From Behind The Desk To Changing Lives

Studying abroad is an adventure, and like all adventures, it has critical moments. As I undertook the journey I felt excited but also unsure of what to expect. My adventure began a little more than four months ago when I arrived in Washington, DC, with two suitcases, a study plan, a desire to find an internship and a fixed objective of widening my personal, cultural and professional perspectives. While pursuing my Bachelor’s in International Relations in La Universidad De Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, I grew increasingly motivated to deepen my knowledge through work experience, and to become a...

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YLAI Professional Fellows Pilot – My Series Finale Moments

Meridian is excited to implement the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Professional Fellows Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. In fall 2016, 250 new YLAI Professional Fellows from Latin America and the Caribbean will expand their leadership and entrepreneurial experience through fellowships at NGOs and businesses across the U.S. Visit YLAI.state.gov for more information and to begin your application! Stay up-to-date on #YLAI at: www.twitter.com/YLAINetwork www.facebook.com/YLAINetwork   There is usually a moment during the series finale of a long-running television show when there is a montage of scenes from prior episodes or when the camera focuses...

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“America 101” to Genetically Modified Foods Seminars: Evolutions in International Exchange Trends

On Feb. 18th, Meridian International Center said goodbye to Senior Program Officer Paula Manganelli, who has over 30 years’ experience scheduling international exchange groups. During the send-off, I spoke to a host of other Meridian veterans about their programming experiences and changes in international exchange trends. Former Program Officer and Foreign Service Officer Dick Christensen attributes Meridian’s success in international exchange in part to its illustrious history. Meridian sits on a majestic lot on Crescent Place NW, just off of the 16th St. NW stretch in front of Meridian Hill Park, what was the geographic meridian of Washington, DC...

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Visitors from Japan will explore U.S. trends in energy and environmental regulations

Welcome 2016 participants

Kazutaka Nakagawa and Mitsuo Nagai will begin their year-long Global Government-to-Government Partnership (G3P) this month. Following an introductory tour of U.S. economic revitalization efforts in Greensboro, NC, Cincinnati, OH and Portland, OR, the two participants will immerse themselves in English-language training. These initial activities prepare them for individualized research projects, which are the capstone of the program.

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Digital Media in the U.S. & Australia: IVLP Alumna Shares Key Takeaways from Exchange

This article is reposted from the Australian Broadcast Corporation’s (ABC) Back Story blog. Erin Vincent is the Executive Producer for ABC’s News Breakfast program. She participated in an International Visitor Leadership Program that I organized in the summer of 2015. Erin Vincent was selected to participate in the U.S. State Department professional exchange program, the International Visitor Leadership Program, ‘Broadcast Journalism: New and Traditional Media’. 22 journalists from all over the world travelled through Washington, Syracuse, Portland and Chicago to hear from U.S. media professionals and tour media outlets to gain a deeper understanding of the history, practices and...

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