Connecting Kalamazoo to the World

Global Ties Kalamazoo Connects Southwest Michigan to people from all over the globe for cultural and professional connection, exploring our shared humanity.

What We Do

Upcoming Programs

Featured
IYLEP (Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program)
Jul 15
IYLEP (Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program)

July 15 through 28, we'll be hosting 20 Iraqi youth and 3 adult mentors through the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP). Rescheduled from Summer 2025, we're looking for families to open their homes for overnight hosting.

IJAB/CIP German Social Worker Exchange Program
Aug 28
IJAB/CIP German Social Worker Exchange Program

This fall, two German social workers will spend September through October in Kalamazoo as part of a professional exchange. We're looking for hosts who can offer them a place to stay for two weeks to two months.

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Enriching local community with global diversity,
one relationship at a time.

Latest News

Featured
Host Families Needed: Welcome 20 Iraqi Teens to Kalamazoo
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.

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Setting the Table for Citizen Diplomacy
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.

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Locals, like Paul, are the heart of cultural exchange in Kalamazoo
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.

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