Exploring our shared humanity is what we do
Here in our corner of the world, we are entering the season of giving thanks and spending time with loved ones. We are deeply thankful that what we get to be part of every day - what sits at the core of what we do - is exploring our shared humanity.
We bring people from all over our own communities and communities around the world together to learn from one another, share with one another and, most importantly, see each other’s humanity in the myriad things that make us so very different and so very similar.
As we close out 2023, we invite everyone to be intentional about seeing our shared humanity and struggles. This can be the very best way to connect with our own humanity and face the grave challenges the world presents us with as we approach the quarter century mark.
In this newsletter, we thank all of the beautiful people who opened their minds and homes to guests from around the world to Kalamazoo in recent weeks; we thank the people who came to visit and enrich us with their presence and ideas; and we give thanks that the core of what we do here at Global Ties Kalamazoo is to celebrate the rich human difference that connects and strengthens us to collaborate to build a better future for all.
Given the turmoil in our world, the experience of exchange is so needed right now. We deeply believe in the power of person-to-person exchanges and citizen diplomacy as world peace work, and we are incredibly grateful to those who open their hearts and homes to connect with our international guests, often creating life-long friendships.
We’ve been diving deep into our shared humanity, with 106 people coming into our community from 35 countries across a wide array of programs, including seven IVLP groups, one LAYA delegation and four long-term youth work exchange participants - all in the month of October.
We’re so grateful to the more than 300 local people in Kalamazoo who connected personally and professionally with all of these amazing humans from across the globe, and most especially to the twenty overnight host families that welcomed the LAYA (Latin American Youth Ambassadors) and IJAB / CIPUSA (International Youth Service Germany / Council of International Programs USA) participants.
We begin by thanking all of our incredible October overnight host families (many of whom are pictured above):
Sue Beadling
Ted Hogarth and Shannon Huneryager
Sarah Field
Traci Furman
Rochelle Rojas and Matthew Neilsen
Mike and Yolanda Quinn
Ramona and Karl Lewis
Sorina Dodu and Andrew Koehler
Liz and Brandon Youker
Beth and Josh Keller
Lili Franz and Paul Boldt
Jennifer Bonner and Keith Simpson
Eric and Maggie Zahrai
Sarah Pratt
Tom Kostrzewą and Jean Ogilvie
Phil Johnson and Mary Baggerman
Rachel and Dan Bair
Marci Ellis
Leeanne Seaver
And their entire families and networks of friends!!!
We would also like to shout out the wonderful fellowship placement organizations for our visiting German social workers, who provided two-month placements to our guests. Thank you to MDHHS – Child Protection, Tri-County Head Start, KC Ready 4s, FC Source, and, at the family court, both CASA and Juvenile Probation. Pictured below are visiting German social workers, GTKzoo staff and IJAB leadership that joined us from Germany for a lovely afternoon.
Latin American Youth Ambassadors build lifelong bonds to Kalamazoo
As mentioned above, our community welcomed a large, and deeply engaging group of youth ambassador guests – 20 amazing teens and adult mentors participating in the Latin American Youth Ambassadors: Environment and Entrepreneurship focused program, in partnership with Youth Ambassadors, Georgetown University, and the U.S. Department of State.
Sharing this season – from the beauty of the leaves changing colors to a the first snow of the year – and enjoying fall festivities ranging from hiking to trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving with these incredible young leaders was such a joy for us and the many amazing folks who welcomed this group into their homes. We were thrilled to see them connect so meaningfully with the many Kalamazoo people and organizations who met with them.
