ExchangeMatters TM

MARCH/APRIL 2019

THIS IS WASHINGTON... CHRISTOPHER

WASHINGTON, PH.D., THAT IS!
By Daniel Bremer-Wirtig, Director, External Affairs, Global Ties U.S.

Christopher Washington (center) with Kyle Moyer (left),
Chair of the Global Ties Foundation Board of Directors,
and Phil Lauinger, Co-Chair of the Global Ties U.S.
Advisory Council.
In March, Christopher Washington, Ph.D., became the new Chair of the Board of Directors
of Global Ties U.S. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Christopher and learn more
about his career, how he found his citizen diplomacy “spark,” and his vision for the future.
A native of Chicago, Christopher grew up influenced by his mother’s Creole culture and his
father’s Southern heritage. The food, music, and language of both cultures sparked his lifelong
interest in learning about the world and people, and formed the first of three distinct “sparks”
that shaped his citizen diplomacy trajectory.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: His second citizen diplomacy milestone came at Franklin University where, as a faculty
member, he served as a resource for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), among
other exchange programs. Said Christopher, “My mind was blown by the inspiring stories of
the international visitors,” and set him on a path to volunteering for and eventually joining
the boards of the International Visitors Council, Inc.—a Global Ties U.S. Community-Based
Announcements Member—and the Columbus Council on World Affairs, both in Columbus, OH.
Page 2
The third spark and “hook” to Christopher’s citizen diplomacy journey came after attending his
Leadership Corner first Global Ties U.S. National Meeting. Said Christopher, “I found this amazing community of
very unique and diverse leaders from all over the country that shared my interest in learning
Page 3
about people, finding ways to come together to solve global problems, and looking to promote
peace and prosperity. I got hooked! How couldn’t I?”
International Women of Courage
Visit the Global Ties Network Christopher is a deeply committed individual who found his vocation for community engagement
Page 4-5 and capacity building early in life. He is the Executive Vice President and CEO at Urbana
University, where he promotes student success and professional development through various
instructional approaches, academic resources, and learning support services. Christopher has a
A Tribute to John Bersia long track record in academia and community involvement, having served in various capacities
Page 6 at a number of local, state, regional, and national organizations, such as the Columbus Urban
League, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, and American Council
How to Incorporate Advocacy on Education. He has received multiple awards for his vision and leadership.
and Exchange Programming He is also the father of five talented and accomplished children, and husband to Shannon.
Page 7 From the stories he shared about his children—the international travels they’ve undertaken,
the languages they speak, their commitment to their communities—they are a testament
Spotlight On: Mississippi that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Consortium for International
A family man. Community leader. Globally-minded educator. Citizen diplomat. Christopher
Development Washington is all this and much more. I asked him to share thoughts on the state of citizen
Page 8 diplomacy and his vision for the future. We discussed the major milestones that lie ahead for
the Global Ties Network in the next few years, including a new three-year strategic plan for
continued on page 2
UPCOMING EVENTS & NEWS
DIPLOMACY BEGINS HERE IN 2019
In April, we announced the three Community-Based Members who will
host the 2019 of Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits:
• July 12 in Salt Lake City, UT hosted by the Utah Council for
Citizen Diplomacy
• September 20 in San Diego, CA hosted by the San Diego Diplomacy
Council
• November 15 in Louisville, KY hosted by the World Affairs Council
of Kentucky and Southern Indiana
Each Summit will be accompanied by a Learning Lab, an intensive
day-long workshop for our members on exchange programming best
practices. See full announcement: https://gties.us/dbh2019
UPDATES TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
On March 1, Global Ties U.S. welcomed a new slate of officers to its Board
of Directors. Christopher Washington, Ph.D., took over as Chair following
Jacquelyn G. Shipe, who will remain on the board as Ex-Officio—read
more on page 1. Jacqueline Miller is now Vice Chair. Mariano Gutierrez
and Henry Collins have renewed their terms on the board as Treasurer
and Secretary, respectively. Robin Lerner joins as the newest member
of the board. In somber news, John Bersia, who stepped down from
the board in January, has passed away—read the tribute on page 6.
