Just as the snow decided to arrive we hosted our last group for this calendar year! Members of the Finance Committee of the Legislature of Kwazulu-Natal, the primary legislative body of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, came to explore U.S. best practices in government oversight at all levels. Discussion focused on exploring methods for building the capacity of municipal and state government finance, budget and oversight committees, U.S. initiatives and programs to support small businesses, entrepreneurship, and economic development at the state level, and methods for combating corruption in order to improve the quality and delivery of public services.

These visitors from India came to learn about how to build capacity in early-warning systems of combating global pandemics and to strengthen networks between U.S. and Indian public health security specialists. The goal was for them to observe how the U.S. system attempts to emphasize a collaborative, multi-sectoral, and multi-disciplinary approach by recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environments. The Health Department, Cares Sexual Wellness Center and the Western Michigan University Wmed Innovation Center provided opportunities in Kalamazoo.

Six incredible women from Romania, all working with Ukrainian refugees and vulnerable members of their communities, came to Kalamazoo and were hosted in the homes of community members during their stay. Their packed schedule included meetings with: KYDNet, Wessam Abdelaziz, head of the Newcomers Program at Kalamazoo Public Schools, Loaves and Fishes of Kalamazoo, State Representative Julie Rogers, the Portage Zhang Senior Center, Read and Write Kalamazoo, Girls on the Run and many others. Thank you to our home hosts and everyone in the community who came together to make this possible!

This group from India came to learn about different entrepreneurship and technology commercialization models for the healthcare industry in the United States. The key goal was to understand ways to successfully transfer scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs to patients and the market. Meetings with Stryker, the Western Michigan University Wmed Innovation Center, and Global Clinical Connections created many opportunities for our guests.

These seven visitors from Burkina Faso met with Confections with Convictions, KYDNet, Girls on the Run, the Merze Tate Explorers and had a facilitated planning session hosted by Jacob Pinney-Johnson to help them bring what they learned home. The focus of this groups’ visit was to explore best practices in fostering alliances, leadership development, strategic planning, business innovation, advocacy, capitalizing on technology and social media, public outreach, and engaging volunteer networks.

Another program for Pakistanis! We hosted this group to explore the vital role of the nonprofit sector in the U.S. and the relationship between nonprofits, for-profit corporations, the government, and the community. We hoped to give visitors tools and networking opportunities to help bring their communities together and overcome the social challenges facing their communities. A big thank you to our community members who hosted our guests for dinner in their homes!

These visitors came from very different professional backgrounds to form this group. They arrived in Kalamazoo ready to explore how young leaders in the U.S. strengthen their circle of influence and become active members of their communities and make responsible decisions for themselves and their communities. They discussed effective grassroots methods of influencing public policy and the skills required to be effective young leaders.  In particular, this project will emphasize digital citizenship and social media mobilization for political and social causes. Thank you to Young Kings and Queens, Mothers of Hope, KYDNet, and ISAAC for hosting such valuable meetings for this group. 

Visitors from Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia came to the US to explore the United States parks system to examine the management of protected areas. Focusing on the balance of conservation versus public access and visitor safety, the in-person project will support the sharing of best practices on sustainable tourism.

Christa and Asghar joined us for almost a month in September! Both were home hosted and had a chance to stay with a couple different families while visiting. Unlike other groups, these two were given placements, where they spent the bulk of their free time. Christa was hosted through the Healthy Babies, Healthy Start program at the Kalamazoo Health Department, as well as by the Great Start Collaborative through KRESA. Asghar worked closely with Bethany Christian Services with a focus on working with young, unaccompanied refugees.

Visitors from Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Mali, Comoros, Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Zambia, Burundi, Haiti, and Niger spent time this summer in Kalamazoo exploring best practices in fostering alliances, leadership development, strategic planning, advocacy, capitalizing on technology and social media, public outreach, and engaging volunteer networks.

In August Jodi Michaels traveled to Singapore to meet with our Community Solutions Programme Fellow Miruna Ranjan’s team. This work has been planned for years with the goal of eventually having a shared experience of exchange between Miruna’s team in Singapore and our community partners in Kalamazoo. In October, Miruna came to Kalamazoo to learn about the value of exchange programs for those who serve youth and to continue to build relationships and commitments to the next phase of this work. Work continues, virtually in 2023.

Three English language educators from Palestine joined us to learn about  trends and curricula in English language education in the United States. Kalamazoo Public Schools, Plainwell Public Schools and Western Michigan University all came together to provide an experience our visitors wouldn’t forget.

A group from Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria joined us for just a couple of days, and then headed over to our partners in Detroit. While in Kalamazoo the group met with Public Media Network and Second Wave Media to explore best practices in journalism.

Four visitors from the Philippines, Germany, Kosovo, and Slovakia visited Kalamazoo to learn more about the three pillars of the Summit: 1) strengthening democracy; 2) advancing respect for human rights around the world; and 3) fighting global corruption. Our visitors met with the Mayor, folks running Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo, officials at the water treatment plan and representatives of the Kalamazoo Promise.

A group of Iraqi Youth joined us for two and a half weeks this summer to learn about climate change, design their own projects to implement when they returned home and to learn about how to organize groups of their peers to participate in their projects. These teenagers were kept very busy! A huge thank you to everyone who helped create the experience of a lifetime for these young leaders.

Visitors from Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Chad, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait and Lebanon traveled to Kalamazoo to learn from the YWCA, Kalamazoo Defender's office, Mother of Hope and Women at Risk about strategies to prevent and confront Domestic Abuse and Violence. 

Visitors from Cote d’Ivoire, Romania, Ghana, Ecuador, Israel, Seychelles, Cambodia, Mauritius, Taiwan and Nigeria traveled to Kalamazoo to meet with local Climate Change activists to expand their understanding of methods for raising awareness about climate change, effective partnerships and promotion of public engagement in environmental conservation.

Suvi and Paco joined us in Kalamazoo for almost a full month spending time meeting Disability Network of Southwest Michigan, attending classes at WMU’s School of Social Work, KCReady4s, the YWCA, Men of Purpose, OnePlace, The People’s Food Co-op, and many others. A big thank you to our home hosts who welcomed Suvi and Paco into their homes to stay for their visit.

Even with the chilly weather, our guests from Tajikistan were able to explore Traverse City, Sleep Bear Dunes and learn about strategies to leverage the natural beauty of Tajikistan for adventure tourism.