Here in these uncertain times, we look back with immense gratitude for all we accomplished together in 2024. We hosted nearly 400 visitors from 88 countries (highlighted in map above), in more than 35 cultural exchange programs, engaging hundreds of local volunteers in meaningful cross-cultural experiences. Hoping for more in 2025. Call to action included in blog…

Ameth Rodríguez (Panama), participante de LAYA en el otoño de 2024, comparte su experiencia en Kalamazoo - blog invitado

LAYA 2024 participant Ameth Rodriguez, from Panama, shares recollections from his time in Kalamazoo in this guest blog.

German Fellow Alberta Brown reflects on her eight-week field placement at Global Ties Kalamazoo and her time spent in our community in the fall of 2024.

Our world is a beautiful, maddening place. Enriching local community with global diversity, one relationship at a time, is not easy but it is what we do at Global Ties Kalamazoo, every day, and it can be so very rewarding for all involved. Today is Giving Tuesday. We would love to count on your support - this is a financial ask - but more than anything, we would love for you to get involved! 

YLAI 2024 Outbound Exchange Award recipient Traci Furman shares highlights from her experiences as Fellowship Placement Organization host.

We say it often and we'll say it again. What we do is explore our shared humanity together. From long-term social work placements, to short-term IVLP visits, to everything in between, we create opportunities for people in Kalamazoo to engage with the world (23 countries and counting so far this fall). Read about board member Deborah's experience in New Orleans, Alberta from Germany's placement in our organization, and new intern Sofia's thoughts on her first few weeks with us.

CIP/IJAB Fellow Alberta Brown, who is in Kalamazoo this fall for an eight-week field placement at Global Ties Kalamazoo, shares her impressions of her first four weeks in Kalamazoo.