Full release: https://gties.us/2019board
2020 NATIONAL MEETING
Save the date: The 2020 National Meeting will take place January 22-25
at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington, DC. Stay tuned
for the theme announcement, opportunities to partner, exhibit, and/or
advertise at the event, by signing up for our email list below.
Join our mailing list: https://globaltiesus.org/signup
Our vision is a peaceful, prosperous world where individuals build enduring
relationships through international exchange.
Our mission is to strengthen relationships between individuals and nations
by making international exchange programs more effective.
We are pleased to acknowledge that this
publication is sponsored in part by the
U.S. Department of State with funding
provided by the U.S. Government and
administered by Global Ties U.S.
Continued from page 1
Christopher Washington (right) with Anne Grimes (center),
Director, Office of International Visitors, U.S. Department of
State.
Global Ties U.S. informed by the Network.
As Christopher noted, in 2020, the Global Ties Network
will celebrate 80 years of implementing the IVLP and
making people-to-people exchanges happen between
U.S. and international citizens. In 2021, Global
Ties U.S. will turn 60, making this a true two-year
celebration of citizen diplomacy.
Christopher sees these milestones as critical
opportunities to continue strengthening the Global
Ties Network. Community-Based Members are “the
lifeblood of who we are.” Christopher sees these
anniversaries as a way to both commemorate the
Network and bolster our advocacy efforts at all levels
(local, state, and national) for increased funding and
support for international exchanges.
Christopher Washington is committed to making
the Global Ties Network stronger, by strengthening
our members nationally, internationally, and in his
own state of Ohio. As Christopher noted, exchange
programs promote peace and prosperity one
handshake at the time. We must continue to tell the
story of the impact of our work at home and abroad.
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Editor-in-Chief:
Daniel Bremer-Wirtig @GlobalTiesUS
Contributing Editors:
Erica McNamara instagram.com/GlobalTiesUS
Lola Pak
Layout and Production: flickr.com/photos/GlobalTiesUS
Funktionell
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 THE LEADERSHIP CORNER
By Katherine Brown, Ph.D., President & CEO, Global Ties U.S.
Hello Global Ties U.S. Community,
It’s finally springtime and I hope this finds you all thriving
with sunnier days.
Each March, the U.S. Secretary of State presents the
International Women of Courage Award to 10 extraordinary
women who’ve profoundly changed their local environments
and, in effect, the world. This award was first given by U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2007 to recognize
women who advocate for “peace, justice, human rights, gender
equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal
risk and sacrifice.” Now in its 13th year, current U.S. Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo recognized women from Bangladesh,
Burma, Djibouti, Egypt, Ireland, Jordan, Montenegro, Peru,
Sri Lanka, and Tanzania for the 2019 award.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and First Lady Melania Trump (center)
pose for a photo with the 2019 International Women of Courage Awardees at
the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC on March 7, 2019. Credit:
U.S. Department of State photo by Ron Przysucha [Public Domain]
As part of the award, the women also participate in the
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). I’m so
grateful that they got to visit our colleagues at the Georgia
Council for International Visitors, Global Minnesota, Global
Ties Detroit, Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council, the International
Visitors Council of Los Angeles, San Diego Diplomacy Council,
WorldBoston, WorldChicago, and WorldOregon. Thank you for
undoubtedly leaving a tremendous impact on these remarkable
changemakers. I’m heartened to know that they have support
throughout the United States. You can read more about their
journey on the IVLP in the center spread of this issue.
At Global Ties U.S., we’re preparing for a busy summer and
fall with our Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits, in
addition to kicking off our 2020-2023 strategic planning.
We’re excited to chart our next three years, which will include
the 80th anniversary of the IVLP and the 60th anniversary of
Global Ties U.S.!
I’ll also be traveling the next two months to Manchester, NH;
Boston, MA; Burlington, VT; Columbia, SC; Rochester and
Buffalo, NY; San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth, TX to see
you in your element and learn how we can better support you.
We’re also mourning our colleague and friend, John Bersia, who
passed away on March 21. Until January, John was a Global
