Blog
One Issue, Two Communities: Who Gets to Be Young?
Where does youth begin, where does it end, and who gets to draw the line?
In the first of a 2-part series, Hussain Khalid, who recently visited Kalamazoo with the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) program shares about how youth exists as a concept (and not) in Iraqi culture.
You Don't Have to Be a Good Cook: What Two Kalamazoo Hosts Want First-Timers to Know
Picture a backyard fire in Kalamazoo. Around it sit visiting government officials from Kyrgyzstan, learning to roast s'mores and burning plenty of marshmallows. It happens to be their Independence Day, so as the evening goes on, they stand and sing their national anthem.
Nights like that rarely start with a perfect menu or a spotless house. Instead, they typically start with someone who was a little nervous and said yes anyway. If that's you, two longtime hosts want to talk you through the worries that come up most.
Internship Reflections from Sonya Koenig
“[Kalamazoo] is filled with incredible people doing incredible and inspiring work. Before this internship experience, I saw many of my friends leaving the area and felt there was not much for me in terms of employment or fun activities. I did not see myself living in the area long term. However, this past summer has given me a new perspective on Kalamazoo and the opportunities that exist within the community.”
The 2026 Iraqi Young Leaders in Their Own Words
"Hello everyone. My name is Zainal. I'm 17 years old. I'm [IYLEP] 2025, 2026."
"Hello, y'all. My name is Yahya. I'm 17 … I'm from Iraq, Kirkuk."
"Hi guys, my name is Amna. I'm 16 years old. I'm from Baghdad, Iraq."
Professional Exchange That Lasts: Why Hosting an International Peer is Good for Your Organization
Professional partners have the opportunity meet directly with international community leaders, nonprofit executives, entrepreneurs, educators, and public officials when they host visiting fellows and delegations through Global Ties Kalamazoo programming.
Host Families Needed: Welcome 20 Iraqi Teens to Kalamazoo
Global Ties Kalamazoo is urgently seeking home and family hosts for 20 Iraqi high school students visiting this summer through the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP), July 15-28.
Setting the Table for Citizen Diplomacy
The easiest way to get involved with Global Ties Kalamazoo is through dinner diplomacy, hosting a group of international visitors for a meal in your home. Get tips, reassurance, and a vision of what to expect from 3 local hosts in this blog.
Locals, like Paul, are the heart of cultural exchange in Kalamazoo
Many of Paul’s strongest memories started with simple questions in the car. Visitors ask about Kalamazoo; he asks about home. Someone notices a cemetery or a mural, and suddenly they are comparing customs, joking together, or talking about family.
Why visit Kalamazoo?
Human and Civil Rights • Youth Empowerment • Transboundary Water Issues • American Pluralism • Renewable Energy • Disinformation in Media • Transparency & Accountability in Government • Women in Entrepreneurship • Engagement in the Arts • Higher Education and Study Abroad • Social Services
Land Acknowledgement
At Global Ties Kalamazoo, we live and work on the land of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. The city name Kalamazoo is anglicized from various indigenous references to its namesake river, and is located in southwestern Michigan—the Michigamme, “the place where food grows on water,” a reference to the abundant wild rice in our state. Indigenous nations of the Great Lakes region are also known as the Anishinaabe (original people) and their language is Anishinaabemowin.