Celebrating 6 years with Jodi
We are celebrating Jodi Michaels’ six-year anniversary at Global Ties Kalamazoo this month as the organization begins to plan its return to hosting in-person international leadership exchanges and continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Summer 2016 IVLP change makers at Confections with Convictions
Jodi joined the organization in 2016 following nearly two decades in international community development work with a focus on human rights and social justice. Her previous experience includes working as director of communications for an international network of local community organizations, and as community organizer for a theatre redevelopment project. Hailing from Canada, Jodi first came to the U.S. as an international student at Stanford University. She has visited some 20 countries, both through her work and general interest in cultural immersion and exchange.
The last photo from our last pre-pandemic meeting (March 2020), with women entrepreneurs from Russia and Tirrea Billings
In addition to her extensive responsibilities as Executive Director of Global Ties Kalamazoo, Jodi also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Ties Network DEI Working Group; is a member of the Michigan Advisory Committee of USGLC (U.S. Global Leadership Coalition); President of PEAK (Professional Executive Association of Kalamazoo); Board Member of PWA (Progressive Women’s Alliance of West Michigan); and member of the Advisory Council of the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Western Michigan University.
We’re looking back at the incredible growth Global Ties Kalamazoo (formerly Colleagues International) has experienced under her leadership during these last six years - more than doubling in-person visitors from 2016 (170 visitors) to 2019 (381 visitors), hosting 679 virtual visitors across 2020 and 2021, and serving as fiduciary sponsor for the volunteer-run Feed the Fight Kalamazoo effort, which raised over $100,000 in just over a year and delivered over 10,000 meals to local frontline workers and healthcare heroes.
This composite image shows Feed the Fight Kalamazoo organizers, from left, Adam Strong-Morse, Jodi Michaels and Sally Hadden. To maintain social distancing, each individual was shot separately and a composite of those photos was created by photographer Brian K. Powers. (May 2020, June 1 edition of Encore Magazine)
We chatted with board members, peers within the Global Ties network, and her fellow Feed the Fight Kalamazoo co-founders about Jodi, and they had some incredible things to say. Here are some highlights:
“Jodi has made an extraordinary contribution not just to Global Ties Kalamazoo but to the entire Global Ties Network. She is a true leader who shows up for her peers nationwide, taking on the toughest problems to constantly improve our shared field. She does so with both brilliance and compassion and we all feel so lucky to be able to work with her at Global Ties U.S.”
- Katherine Brown, President & CEO, Global Ties U.S.
"Before joining the Board, I volunteered as an event host for visiting groups, and Jodi immediately impressed me with her preparedness, professionalism and her calm leadership. She has a vision, a plan and a heart. It is a privilege to work with Jodi Michaels."
- Kevin Wordelman, Owner, Wordelman Paintings LLC, and Global Ties Kalamazoo Board Treasurer
“Jodi is a powerhouse who connects locals with people around the globe.”
- Daniela Schröter, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs, School of Public Affairs and Administration at WMU, and Global Ties Kalamazoo Board Member
“There’s a special kind of organizational momentum that builds when the right leader is in the right seat at the right time. That leader is Jodi. Jodi’s incredible energy, experience and creativity are carrying Global Ties Kalamazoo into an exciting new era. She lives the mission through and through and brings people along as she does. Hats off, Jodi, on six wonderful years. Here’s to six more!”
- Sarah Mansberger, Kalamazoo RESA Workforce + Community Initiatives Executive Director and Global Ties Kalamazoo Board Member
“Jodi is an extraordinary person and professional. She's so resourceful, she knows everybody everywhere and she is so incredibly good at connecting Global Ties Kalamazoo with people and organizations locally, nationally, and globally. We are so very lucky to have her as the Director of Global Ties Kalamazoo!”
- Anna Popkova, Ph.D, Associate Professor, WMU School of Communication and Global Ties Kalamazoo Board Vice President
“Jodi’s simply the best person in the world to lead our organization through these most trying times.”
- Thomas Kostrzewa, Ph.D, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at WMU, and Global Ties Kalamazoo Board President
“Jodi’s capacity to build the connections necessary to turn a great idea into an incredible reality are unrivaled. It was an honor to work alongside her in the Feed the Fight Kalamazoo effort and I’m thrilled to be collaborating again in the citizen diplomacy realm at Global Ties Kalamazoo. She is the living embodiment of the concept ‘plays well with others,’ both locally and around the globe.”
- Beth Clark, Global Ties Kalamazoo Program and Storytelling Specialist
“I am deeply grateful for Jodi’s openness to share, include, introduce and mentor me, all while oceans and miles and time zones apart. Jodi has generously welcomed me (and my culture) and been so willing to hear my ideas to collaborate and exchange internationally. Her heart and passion for exchange between people of different cultures is clearly evident to me in the gatherings and conversations that we’ve had these past few months. I have been deeply moved by this learning adventure with Jodi and look forward so very much to the months (and hopefully years!) of collaborating.”
- Miruna Ranjan, SportCares Team Lead at Sport Singapore, and Global Ties Kalamazoo Community Solutions Program (IREX) Fellow
“By linking people in Kalamazoo to folks around the world, Global Ties is performing an incredibly valuable service. It is extremely fortunate to have Jodi Michaels at the helm, steering the group through well-established channels while also extending the reach of the organization, grasping additional opportunities for the future. You've enriched so many lives already. Thank you and congratulations on your 6-year anniversary, Jodi.”
- Sally Hadden, Ph.D, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of History at WMU, and Feed the Fight Kalamazoo Co-Founder
2017 Kalamazoo airport departure, home hosts with Open World delegates
