staying with two hosts during my fellowship in Kalamazoo. As someone who also works in the field with youth and hosts in Germany, where sometimes changing hosts is moreso seen as something negative, it was very important for me to have had this experience and be able to share it as a positive one when I return to Germany. Both hosts were very welcoming, supportive in many ways and very engaging as well. I am very grateful that they opened up their heart and home to me. They made sure that they involved me in their daily lives while also giving me room to explore things on my own. 

While I explored the diverse food scene in Kalamazoo, I also enjoyed sharing culinary experiences from Germany and Ghana with my hosts. Simple things like game nights turning competitive, car karaoke, making s’mores together, watching movies and TV shows together (especially trash TV while being in inpatient care 😅), or just having conversations about anything and everything are moments I will forever cherish. I can confidently say that based on my experience with my hosts, Global Ties Kalamazoo does its utmost best to ensure that international guests are hosted by people who embody their vision with a passion. 

(Above) From left, Carpool Karaoke queen (and host extraordinaire) Kori Jock, Alberta Brown, and longtime Global Ties Kalamazoo volunteers Louise Potratz and Jerry Potratz at a reception celebrating the IJAB/CIP fellows. Below, Brown and her cohort peers enjoy kitchen table diplomacy at its finest as home hospitality hosts break bread with them.

Beyond the outstanding professional experience that I have had the privilege to enjoy in Kalamazoo, the personal and cultural aspects have equally proven to be insightful. I took advantage of diverse local events such as Sounds of the Zoo, Art Hop, Arts and Eats, and others to immerse myself in the community to better understand and appreciate the local way of life.

In the second half of my program, I explored more of Kalamazoo, occasionally visiting the Kalamazoo Public Library and the Friends Bookstore (located in the Lower Level of the KPL, the Friends Bookstore offers gently used books at very affordable prices. They are one reason I got a new travel bag as I have to fit all the books I purchased). Coming from a country with a good public transportation system, I looked forward to riding the bus, which I did. I sometimes explored Kalamazoo with the public bus and although my first experience mounting my bicycle on the bus was very much unpleasant (a very impatient bus driver, who assumed knew how it worked despite me requesting assistance and letting them know I didn’t know how it worked), I still enjoyed it. I also enjoyed spending time strolling through local stores like the Spirit of Kalamazoo and Petals & Postings, or having tea at Walnut & Park Cafe (where I met most of my interviewees), which all became among my favorite places to go to. I also enjoyed cycling down Stadium Drive towards Downtown Kalamazoo (shouting out Open Roads for the full gear they provided) while enjoying the beautiful colors of the West Michigan fall. I was very impressed that Kalamazoo had incorporated lanes for cycles on some of the roads downtown and beyond. I also visited Detroit (the Henry Ford Museum, the Automotive Hall of Fame and Belle Isle) and on our way back, managed to lock the car keys in the trunk of the car (ask me later how this was resolved after almost 4 hours 😂). These experiences have given me a deeper appreciation for the unique cultural and natural landscape of Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan.

Among my favorite memories have been getting to watch college football and tailgating at an Iowa Hawkeyes home game against the Washington Huskies, at an away game against the Michigan State Spartans as well as at WMU’s season opener game against Bethune-Cookman University at Waldo Stadium. My tailgating experiences were amazing, despite my visit to the Bronson Methodist Hospital Emergency Department after WMU’s season opener game. The trip to the ED, although not pleasant, provided me with an opportunity to experience the US. healthcare system. 

At the Iowa home game against the Washington Huskies, I got to experience something that deserves an honorable mention and what one could arguably mention as one of college football’s traditions in the United States, the Hawkeye Wave (Don’t argue with Jerry about this, because this is an argument you will certainly lose 🏈). The Hawkeye Wave, where at the end of the first quarter of every Iowa home game, the fans, players and coaches, at the instruction of the public address announcer, will turn their attention away from the field towards the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital and wave in unison at the pediatric patients. It was a very moving and inspiring moment to witness and be a part of. 

Other activities that have made my time in Kalamazoo memorable include Monday night trivia with my hosts at Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill at Wings West, of which I am proud to have been the youngest member during my three consecutive Mondays with them (I will miss my Monday night night root beer float and the occasional look out for the ice hockey players or young skaters practicing or having a tournament on the ice rink).  

I also enjoyed a trip to Shipshewana, where I experienced Amish culture and life, and had an amazing Amish/Mennonite meal at the famous Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery. During my day in Shipshewana, I observed auctions of livestock as well as antiques and miscellaneous objects. I also took an Amish buggy ride out to the country. Thanks to the buggy driver and time spent at the Menno-Hof, I got to learn more about the history, life and faith of the Amish, Mennonites and Hutterites, the third of which I had no knowledge prior to my trip to Shipshewana. It was insightful to learn about different people in this country.

The timing of my fellowship in Kalamazoo couldn’t have been more perfect in that it fell at the peak of this year's election season and I got to experience the intricacies of United States’ politics, especially with Michigan being a battleground state. I can also fairly say that I now have an idea of the political landscape of Kalamazoo. I learned that many presidential aspirants and politicians have made stops in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids or Detroit. I also watched the presidential debate with my first host and the VP debate with my second hosts (I played a customized debate bingo during the presidential debate 😅). I had the opportunity to visit the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party Headquarters, where I was able to get a glimpse of the work going on there and volunteers devoting their time to ensuring people are registered to vote. Of course there were many yard signs available, too – something that has always been intriguing to me since this is not a common thing in Germany.

One of the highlights of political activities for me was being able to participate in the Kalamazoo Women’s March, which drew over 1,000 participants to Bronson Park on Oct. 13. It was very interesting to see a vast array of signs carried by people as we marched through Downtown. There were speeches held as well as music. Being able to participate in the Women’s March not only gave me a sense of belonging but also a sense of contributing to the advancement of women’s issues in this community.

As I return to Germany, I take these wonderful memories and pieces of Kalamazoo with me. This experience has solidified my desire to keep striving for civic engagement of local residents through citizen diplomacy while involving local organizations, groups and businesses.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Global Ties Kalamazoo team, CIP, IJAB, Experiment e.V. as well as Kori, Jerry and Louise, and all who made it possible for me to have an amazing experience in Kalamazoo. The welcoming environment and guidance from Global Ties Kalamazoo made a significant difference in my experience, allowing me to learn and grow both personally and professionally.