WorldChicago’s Post

Come celebrate Juneteenth with WorldChicago! We have 5 free tickets for a special Chicago Mahogony tour with two international delegation groups from WorldChicago on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Join Chicago Urban Historian, Shermann Dilla Thomas, on a guided bus tour through the Bronzeville neighborhood. The tour starts and ends at the DuSable Museum of African American history, 11am-1pm. Please email [email protected] to request to join.

🌍✨ Celebrating a Successful WorldChicago Spring Diplomacy Luncheon! ✨🌍 Last Thursday, May 16th, The Dalcy was the place to be for the annual WorldChicago Spring Diplomacy Luncheon! This year's theme was "Surprising Global Influences on Chicago Cuisine: A Conversation with Monica Eng.” It was a fantastic event that featured Axios Chicago reporter and Chicagoan, Monica Eng, who challenged our collective knowledge through trivia about the many waves of immigration that created culinary traditions that make the Chicago food experience what it is today. WorldChicago Board Chair, Lisa B. Harwood, made the opening remarks, setting the scene for our organizational focus on what it means to be a Citizen Diplomat. Then, Executive Director, Jennifer Lundeen Dixon, shared WorldChicago’s vision to strategically connect our international program participants to the local businesses, artisans, and cultural institutions from all of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. In doing so, WorldChicago can also highlight the talent and creativity that often goes unrecognized in our city. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible and dedicated staff as well as our Board of Directors for their efforts in making this event a success. Then, we were also thrilled to honor our (inaugural) 2024 Citizen Diplomacy Award winners, who have made remarkable contributions to international exchange and understanding: 🏆 Roland Kulla - Homestay Host 🏆 Momentum Coffee  - Fellowship Host Tracy Powell Nikki Bravo 🏆 DePaul University - Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul University - University Partner Bruce Leech Maija Renko Kathia Hernandez Your efforts exemplify the spirit of citizen diplomacy, and we are grateful for your support and dedication. Special acknowledgment goes to Katherine A. Brown, President and CEO of Global Ties U.S., for sharing the local impact WorldChicago has in welcoming 700+ international visitors to Chicago each year. We would also like to thank former WorldChicago staff member and poet, Kyla Williams Tate, for her curated poem: “More Citizen Diplomacy. Please.” which was a highlight of the VIP reception. To continue supporting our mission of promoting global understanding and collaboration throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods, consider joining us as a hashtag #dinnerdiplomat, hosting international visitors, or contributing to our programs. Together, we can continue to build bridges and celebrate the rich cultural tapestry that makes Chicago unique. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the luncheon and if you were not able to attend this year, visit our website: WorldChicago.org and/or make a donation here: https://lnkd.in/gqUmYk42 Rebecca Wellisch Sevil Kutay Jonathan Brown Joel R Levin Donna L. Stacey Mansker-Young James Petitpren Anthony Preston Usha Raj Bernard Ramos Tatyana Sergeyeva, M.A. David Wellman Harriet Hope L. Nelson Rosario Donna Sadlicki Megan Spillman Gloria Llenos Kendall Kartaly Julia Sosnivka Michael Ma Alexandria Graham

We are thrilled to announce that the CEO of Global Ties U.S. (GTUS), Katherine A. Brown will present remarks at the WorldChicago Spring Diplomacy Luncheon. She will be sharing about initiatives to advance peace and cultural understanding through travel and help expand opportunities for people in our 77 neighborhoods to participate in dinner diplomacy/home hospitality events with global leaders traveling to the United States on international exchange programs. Dinner Diplomacy helps to connect more people with international visitors to share meals and exchange stories and experiences. Through this initiative, GTUS will be able to support its member organizations such as WorldChicago who can then reimagine the hosting experience and include more of their community in IVLP home hospitality and other community gatherings. Katherine A. Brown directs GTUS’s strategy and operations. Since 2018, Katherine has led an expansion of programs and services for the Global Ties Network’s 90+ member organizations and partners, resulting in deeper civic engagement in international affairs. Prior to joining Global Ties U.S, Katherine served in various government roles focused on media and public diplomacy. She began her career at the National Security Council at the White House and went on to serve as a Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan; Professional Staff Member at the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the U.S. House of Representatives; and Executive Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State. She also worked at The Asia Foundation, Bloomberg Opinion, and Meta, where she was in residence as a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow. Katherine holds a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Communications from Columbia University. Tickets for the Luncheon are sold out, but you can still donate with the following link: https://lnkd.in/gViMWg8a #dinnerdiplomacy #homehospitality #dinnerdiplomat #citizendiplomacy #equity #internationalexchange