Ties U.S. Board Member. He was also board chair of the World
Affairs Council of Central Florida. I was lucky to spend time
with him in Orlando, FL soon after I began my tenure and saw
first-hand the tremendous impact he had in the region, both in
his work at the University of Central Florida and on his public
television show, “Global Perspectives.” We will miss him
dearly. I’d like to thank Sarah Ridley-Gal, Executive Director
of WACCFL, for writing such a beautiful tribute to him in this
edition of ExchangeMatters (page 6). You and your community
are in our thoughts, Sarah.
As always, please be in touch with any questions, concerns,
or ideas. I look forward to getting back on the road and seeing
many of you soon!
All my best,
Katherine Brown
THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER 3
International Women of Courage
From March 8-18, this year’s recipients of the U.S. Department
of State’s International Women of Courage Award participated
in the International Visitor Leadership Program, taking them
across the country from Boston to Los Angeles. In each city, our
Community-Based Members served as hosts, connecting them to
local counterparts in their work in peace, human rights, and women’s
empowerment. See where they went and our members’ reflections
of their visit. More photos online: https://gties.us/iwoc2019
City: Minneapolis, MN
Woman of Courage: Razia Sultana of Bangladesh
Hosted by: Global Minnesota
“Global Minnesota proudly welcomed Razia
Sultana of Bangladesh to the Twin Cities. During
her time, Razia met with local organizations to
discuss strategies and ideas for serving at-risk
communities, refugees, and survivors of domestic
violence. Razia met with recent sex trafficking
survivors who have taken on a leadership role
at The Link, a local nonprofit, to help shape
future trauma care and programming. Razia
spoke to more than 60 high school students
interested in foreign affairs and human rights.
She shared the history of the Rohingya crisis and
the abuses suffered by women and girls in the
region, grabbing the attention of students eager
to better understand refugee issues.
A lawyer and human rights advocate, Razia has
dedicated her life to defending the Rohingya
community in Burma, conducting human rights
advocacy on behalf of Rohingya refugees, and
documenting systematic violence against women
and girls.” —Global Minnesota
Photo credit: Laurel Stoneking
City: Chicago, IL
Woman of Courage: Mama Maggie of Egypt
Hosted by: WorldChicago
“Having Mama Maggie come to Chicago was
inspiring. She is a quiet force of nature who
touches the lives of all she meets. In Chicago,
Mama Maggie spoke with homeless teenagers of
the NGO, Teen Living Programs. There, she asked
City: Atlanta, GA
Woman of Courage: Colonel Khalida
Khalaf Hanna al-Twal of Jordan
Hosted by: Georgia Council for
International Visitors
“GCIV was truly honored to host Colonel Khalida Al-Twal in Atlanta.
Learning about her career and work in Jordan, she has more than
proven she is a Woman of Courage. Our community was moved and
inspired by her story, and look forward to long lasting connections and
friendships.” —Emily O’Harris, Senior Program Director
Photo: Colonel Khalida Al-Twal (fourth from left) poses with women
representatives of the Atlanta Police Department.
City: Boston, MA
Woman of Courage: Olivera Lakic´
of Montenegro
Hosted by: WorldBoston
“Being able to host International Woman
of Courage awardee Olivera Lakic´ from
Montenegro was a true pleasure and we
greatly enjoyed having the opportunity
to learn from such an inspiring woman! City: Seattle, WA
While visiting The Boston Globe, she was Women of Courage: Moumina Houssein
bouncing off the walls with excitement Darar of Djibouti
during the tour of the newsroom and was Hosted by: World Affairs Council - Seattle
ecstatic to be able to pick up her own
“Moumina Darar was warmly received in
copy of the day’s issue. It was moving
Seattle. At a public speaking event, she
to see how much this visit meant to her
shared the successes and challenges of
and served as a wonderful reminder of
pursuing her lifelong dream to work in
the incredible impact of exchanges.”
law enforcement, inspiring students at
—Jenna Bergquist, Manager of Outreach
the Seattle Girls’ School. She also shared
and Custom Visitor Programs
professional experiences with Seattle
Photo: Olivera Lakic´ (center) with WorldBoston Police Chief Carmen Best, and spent
staff at the offices of The Boston Globe.
an evening engaging with the members
of the local Somali community.” —Sean
Bowman, Program Officer, International
Visitor Program
Photo: Moumina Darar (center) poses with
Jacqueline Miller (to her right) and the staff
of the World Affairs Council - Seattle.
a young woman about her dreams, rather than
asking why she was homeless. WorldChicago also
hosted Mama Maggie with a small reception, where
she took the leftover food and passed it out to the
homeless people she met on the way to her hotel.
