Current Programs

Early in July, we are excited to be participating in a program we have hosted since its inception (Hosting one of the very first IYLEP High School Arabic cohorts in 2017). We will welcome close to 30 Iraqi teenagers and adult mentors as part of the World Learning administered IYLEP High School Arabic. This four-week program builds upon the concurrent success of its older (and still going strong) English-only counterpart founded in 2007 by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

The United States has a rather unique tradition of volunteering, whether to alleviate hunger, promote environmental causes, offer job training and mentorship, or support at-risk populations such as children, new immigrants, people with disabilities, and the elderly. This project’s goal is to improve democratic traditions by highlighting civic activity through volunteerism.

This Virtual Salon Series for up to 250 IVLP alumni over the course of four weeks will focus on how both private and public sector entities can work together to engage and inform youth on ways to further civic and political participation by emphasizing the importance of pluralism, tolerance and volunteerism as components of civic life in the United States.

60-80 Alumni from various IVLP projects on environmental and sustainable development will be invited to a series of meetings and workshops to discuss policy prescriptions and practical strategies for addressing climate disruptions, including infrastructure needs, energy innovations, employment dislocations, food and water security, natural disaster management, and environmental justice issues. The project will feature brainstorming and action planning sessions to discuss future cooperation.

We are fortunate to have Dr. Denise Keele of the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition and WMU’s Climate Change Working Group. She will deliver the opening keynote address on the challenges and opportunities she’s seen in Kalamazoo working to address climate change via collective action and activism.

This project will also provide us the opportunity to conduct a Citizen Exchange Circle. We are also working with Kalamazoo Earth Week to develop meaningful and impactful ways to engage locals and visitors alike.