Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Stay up to date with Global Ties Detroit!
OUR NEWS
Read the latest on public diplomacy, international exchange, and the Global Ties community.
Global Ties U.S. 2024 National Meeting: a First-Timer’s Experience
April 22, 2024
Charlotte Little, Global Ties Detroit Program Associate
This past March, I headed to Arlington, VA with my fellow Global Ties Detroit staff and Board Members to attend the Global Ties U.S. 2024 National Meeting. I’ve been with GTD for two years now, but as a National Meeting newbie, I got to take everything in and was mesmerized by how sizable the Global Ties network is (more than 600 members were in attendance!), as well as by how incredibly passionate my fellow network members are about citizen diplomacy.
During the conference, which took place from March 5th - 8th, each day consisted of informative breakout sessions, lunch plenaries, evening networking opportunities, and more. The breakout sessions with my fellow network members allowed us to discuss strategies not only for combating our biggest challenges, but also for doing even better at areas of programming we’re already successful in. Some of these sessions included, “The Process of Programming: Beyond the Matrix,” “Understanding the Basics of Brand Awareness for the IVLP,” and “Cultural Programming: Maximizing Opportunities.” It was empowering to both learn and share ideas with my colleagues and to hear each other’s perspectives.
My favorite part of the week was when I got to dine in the Embassy of Singapore. Singaporean Ambassador to the U.S. Lui Tuck Yew generously opened the Embassy doors for attendees to enjoy a tasty buffet of traditional Singaporean cuisine and engaged in a Q&A panel (with Global Ties Detroit’s very own Board Member Jonathan Quarles!) about his country and about the U.S.-Singapore relations and goals. It was an exciting and informative evening that exemplifies just one of the numerous once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that being in the Global Ties network offers.
With a theme of Diplomacy in Action: Raising Community Voices, the conference tailored its breakout sessions, speeches, and awards to highlight how Global Ties’ mission is echoed in local efforts to bridge global gaps, and how we must prioritize and promote diverse identities throughout our work. It is a valuable reminder that, to solve issues at the global level, we must be sure to consider the local level, as we can find ourselves connected with similar struggles - even if we are from opposite sides of the world.
I am incredibly grateful I got to attend this year’s National Meeting. It was a wonderful experience that helped me see how powerful the Global Ties network and its impact are, both in the U.S. and across the world. I am proud to be part of a community dedicated to connecting the world through citizen diplomacy, and look forward to a future full of many accomplishments with them
ARCHIVES
May, 2026
April, 2026
March, 2026
January, 2026
November, 2025
July, 2025
May, 2025
April, 2025
November, 2024
September, 2024
August, 2024
July, 2024
April, 2024
March, 2024
January, 2024
December, 2023
November, 2023
October, 2023
September, 2023
August, 2023
July, 2023
June, 2023
May, 2023
March, 2023
January, 2023
December, 2022
November, 2022
October, 2022
June, 2022
May, 2022
April, 2022
February, 2022
January, 2022
December, 2021
November, 2021
October, 2021
June, 2021
May, 2021
March, 2021
February, 2021
January, 2021
OFFER A HOMESTAY
By opening your home to international visitors, you are given the opportunity to experience a new culture and build lasting friendships.
Contact Us Now
VOLUNTEER
From hosting dinners in your home to accompanying delegations or planning events, there are many ways to help.
Contact Us Now