Mama Maggie is a woman who used courage to
change her world, and we were delighted to honor
her in Chicago!” —Peggy Parfenoff, President
Photo credit: Megan Sievert
Visit the Global Ties Network
City: Portland, OR
Woman of Courage: Flor de Maria
Vega Zapata of Peru
Hosted by: WorldOregon
“It was a huge honor to host Flor de María Vega Zapata.
Our community welcomed the opportunity to learn from
Ms. Vega, as she openly shared her knowledge and
expertise in law. Her visit resulted in a quality two-way
exchange and included formal opportunities for Ms. Vega
City: Los Angeles, CA
Women of Courage: All
Hosted by: International Visitors Council of LA
“IVCLA was honored to host the 2019 International
Women of Courage. A luncheon in their honor on
March 18 at Los Angeles City Hall provided attendees
inspiration and hope. During a panel discussion, the
women shared the challenges they overcame and
the triumphs they have accomplished. They were
presented with certificates from the Los Angeles
Mayor’s office by Ambassador Nina Hachigian,
Deputy Mayor for International Affairs.
Raymond Duronslet, IVCLA intern, shared his
impressions: ‘I was amazed to hear about their
goals. Mama Maggie explained the importance of
restoring dignity; Olivera Lakic´ spoke of the need to
do work that no one else will do. Marini de Livera
explained that as a pro bono lawyer, she is unable
to represent every under-served child and woman
who approaches her, despite her best efforts. They
all sacrificed their own safety and a comfort to work
for the betterment of others. It was apparent through
tears of joy, laughter, and applause that they were
there for each other and support one other through
a common duty to humanity.’”
Photo: The 2019 International Women of Courage and IVCLA
Board Member Rima Nashashibi (seated, front left).
Photo credit: Yael Swerdlow
to share her work with the U.S. District Attorney, Lewis
& Clark Law School, and other community partners.
She also presented at WorldOregon’s Youth Forum,
an event that included approximately 75 high school
students to help motivate the next generation of global
citizens.” —Amy Barss, Director of International Visitors
and Training Programs
Photo: (Left to right): Yeji Kim, Korea West intern; Traci Ross, Executive
Director, Center for Women’s Leadership, Portland State University;
Flor de María Vega Zapata; Megan Jessup-Varnum, WorldOregon Intern.
City: San Diego, CA
Woman of Courage:
Naw K’nyaw Paw of Burma
Hosted by: San Diego Diplomacy Council
“We are deeply grateful for the
opportunity to welcome the lovely,
brave, and resilient Naw K’nyaw Paw –
a true International Woman of Courage
– to San Diego. This program is such
a highlight for our team, and our
community at large. From the visit with
high school girls at The Monarch School,
to a meeting with County Supervisor
Nathan Fletcher, to a conversation with
community members, San Diegans were
hungry to hear her story and learn about
the people she lives and fights for.”
—Natalie Maroun, Program Director.
Photo: Naw and County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher
discussing the current political situation in Burma and
how San Diego County can improve services for its
refugee communities. Left to right: Fabienne Perlov,
Naw K’nyaw Paw,
Nathan Fletcher,
Natalie Maroun.
City: Pensacola, FL
Woman of Courage:
Marini de Livera of Sri Lanka
Hosted by: Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council
“While in Pensacola, Marini de Livera spoke at
the annual women’s celebration in conjunction
with the Institute of Women in Politics for
Northwest Florida. It is important for the Gulf
Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council to engage high
school students with IVLP participants, including
Ms. de Livera, who got to meet two young ladies
from our Youth Diplomats program, which focuses
City: Detroit, MI
Woman of Courage:
Anna Henga of Tanzania
Hosted by: Global Ties Detroit
“It was an honor for Global Ties
Detroit to host International Woman
of Courage awardee Anna Henga from
Tanzania. Anna’s work advancing
human rights, promoting women’s
empowerment, and advocating for
families was inspiring to those in
Detroit who had the opportunity to meet
her, including leaders from the ACLU of
Michigan, Dearborn Police Department,
Detroit Free Press, Freedom House,
Michigan Women Forward, Oakland
University Global Engagement, the
Wagner family, and Women Officials
Network. Anna’s tireless efforts and
dedication to improving the quality
of life for women, families, and their
communities is a shining example to
those in Detroit doing similar work,
making a valuable impact both locally
and internationally.” —Marian Reich,
Executive Director
Photo: Anna Henga (center) meets “Powering Up!”
author Anne Doyle, Global Ties Detroit President
Francine Pegues, and Board Members Rosemary
Max and Sanja Savic-Berhamovic.
Photo credit: Melanie Grund
