IVLP Regional Project for Europe (Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany (3), Italy, Malta (2), Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia (3), Spain (2), Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom) with World Learning. Meeting with Uplift Kalamazoo on Black Lives Matter February 5, Home Hospitality February 6.

This virtual project will expose participants to current political, economic, and social issues at the federal, state, and local levels in the United States and the historic and constitutional basis of U.S. policies.  Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the pluralistic nature of the United States through exposure to all levels of the political system and to key social and economic issues, such as environmental sustainability, energy, ethnic and gender equality and rights, education, regional economic challenges, social welfare, health care, immigration, and security.  Participants will also explore the role and impact of various actors and influences on U.S. foreign and domestic policy formation such as government bodies, NGOs, academia, and the media.