Empowering Marathi Journalists for Impactful Reporting IVLP — A program for Indigenous journalists from India — will bring 6 leaders and two liaisons to Kalamazoo Nov. 13-19. Email info@globaltieskzoo.org if you’re interested in hosting this group in your home for a meal.

Women in STEM in the Quad IVLP brought leaders from the Indo-Pacific to Kalamazoo Nov. 7 - 13. The photo album for this program is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720321386956/with/54127349541/

Combating Trafficking in Persons IVLP brought our leaders from Thailand to Kalamazoo Nov. 5 - 9. Thanks so much to Nadine for hosting them for a meal in your home, and to their professional peers in our community who met with this great group. Photos from this program are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720321406824/

Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists – New and Traditional Broadcast Media IVLP brought leaders from around the world (and several accompanying liaisons) to Kalamazoo Nov. 3 - 6. Thanks so much to everyone who welcomed this incredible group into your workplace/school and home/neighborhood. The photo album for this program is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720321406699

The Haitian Youth Ambassadors brings 15 participants to Kalamazoo virtually Oct. 30 - Nov. 3. There are virtual hospitality opportunities for this online, French-speaking program.

Latin American Youth Ambassadors (LAYA) took place in Kalamazoo Oct. 26 - Nov. 5. Photos from this Spanish-speaking, home-hosted program are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720321406559/

Inclusive Education for Students with Disabilities IVLP brought 10 leaders from Greece with two liaisons and an accommodation assistant to Kalamazoo Oct 23-26. The photo album from this program is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720321386816/

Innovative Leadership in Higher Education and Workforce Development IVLP brought leaders from Asia to Kalamazoo Oct. 9-11. The photo album for this program is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720320837310/

Promoting Teaching and Learning in Diverse Classrooms IVLP brought leaders from Switzerland. to Kalamazoo Oct. 8 and 9. The photo album for this program is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720320837171/

Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists – New and Traditional Broadcast Media IVLP brought 22 leaders from 19 countries to Kalamazoo, along with 3 liaisons. The photo album from this program is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720320421172/

We hope you’ll join us in welcoming 4 social workers from Germany participating in the IJAB/CIP fellowship that’s our longest-running exchange program. This home-hosted group will be in Kalamazoo September 4 – October 30, and we’re still seeking hosts for the month of September! Email us at info@globaltieskzoo.org.

Developing University Partnerships: An IVLP Project for Togo was in Kalamazoo Aug. 15 - 21. See photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720319700164

We were thrilled to be welcome a cohort of 15 youth and 2 adult mentors for the 2024 IYLEP (Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program). Thanks so much to everyone who met with these terrific teens!

Social Entrepreneurship IVLP project for Egypt in Kalamazoo July 16-20. See the photo album from this program at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720319109279

Minority Participation in the Democratic Process — An IVLP project for the Western Hemisphere (including Columbia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Chile, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Peru). 11 leaders (and 3 liaisons) in Kalamazoo July 5 - 10. The photo album for this program is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720319094821

Women Leaders Promoting Peace and Security IVLP - 10 leaders from Africa with three liaisons. In Kalamazoo June 20-25. View the photo album from this program at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720318187432/ .

Fostering Civic Engagement and Political Participation of Minority Communities in the U.S. - An IVLP Project for the Republic of Kosovo in Kalamazoo June 16-19. Visit the photo album for this program at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720318194641/.

Education in the Digital Age IVLP - 5 leaders from the Kyrgyz Republic with liaisons. In Kalamazoo May 18-23 . Visit the Flickr photo album for this program at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720317169600

Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists – New and Traditional Broadcast Media IVLP - 11 leaders from across Latin America with three liaisons. In Kalamazoo May 15 - 21. Visit the program Flickr photo album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720317042574

U.S.- Jordan Leadership Exchange Program (UJLEP) - 12 fellows in Business and Entrepreneurship, Public Health, DEIA, Civil Society, Civic Participation, Women’s Empowerment, and Community Engagement participated in four-week fellowships with local organizations in Kalamazoo. View the Flickr photo album from this program at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720316920340/

Combating Trafficking in Persons IVLP - Leaders from Madagascar and Comoros In Kalamazoo May 9 - 14 with home hospitality. Visit the photo album from this program at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720316834735

Bridging the Gender Divide through Inclusion of Women Entrepreneurs in Gaming, Tech, and Freelancing IVLP: 10 leaders from Pakistan with 3 liaisons. In Kalamazoo April 25 - May 1. Photo album for this program is at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720316784035/

Promoting Service Learning and Career Counselling in Education IVLP - 5 leaders from Georgia in Kalamazoo April 24 - 27. See photos of this group’s time in our region at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720316465582

Seven leaders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Poland, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda joined WMU’s School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability's public forum focused on the status of coastal dunes of West and Southwest Michigan at WMU's Fetzer Center their first evening in Kalamazoo, and met with Public Media Network, WMUK, NowKalamazoo, Southwest Michigan's Second Wave / On The Ground Battle Creek, Loy Norrix High School's Knight Life student newspaper and We Talk at WMU. They also enjoyed a meal in the home of a Global Ties Kalamazoo volunteer (thank you, Noreen!). Visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720316147746/ for photos of their time in Kalamazoo.

12 entrepreneurs from all across the Americas (Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, Suriname and more) were in Kalamazoo March 7 - April 7, 2024. These rock star entrepreneurs are participated in a job-shadow / fellowship Mondays - Thursdays, and we are thankful to have 12 amazing local organizations who participated as Fellowship Placement Organization (FPO) partners. View some of their many adventures in our community at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720315232178 and email info@globaltieskzoo.org if your business or organization is interested in partnering with us for fellowship placement for future programs.

See photos from this IVLP program (Supporting Integration and Human Rights of Displaced Persons - Armenia) at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720314834718

Nine leaders from Gabon visited Kalamazoo for an IVLP project on the theme of Empowering Local Journalists for Impactful Reporting. Flickr photo album for this program is at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720314509273

Pictured here are participants in Global Ties Kalamazoo’s second annual participation in the Young Ambassadors from Brazil program in January 2024.

In mid-March 2023, Kalamazoo welcomed a group of Lithuanian leaders for a week-long exchange program focused on civic activism. The photo album commemorating this incredible program is at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cikalamazoo/albums/72177720306976768/