on teens and cross-cultural engagement. She
also met with students at the University of West
Florida, legal professionals, and local volunteers.
Listening to the challenges Ms. de Livera
faces [in fighting child abuse], it’s easy to feel
overwhelmed or hopeless. But when I reflect
on her engagement with our community, I am
reminded of the beauty found in collaboration
with like-minded individuals.” —Jena Melançon,
Executive Director
Photo: Marini de Livera (right) with Youth Diplomats in
Pensacola, FL. Credit: Jena Melançon
 A TRIBUTE TO JOHN BERSIA
By Sarah Ridley-Gal, Executive Director, World Affairs Council of Central Florida
John C. Bersia (1956-2019)
Former Global Ties U.S. Board Member
Board Chair, World Affairs Council of Central Florida
On the afternoon of Monday, March 25, I reluctantly and
with a crushing weight on my heart clicked “send.” As
Director of the World Affairs Council of Central Florida
(WACCFL), it was my role to announce that our Board
Chair, John Bersia, had died a few days earlier of metastatic
cancer. How, I thought to myself, could I possibly pay
tribute to this great man’s life with a few boiled down
paragraphs? He was so much to so many: friend, family,
mentor, writer, teacher, chef, joker, thinker, doer, and
more. Yes, his resume was insanely impressive, but I
believe he’ll be remembered more for the qualities that
define who he was as a human being.
John’s involvement with WACCFL spanned nearly 20 years,
and he recently served on the Board of Directors at Global
Ties U.S. In addition to his long involvement with WACCFL,
John’s life was filled with service in many other capacities.
He’d been with the University of Central Florida since 2001
as a Professor and as Director of the Global Perspectives
Office; he was also Executive Producer and host of a weekly
WUCF TV show, and recently helped establish the Center
for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.
Prior to that, he was a founding member of the Orlando
Area Committee on Foreign Relations, taught at Rollins
College, and worked at the Orlando Sentinel for more than
15 years, where he won a Pulitzer prize in 2000. John
earned three master’s degrees from Georgetown University,
American University, and the London School of Economics.
Clearly, John was a brilliant man. However, when brilliance
is packaged in a human being along with humility,
kindness, generosity, and a wicked sense of humor, then
6 EXCHANGEMATTERS
you really have someone special. John’s successful career
gave him the platform to share his exemplary character
with an unusually large number of people: thousands
of international exchange professionals, generations of
university students, countless readers of his news columns
over decades, professional colleagues throughout his life,
and even world leaders.
What stood out most to me was his impact as a mentor to
young professionals over the years. For nearly 15 years, John
served as my mentor, friend, and boss (twice). I would not be
the person I am today without the opportunities he provided.
In 2005, he hired me at UCF’s Global Perspectives Office.
Ten years later, he hired me as Director of WACCFL. I am
one of countless young professionals whose careers he
helped shape and nurture with sage advice—and peach
cobbler. Perhaps his most enduring legacy will be the
multiple generations of friends and protégés in Central
Florida and around the world who will carry the light of his
torch and continue the work that he cared so deeply about.
MORE TRIBUTES
“I worked so closely with John over so many years to advance
global engagement in every aspect of life in Central Florida that
I am truly at a loss right now. But I promised John, during his
last hours on earth, to support and continue his good work…
and that I will do.”
—Larry Chastang, WACCFL Board Chair Emeritus, Global Ties
U.S. Advisory Council Co-Chair
“Though John met many world leaders, I knew through his many
recollections, who his hero and mentor was: his beloved father,
whose profound teachings and stoic discipline came from his
roots and life as a proud farmer in France. John led a life of
authenticity, adventure, truth-seeking and telling, imagination,
curiosity, and commitment to helping others be their best selves.
He rightfully earned the devotion and admiration of the multitude
of lives he touched.”
—Patricia Ambinder, WACCFL Board Vice-Chair/Treasurer
“John was the epitome of civility. Thanks to John’s commitment
to inform and expose the broader Central Florida community to
international and domestic thought leaders, this community
is well-informed and able to make wise decisions on globally
focused and culturally sensitive issues.”
—Harriet L. Elam-Thomas, WACCFL Advisory Council Member,
former U.S. Ambassador to Senegal, and Director of UCF’s
Diplomacy Program
 HOW TO INCORPORATE ADVOCACY AND
EXCHANGE PROGRAMMING
By Patricia Preston, Executive Director, Vermont Council on World Affairs

