On a warm July evening, Harvey’s on the Mall buzzed with toasts, conversations, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. For a few hours, the downtown Kalamazoo bar became more than a pub-grub—it became a hub of international friendship, shared stories, and what we at Global Ties Kalamazoo call dinner diplomacy.

Our Celebration of Dinner Diplomacy, held July 14, brought together longtime volunteers, board members, community members, and an inspiring delegation of 16 women entrepreneurs from across Latin America. The event was made possible in part by a Dinner Diplomacy stipend from Marriott International and Global Ties U.S. These leaders joined us as part of the WE Americas: Supporting Women Entrepreneurs IVLP Project, coming from from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay.

What Is Dinner Diplomacy?

“The idea behind dinner diplomacy is simple but profound: the power of a shared meal can break down barriers, build trust, and remind us of our shared humanity.”

The idea behind dinner diplomacy is simple but profound: the power of a shared meal can break down barriers, build trust, and remind us of our shared humanity. Sitting at a dinner table, whether it’s at a restaurant downtown or someone’s kitchen table, creates a setting where authentic conversations happen, ideas are shared, and stereotypes are broken.

This event gave us the chance to celebrate our seasoned hosts - the families and individuals who have welcomed visitors from around the world into their homes. Their commitment has given thousands of international guests a personal experience of Kalamazoo and shown that our community truly believes that Exchange is for Everybody. The event was also a way to recruit locals thinking about or new to hosting to show them how easy and meaningful it can be to be a dinner diplomat in Kalamazoo.

The stories shared by our board members during the evening illustrated just how life-changing dinner diplomacy can be for both hosts and guests. Like our board member Christy Chambers (pictured far right, along with Board President Thomas Kostrzewa), who became emotional as she talked about how transformative hosting has been for her son Ethan and for her as a parent (she also talks about it in our social media post).

Highlighting Our Shared Humanity

In today’s world, citizen diplomacy (read citizen as “citizen of the world”) is growing more challenging, and vital to keeping us connected and engaged with one another while we build the future we want to have. Global challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming or distant, but hosting dinner for international leaders reminds us that solutions often start with human connection. Our peers abroad face many of the same challenges we do, from growing businesses to strengthening communities, and their perspectives enrich our own understanding of what’s possible.

Our evening at Harvey’s on the Mall also carried a bittersweet note. As many in Kalamazoo know, Harvey’s will be closing its doors this September after decades of serving as a beloved gathering spot downtown. We are grateful to Harvey’s for hosting this special event, giving us one final memory of their warm hospitality.

As Harvey’s closes, we’re reminded that the spaces we gather in matter—but more importantly, it’s the people at the table who bring those spaces to life. Whether at a restaurant, a coffee shop, or your own dining room, every table has the potential to become a place of diplomacy and meaning.

Get Involved

Global Ties Kalamazoo is people-powered, and your help keeps the spirit of dinner diplomacy alive. Here are three simple ways you can join us:

Volunteer as a host. Open your home for a meal or two when international visitors come to Kalamazoo. You don’t need a big dining room or a fancy menu, just a willingness to share your table and your story.
Donate to support exchange. Our ability to connect Kalamazoo to the world depends on the generosity of our community. Consider becoming a monthly sustainer or making a one-time gift to help us continue building these life-changing connections.
Stay engaged. Follow us on social media, attend our events, and spread the word about the power of exchange. The more voices we have sharing this message, the stronger our impact will be.
Advocate. Federal funding for exchanges is at risk. Visit the Action Center at Global Ties U.S. to speak up for the power of exchanges in our community.

As we move into fall, we carry forward the inspiration from that evening. The belief that a single meal can spark understanding, that every person has something to contribute to global exchange, and that Kalamazoo has a unique role to play in connecting our world and the people who inhabit it.