A few winters ago, a backyard bonfire in Kalamazoo sparked hope.

At Sarkozy’s Bakery, co-owner Alec Wells welcomed a cohort of international visitors from Lithuania, connecting around our shared humanity and the world we wish to live in. The visit was part of an exchange facilitated by Global Ties Kalamazoo. We connect Southwest Michigan with emerging leaders from around the world.

Sarkozy staff and guests swapped stories, traded techniques, and shared food around the fire. “That bonfire,” Alec remembers, “was the start of something much deeper.”

Soon after, Sarkozy’s hosted its first international fellow. Then a second. Creativity flourished. New systems emerged. Bakers learned from each other. Customers started asking about the visitors by name: “What’s Melissa working on?” “Where’s Dixie?”

That’s the quiet power of global exchange. The kind that doesn’t make headlines but strengthens communities from the inside out.

“Global Ties Kalamazoo gave us legitimacy to connect across borders,” Alec says. “When funding was cut and we tried to make exchanges happen on our own, we heard crickets.”

When Federal Funding Slowed, Local Resolve Didn’t

In recent months, federal budget uncertainty and the government shutdown have hit Global Ties Kalamazoo exchanges hard. Hosting and homestays have slowed down. Many international visitors have been told, “Not this year.”

But the demand for connection hasn’t disappeared. Local hosts like Sarkozy’s Bakery still hear the same questions from customers: When are more visitors coming?

Behind those questions is a truth many in our global community already understand: international exchange is more than travel. It’s a spark for learning, innovation, and empathy right here in Kalamazoo.

A Local Solution to a Global Slowdown

Rather than wait for Washington partners, Global Ties Kalamazoo is responding with what Kalamazoo does best: community leadership.

The organization has set a goal to raise $100,000 by December 31 to reimagine its work through a local lens, focusing on more outbound exchanges, deeper connections with program alumni, and new opportunities to bring the world to Kalamazoo on our own terms.

When we meet that goal, we can restore spring exchanges and reignite the creativity, collaboration, and connection that define our community.

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The Global Community Kalamazoo Is Already Building

Even in challenging times, the impact of Global Ties Kalamazoo is unmistakable. In 2024:

366 international visitors connected with people and places across West Michigan.
Visitors came from 88 countries, creating relationships that extend far beyond borders.
65 youth leaders gained global perspectives and leadership experience.
The exchanges supported 1,482 hotel nights, contributing to the local economy.

Each visitor leaves Kalamazoo with a story to share. And each host, like Alec and his team, gains a renewed sense of purpose and pride in what our city stands for.

“Hosting these visitors reminded us that Kalamazoo has something remarkable to offer,” Alec says. “It’s a place where people genuinely care about building a better world.”

Keep the Fire Burning

This work, these exchanges, depend on community support now more than ever.

Every dollar given helps reopen doors for outbound exchange, hosting, homestays, and international visitors. Every gift, large or small, fuels connections that strengthen Kalamazoo’s role in the global community.

Together, we can prove that even when federal funding falters, our spirit of exchange and hospitality does not.

Give today at globaltieskzoo.org/give and help keep the fire of connection burning bright.

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The bonfire where it all started…