In early March, the Vermont Council on World Affairs (VCWA)

joined U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (VT), Vice Chair of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, in Washington, DC as he received
the George Washington University Institute for Public Diplomacy
and Global Communication’s annual Walter Roberts Award for
Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy at a ceremony
on Capitol Hill.

Participants of the Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program with Senator

Patrick Leahy in from of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.

visitors the unique opportunity to learn from subject experts

who are also local elected officials, ultimately raising awareness
of our work and increasing advocacy from our representatives.
Left to right: Patricia Preston; David Ensor, Director, Project for Media and
National Security; Janet Steele, Director, Institute for Public Diplomacy and Bring participants to the State House
Global Communication; Sen. Patrick Leahy; Assistant Secretary of State
for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce; John Lansing, CEO, U.S. After a recent trip to the Vermont State House, one of our exchange
Agency for Global Media; Frank Sesno, Director, GWU School of Media and participants commented on the kindness of our governor, the
Public Affairs. Credit: Elliott School of International Affairs.
friendliness of local representatives, and the ease of accessing
and walking around the building. Visiting the State House with
I had the honor of accepting a grant from the Walter Roberts
groups enhances the visibility of your organization and provides
Endowment on behalf of VCWA to enhance international youth
insight to your representatives about the work you do. In return, it
leadership exchanges. This grant will allow us to implement a
offers visitors a window into the daily lives of our public officials.
follow-up exchange program with our Pan-Africa Youth Leadership
Program (PAYLP) participants to further connect Vermont with
communities beyond our borders.

