Arts and Culture Advocacy: The Unsung Heroes of American Society

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Photo Credit: Zalfa Imani

Whether it’s a podcast you listen to on your commute or your book club’s latest pick, we consume arts and culture daily through various mediums. As we adapt to a post-pandemic world, the arts and culture are in a new renaissance. Despite the devastating losses in the field over the last 18 months, artists and creators around the world showed their resilience and innovation, leading to new ways of engaging with the arts and using their creativity to design solutions to challenges brought on by COVID-19. The arts and culture have been a cornerstone for our global society’s sanity...

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Legacy of and Future for Black Professionals in Diplomacy

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IVLP Black Leaders & Voices Participants meet with a representative from NAACP.

Candies Kotchapaw is the Founder & Executive Director of Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today (DYLOTT), a black youth-focused leadership incubator organization changing the socio-economic outlook for this marginalized community. In 2021, she participated in an IVLP project on Black Leaders & Voices. She offered the following reflections on her exchange experience. How did your virtual IVLP experience impact you? Were there any particular resources that inspired you, changed your perspective, or sparked new ideas in how to approach your work? The virtual IVLP experience was incredibly valuable in further aligning and clarifying the trajectory of my professional career....

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Pakistani Young Influencer reflects on her IVLP and Pride

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Aradhiya (2nd from right) and other Pakistani Young Influencers at the U.S. State Department with Program Officer Carlos Aranaga

In the Fall of 2019, Ms. Aradhiya Khan participated in an IVLP project with a group from Pakistan focused on Young Influencers. At the time, she worked with the Akhuwat Foundation promoting the social and economic inclusion of the transgender community. In addition, Ms. Khan has actively pursued legislation on a transgender protection bill in the Sindh Provincial Assembly. Below, she reflects on her IVLP experience and Pride.  What is an accomplishment you would like to highlight from your IVLP experience?   As part of the 2019 Young Influencers IVLP project, I attended various interesting meetings, discussions, and field visits during the three-week program. After...

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Australian IVLP Alum Reflects on Marriage, Equality, and Pride

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In June 2015, Anna Brown participated in an IVLP project on Preventing and Responding to Bias-Motivated Violence Against the LGBTI Community. At the time, Anna was the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Litigation for the Human Rights Law Centre. She currently serves as the CEO for Equality Australia. She offered the following reflections on her exchange experience and the impact of Pride Month. What have you been doing since your IVLP experience? I have a vivid memory of the plane ride home from the U.S. after my IVLP trip because when I landed on Australian soil I found out...

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