Here below is but a partial list:
Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College
Office for Sustainability at Western Michigan University (WMU)
LGBT Office at WMU
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at WMU, Dr. Candy McCorkle
Lee Honors College at WMU Dean Dr. Irma Lopez
Department of Spanish at WMU Professor Patricia Montilla
Department of Fine Arts at WMU Professor Patricia Villalobos Echevarria
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Public Media Network
Can Do Kalamazoo
Open Roads Bike
City of Portage, City Manager Patrick McGinnis and then City Counselor Mike Quinn
Food Innovation Center and Food Hub at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
El Concilio
Air Zoo
Glass Arts Kalamazoo
Alison Martin, WMU Student Association Director of Sustainability, and VP Students for a Sustainable Earth
Sabor de El Sol at El Sol Elementary School
Asylum Lake Preserve
Below, one of the participants – Edvin from Guatemala – shares in his words, in his own language, about how he was impacted by the service activity at Open Roads Bike:
Here's the English Translation: “My favorite moment of this experience was when we visited Open Roads, which is an organization that helps young people with their bicycles. For example: If a young person has a problem with their bicycle they can repair it for free. Not only that but while repairing the bike, they teach young people how to fix the bicycles and additionally they sell bicycles that they have repaired at a very affordable price. It is a very nice organization and its objectives of wanting to help young people and make a better world is something beautiful.”
Kalamazoo hosts so many fabulous IVLP groups in October - including a program opening and federalism briefing
Among the seven International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) groups in October, we hosted our first Kalamazoo program opening and federalism briefing for a group of leaders from Japan participating in a project on Promoting Diversity in Workplaces and Leadership. The group was joined by Elizabeth Barry, from the U.S. Department of State. WMU’s Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Candy McCorkle, offered the group deep insights on DEIA implications of the federalist system at the national, state, and local levels during her federalism briefing.
Visitors from 30 countries participate in IVLP programs in Kalamazoo in October
IVLP programs Kalamazoo welcomed in October included 91 guests and liaisons from 30 countries across a wide range of professions from journalism, to DEIA, to women in manufacturing, to public health. Many of the wonderful participants in these programs are pictured below.
Thanks to the dozens of local businesses and organizations who engaged in collective problem solving with these incredible leaders (an incomplete list):
*Kalamazoo County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney (Jeff Getting)
*Confections with Convictions
*Vine Neighborhood Association Community Cares
*Kalamazoo Defender
*Group Violence Intervention at Urban Alliance
*Kalamazoo YWCA
*Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
*Plainwell High School
*Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
*El Concilio
*Orchestra Rouh and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
*Samaritas
*Flowserve Corporation
*KVCC Groves Center
*Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA)’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) Center
*WMUK 102.1 FM
*We Talk @WMU
*Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s Wonder Media Exhibit
*Public Media Network
*Second Wave Media
*NowKalamazoo
*OnePlace at the Kalamazoo Public Library
*City of Kalamazoo DEI Department
*KVCC Groves Center
*WMU Nonprofit Leadership Program in SPAA
*KYDnet
*Room 35 / Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition (KNAC)
*City of Kalamazoo Community Planning & Economic Development Dept - Shared Prosperity
*Kalamazoo Promise
A deep thank you as well to the dinner hospitality hosts that broke bread with so many of these visiting leaders: Karen Libman and Mitch Kachun; Tom Kostrzewa and Jean Ogilvie; Chris and Martha Kaiser; Judy and Ed Huth; Jodi Michaels and Natalio Ohanna; and Matt Gross.
Hosting opportunities in the new year
We will have ample opportunities to welcome IVLP guests for dinner in your home in 2024. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities and sign up at www.globaltieskzoo.org/volunteer.
We could not do what we do without constantly growing our exchange community here in Kalamazoo, and without our amazing team here in the office. A wholehearted thank you to team members Emma Baratta, our Program Manager, and Beth Clark, our Social Media and Storytelling Specialist.
If ensuring that #ExchangeIsForEverybody matters to you, we invite you to consider supporting our work. Click the button below to donate, or text GTKZOO to 44321.
If you'd like to get involved in our Giving Tuesday fundraising efforts or have any stories you'd like you share about your wonderful experiences hosting international guests, please shoot an email to our Social Media and Storytelling Specialist Beth Clark at beth@globaltieskzoo.org, and/or help spread the word by sharing our posts with your friends, family, and colleagues on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The links for our social media handles are below the Support Our Work button at the bottom of this email.
Thank you for your support,
Jodi Hope Michaels and the Global Ties Kalamazoo Team
*This blog post was originally sent as an email newsletter Nov. 21, 2023