Upon returning to Vermont from the ceremony, I ran into

Senator Bernie Sanders, a surprisingly common occurrence at
the Burlington airport. I used this opportunity to update him on
the award and our organization’s work. Receiving such positive
reactions from both senators reminded me of the importance
of advocacy to both local and congressional representatives.

Although not every Community-Based Member represents a

state where public officials are so easily accessible, there are
still several ways to connect them to our work:

Do research on your representatives

When building an itinerary for international visitor programs,
make it a priority to research your local and Congressional
representatives. By considering their professional interests and
expertise, you increase interactions and diversify the programmatic
themes that connect visitors to our elected officials. Most recently,
we organized meetings with state representatives who are also
farmers, trade experts, refugee resettlement professionals, and
women’s empowerment advocates. These programs provide
PAYLP participants with Governor Phil Scott at the Vermont State House in
Montpelier, VT.
Whether you integrate connections with elected officials into
your programs or set up a meeting directly for advocacy, these
interactions are vital. At a time when the Administration proposes
decreased funding for educational and cultural exchange
programs, we cannot afford to be observers on the sidelines. We
must demonstrate the importance of our work through visibility
and people-to-people interactions.

GLOBAL TIES U.S. NEWSLETTER 7

 SPOTLIGHT ON: MISSISSIPPI CONSORTIUM FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
By Crystal Kelch, Executive Director, Mississippi Consortium for International Development

*Editor’s note: Throughout the year, Global Ties U.S. strives to highlight the work of our members and learn more about their organizations.
The Mississippi Consortium for International Development (MCID) is a National Program Agency that helps implement the International
Visitor Leadership Program. Crystal Kelch shares MCID’s history and her experience leading the organization.

Established in 1989, the Mississippi Consortium for International

Development (MCID) is a collaboration between four historically
black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that develop and
implement international development projects and exchange
programs: Alcorn State University, Jackson State University,
Mississippi Valley State University, and Tougaloo College.

MCID’s philosophy, in regard to the development of institutional

and human potential, is to ensure long-term sustainable
development through its programs. The combined strengths
of the HBCUs have enabled MCID to successfully implement
a diverse range of projects.

Participants on the 2017 “Our Planet” IVLP exchange coordinated by MCID

pose in the lobby of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.

Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). With a staff of two, MCID

Washington worked on all types of IVLP projects. As a trainer
at Meridian International Center, I was assigned to help
MCID staff understand the nuances of the IVLP. After many
conversations throughout the organization’s first year, I joined
MCID in 1999 and became director in 2003. Although the
size of the staff has increased over the years, we continue to
work in a team environment where each member is familiar
with all aspects of programming.

A group of exchange participants pose in front of the Philadelphia Museum
of Art. The group’s program was coordinated by MCID.
Over the years, MCID received more than 700 contracts
for international human resource development training and
technical assistance from the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID), U.S. Department of State, and U.S.
Department of Education. Other projects range from agribusiness
development and farm management to journalism and media
management.
Although MCID’s headquarters is in Jackson, MS, there is a
smaller team based in Washington, DC. Over time, MCID has
operated offices and placed representatives across Africa,
Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caribbean to
facilitate various projects.
The DC office was established as a provisional National
Program Agency in 1998 to administer the International
We work in a unique field that requires patience, understanding,
and lot of compassion. Since the beginning of this journey,
I have always been grateful for having the honor of meeting
wonderful people. Over the years, I have met many visitors.
I still communicate with quite a few, whether it’s wishing a
happy birthday or celebrating an accomplishment. When you
ask the question, “what project are you most proud of?”, I
can’t answer just one. There is a connection that is forged
every time we meet a visitor. These visitors enter my life and
become more than distant strangers; they become a part of me.
Our work is greatly informed by the organization’s rich history
of diversity and commitment to bridging the cultural divide
through the exchange of ideas and culture. It is our goal to
continue to build international linkages around the world
through the IVLP and engage the global community through
our technical training programs.

Global Ties U.S. Newsletter MARCH/APRIL 2019

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