On June 12, after months of detailed planning, Meridian International Center unveiled its two-week International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for grassroots organizers from Eastern Europe. The visitors, nominated by the United States Mission to the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE), came to Meridian to facilitate two-way exchange and to learn more about grassroots advocacy in North America. Continue
Promoting global economic security has long been a foreign policy goal of the U.S. Department of State, and in recent years, this has manifested itself in an increasing number of exchange programs intended to promote entrepreneurship and small business development. Continue
IVLP Alumni Spotlight features U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni as they reflect on the impact of the program and how it has affected their work and lives. Here we feature one alumna who participated in a regional project examining entrepreneurship. The participant spent three weeks in the United States exploring the roles and work of public, private and non-governmental organizations, trade association and grassroots organizations in supporting and empowering women.
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Every day around 5pm, people start pouring through a small heavy door on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. Nearly hidden behind the long lines from the bars that surround it is the entrance to the Eritrean Civic and Cultural Center (ECCC). Among the DMV’s considerable Eritrean population, the ECCC has emerged as one of the foremost meeting places for the community. Continue
A few months ago I came back from lunch and noticed a new file sitting on my desk. Recognizing it as a new International Visitor Leadership Project (IVLP) assignment, I looked for the title and saw four letters: “IWOC”. Having no idea what that meant, I thought “Huh, strange.” Little did I know that I had been given the opportunity to work on one of the most inspiring public diplomacy programs that the State Department sponsors: The Secretary’s International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award. This annual two-week IVLP honors a visionary group of women for their respective work in advancing women’s rights all over the world. Continue
