The Importance of International Citizen Exchange

The Importance of International Citizen Exchange

A little over a year ago, I posted a blog titled “Cultural Competence Starts with Cultural Humility.” I discussed how expanding your personal cultural competence or intelligence will increase your ability to adapt to new cultural settings and thrive in culturally diverse situations.  Building on my previous thoughts about increasing your cultural competence, I’d like to suggest that promoting international citizen exchange and diplomacy through global citizen exchange programs (both visiting other countries and encouraging visitors to explore the United States) is critical in increasing the cultural competence of our entire nation.

My Personal Experiences

I have had the personal pleasure and professional development opportunity of attending the annual Global Ties U.S. (GTUS) National Meeting in Washington, D.C. since 2022.   For more than 60 years, GTUS has partnered with the U.S. Department of State to implement the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and several other international exchange and public diplomacy programs. Serving all 50 states, the Global Ties Network of 80+ nonprofit, Community Based Members (CBMs) work in concert with eight National Programming Agencies (NPAs) to host hundreds of visitor groups in our local communities throughout the nation. This structured international exchange platform increases civic engagement, local community pride, cultural awareness, and appreciation of diverse cultural groups. And by facilitating the hosting of thousands of visitors to the U.S. annually, this work showcases true U.S. culture to the rest of the world.

Since my work began with GTUS and the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV), I have personally been able to meet with visiting cohorts from many countries during their respective four-city tours of the U.S.

Through Q3 2024 X-Factor Solutions continues leading multiple client engagements while leveraging partnerships to play a support role for several others!  This mix of project types, while challenging at times, creates an exciting environment that enables us to continuously learn from and with our colleagues.  This month’s newsletter is dedicated, in part, to the partnering relationships we share with other practitioners.  We are never completely finished adding to our professional toolkit!  

Friend of X-Factor Solutions, Natasha Orslene, talks about this concept in a blog entitled “The Evolution of a Leadership Toolkit” in her latest edition of the Equipping Leaders Newsletter.

Global Ties U.S. National Meeting - Building Inclusive Communities

For the third year, I was honored to be a speaker at the Global Ties U.S. National Meeting in Washington, D.C.  This year’s 4-day meeting theme was “Diplomacy in Action: Raising Community Voices” and my topic was “Building Safe and Inclusive Communities: Addressing Microaggressions, Bias, & Owning Your Narrative”. 

The work of GTUS on international exchange programs provides a powerful platform to create a greater sense of civic engagement, community pride, awareness, and appreciation of diverse cultural groups.

Click here to read more about the event highlights as well as view photos and videos from the Global Ties U.S. 2024 National Meeting

National Science Foundation with GLC (NewFoS - Arizona and QCB - Illinois)

In March, we supported Giant Leap Consulting in two strategic planning workshops at the University of Arizona and the University of Illinois, respectively. At UA, the New Frontiers of Sound (NewFoS) science and technology center brings together researchers from nine partner institutions working on topological acoustics, allowing researchers to see properties of sound that were not previously visible. At UI, the Quantitative Cell Biology (QCB) science and technology center will create whole-cell models to transform our understanding of how cells function.  Each of these science centers have been awarded $30 million from the National Science Foundation to cover five years of research with an additional $30 million funding renewal option over the following five years.

XFS’ work with Giant Leap Consulting includes stakeholder interviews with the researchers, onsite group facilitation of discussions related to the center’s vision/mission statements, facilitation of a team development model, and management of group breakouts during the strategy planning discussions.

We are always grateful for the relationship we share with GLC in this area!

Learning Technologies, Inc. - Business Leadership Program  

Continuing the X-Factor Solutions strategy of leveraging partnerships, we have agreed to a year-long support role for Learning Technology, Inc (LTI) and the University of North Carolina - Kenan-Flagler Business School’s work with a client ranked in the top 3 of the Fortune 500.

Our role is to facilitate 1 ½ days of a 5-day Business Leadership Program, providing program participants an opportunity to practice new behaviors, skills, and expectations of leaders.  Ultimately, our goal is to help position these leaders with the ability to deliver results with accountability and clarity, to make decisions with confidence, to encourage innovation, to balance inquiry with advocacy, and to coach others in how to do the same.  Through a day of experiential activities, designed by LTI, participants apply the conceptual themes in action-based scenarios.  Finally, we facilitate the participants’ ability to develop action plans and receive feedback on how to apply lessons from the workshops to drive organizational culture change back in their respective offices. 

U.S. Department of State - Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellows

For the second year, I had the unique opportunity to serve as a reviewer and “pitch coach” for a cohort of Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellows. This year’s group consisted of some of the brightest and ambitious young entrepreneurs representing:

  • Antigua and Barbuda

  • The Bahamas

  • Brazil

  • Colombia

  • Dominican Republic

  • Ecuador

  • Guatemala

  • Mexico

  • Suriname

YLAI Fellows range from 25-35 years old and are identified by the U.S. Department of State as high-impact, mid-career entrepreneurs promoting economic growth. Atlanta, Georgia is 1 of 19 U.S. cities that hosted the 2024 YLAI Fellows. They will spend approximately 5 weeks in Atlanta gaining valuable professional development skills and experience at a local organization in one of the following sectors:

  • education

  • film and media

  • health and health innovation

  • waste management

  • branding

  • youth empowerment

  • community development

Until next time,

Ahli

Andre McIntyre

Teacher/Former Head Boys Basketball Coach at Clarke County School District

8mo

BIG Time Fam 💪 💯

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Others also viewed

Explore topics