WorldChicago’s 2024 Spring Diplomacy Luncheon is SOLD OUT! Don’t worry though - you can still participate by donating now to support our work. Funds raised will help to support the following priority areas: 🌎WorldChicago’s Youth (Diplomats) Program: Youth Diplomats empowers students across Chicago to see their global identity, local impact, and potential career paths through engaging in civic-minded and international affairs workshops. 📍Local Community Partnerships: By providing support for small businesses and minority-owned businesses that may not otherwise have the capacity to partner with programs with international delegates, WorldChicago can engage locally and help the world understand Chicago authentically. ✉️Frameworks, Foundations, and Outreach: By engaging in systemically disinvested communities to serve as cultural ambassadors regardless of their socio-economic status; funds will also provide general operating support needed to organize a wide variety of community events and workshops, enhance educational tools and resources to engage all of Chicago through meaningful programming that increases mutual understanding locally and globally. You can donate by texting SDL24 to 44-321 or by using the following link: https://lnkd.in/gViMWg8a

Last chance to purchase VIP tickets for the WorldChicago Spring Diplomacy Luncheon is tomorrow, Thursday, May 9th! VIP Cocktail Reception is from 1:00p-2:30p, and tickets include a signed copy of keynote speaker Monica Eng’s book, “Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites.” plus some cool WorldChicago swag! Discover the journey behind Chicago’s iconic culinary creations as Axios reporter Monica Eng delves into her enlightening book in the video above. Delight in the fusion of food and diplomacy, where cultural connections flourish and conversations bloom at the dinner (or in this case, lunch!) table. Embark with us on a flavorful exploration of Chicago's rich food history, gathering tales to share with newfound friends. #diplomacy #citizendiplomacy #dinnerdiplomacy 

Citizen Diplomacy has many pathways for engagement and dinner hospitality is just one of them! Whether indoors or outdoors, sharing a meal together helps to build mutual understanding and appreciation for another’s culture. Wondering if serving (pun intended....) as a “Dinner Diplomat” is for you? Take look and see what you’re missing.... We hope you’ll join us on May 16th, 2024, from 11am-1pm at The Dalcy, 302 N. Green Street, Chicago, IL, as we welcome speaker Monica Eng to delve into 'The Surprising Global Influences on Chicago Cuisine.' https://lnkd.in/gpNrDJxc #diplomacy #dinnerdiplomat #citizendiplomacy #chicagofoodie

We are excited to share that the WorldChicago team, alongside our board members Lisa B. Harwood and Harriet H., fellowship hosts and partners from COMMON GROUND FOUNDATION, INC. – Karl Kemp, ADROC Productions – Kristina Schneider, and Learning Dimensions – Monica Swope had the honor of meeting with Camille Purvis Dawson, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS), Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at U.S. Department of State. Additionally, DAS Dawson met with a few of our WorldChicago Youth Diplomats representing CPS Walter Payton College Prep, @Lindblom Math and Science Academy, and Golder College Prep. DAS Dawson noted that WorldChicago hosted 31 delegates from the East Asia Pacific region in 2023 for our International Visitors Leadership Program. We also hosted 22 youth from the East Asian Pacific region for the 2023 TechGirls program!   This invaluable opportunity allowed us to discuss the Public Diplomacy priorities in the EAP and exchange ideas on how to strengthen our commitment to fostering global connections and cultural understanding.  A huge thank you to DAS Dawson for her time and valuable insights, and to everyone who participated in this enriching experience! #citzizeniplomacy #citizendiplomacy #exchangeourworld #CulturalExchange #USDepartmentofState 

WorldChicago is thrilled to welcome Steve Bynum who will be moderating the conversation with long-time friend and colleague from WBEZ Chicago, Monica Eng!🎉 Steve Bynum is the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) manager for Chicago Public Media, the parent company of WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times. He was a Senior Producer at WBEZ for “Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons.” For nearly two decades and worked alongside, Steve was senior producer for “Worldview with Jerome McDonnell,” WBEZ’s 25-year global affairs/news program. He led “Worldview” through the words of the ancient Roman playwright Terence, who wrote in one of his works, “I am human, and I think nothing human is alien to me.” Steve also served on WorldChicago’s board for 10 years during the period when the organization was re-branded from the International Visitors Center of Chicago (IVCC). Over the years, “Worldview” featured numerous WorldChicago dignitaries and visitors. We will continue to highlight his insights on travel and local and global impact leading up to the Spring Diplomacy Luncheon! Get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gpNrDJxc