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"Georgia on My Mind"

2008 NCIV Southern Regional Meeting Held in Atlanta, GA

by Ayesha Quirke

The 2008 National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) Southern Regional Meeting took place in Atlanta, Georgia from August 6-8 and was hosted by the Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV). The meeting was attended by, among numerous others, CIV Executives, members and board members, programmers, and volunteers, as well as representatives of the national program agencies and the U.S. Department of State.

Scheduled activities included eCIV trainings, sessions on building skills for nonprofit management, and the sharing of best practices. Concurrent and plenary sessions provided a deeper understanding of U.S. public diplomacy, U.S. foreign policy, and the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Special attention was given to the upcoming presidential elections and the incorporation of election components into programming. Sightseeing tours and home hospitality were also arranged for those who registered for them.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Downtown Atlanta’s business district was chosen as the location for the meeting, with the CNN building, World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium (world’s largest), and the Centennial Olympic Park all within walking distance from the hotel. The Peachtree Plaza also houses an unforgettable sundial restaurant, which provides a rotating 360-degree panoramic view of the Atlanta area.

The meeting kicked off on Wednesday, August 6, with the opening reception at the Carter Presidential Center. Those who arrived early were invited on a special tour of the Jimmy Carter Museum. Festivities began and the crowd was treated to the sounds of Harmony: Atlanta’s International Youth Chorus. This Atlanta-based music company that is said to “represent the international culture of Atlanta and the world.” Consisting of more than 100 young singers aged 6-18, the company typically performs songs in 35 different languages. “Rainy Morning,” a song about friendship was sung in both English and Turkish and was one of the highlights of the evening. The performance came to end with an acapella version of Ray Charles’ ‘Georgia on My Mind,’ Georgia’s state song.

During the reception all were welcomed by Shell Stuart, Executive Director, Georgia Council for International Visitors. Peter Simpson, Member, NCIV Board of Directors, and Program Director, World Learning Visitor Exchange Program followed thanking the Georgia CIV and the U.S. Department of State for hosting this year’s regional meeting. Pascal Dupeyrat, the Secretary General of the IVLP Alumni Association ‘Cercle Jefferson’ in France and IVLP Alumnus (2000) also was present to welcome participants. The evening’s reception was rounded out by Brad Minnick, Director, Office of International Visitors, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. He recognized visitors that were visiting Georgia at the time of the meeting, specifically a gentleman from the Vatican, Monsignor Dariusz Giers, as well as a delegation from Nigeria. Mr. Minnick closed by reiterating the importance of the IVLP and NCIV network in helping to bolster the U.S. image abroad.

The following morning on Thursday, August 7, everyone congregated in the hotel’s ballroom for the meeting’s opening plenary. Sherry L. Mueller, President, National Council for International Visitors shared her thoughts on the work of CIVs across the country and informed us that the IVLP specifically is considered the best tool for public diplomacy out of the 63 programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Mueller urged participants to remember that the NCIV network is the domestic constituency of the IVLP. She emphasized the importance of building partnerships with members of Congress in order to increase funds for exchange programs and of reaching out to businesses.

Next, Brad Minnick introduced Goli Ameri, Assistant Secretary of State, Educational and Cultural Affairs, who gave a heartfelt presentation on the diplomatic and economic impact of the IVLP since its inception. Assistant Secretary Ameri mentioned some of the most significant IV programs of 2008: a delegation of Sunni and Shi’ah tribal leaders who were personally invited by President Bush to participate in the program, a group of Afghan Governors who learned how the United States operates at the state level, and the delegation of Syrian IVLP participants that went to San Diego to participate in the Susan B. Komen Walk for the Cure. Upon returning home, these Syrians organized the country’s first ever breast cancer walk. Assistant Secretary Ameri finished by informing us about a new initiative by the U.S. Department of State to collaborate with the private sector, including co-sponsoring programs with multinational corporations. Global Challenge was also mentioned as an example of a cyber exchange that aims to connect youth worldwide.

During the plenary luncheon on Thursday, participants heard from Ambassador Theodore R. Britton, Jr. of the Georgia Council for International Visitors, who introduced speaker Ambassador Andrew Young, Co-Founding Principal and Chairman of GoodWorks International. Ambassador Young stated that his work as a humanitarian has long been inspired by his work as an ordained minister and top aide to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ambassador Young discussed what he called “personal diplomacy” and how he became a member of Friendship Force International, an exchange organization that boasts more than 5,000,000 alumni worldwide. A citizen diplomat indeed, he talked about his experience as a UN Ambassador during the 1970s, and as an advocate for tourism and trade as an instrument for economic development, peace and prosperity around the world, particularly in Africa.

The breakfast plenary on Friday, August 8, started with an introduction of Bill Moon, Founding Principal and Principal Emeritus of the International Community School, by Charles Bedford, Trustee of the Georgia Council for International Visitors. Mr. Moon shared with the crowd the work of The International Community School, which is a charter school designed to bring together refugee immigrants, and native born children in a multiethnic environment. With 400 students coming from more than 35 countries, the school offers a safe environment for children whilst teaching them the importance of intercultural communication and understanding. The school has a student population of both refugees and Americans who collectively speak more than 40 languages.

During the plenary luncheon on Friday, Nell Naye Diallo described the vital work of MedShare International, where she is executive director. MedShare International is a nonprofit environmental and humanitarian organization that works with hospitals, outpatient centers and medical manufacturers and distributors all over the United States to coordinate donations of surplus medical items that would otherwise be discarded. Supplies are shipped to healthcare institutions in 87 countries around the world. Ms. Diallo relayed several success stories and illustrated her remarkable ability as a cross cultural communicator and creative leader.

The meeting’s closing plenary was aimed at measuring the success of the IVLP. A presentation was made by Rick Ruth, Director, Office of Policy and Evaluation, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, who informed us that the evaluation process is at best a complicated one. He sought to answer the questions: “What are we doing around the world?” and “What difference does it make?” Mr. Ruth went on to give participants some important statistics and reiterated the fact that that there is a significant and meaningful difference in the international outlooks between those individuals who have participated in programs such as the IVLP and other exchange programs and those who have not. He concluded that those who have participated in such programs have a better understanding of the United States and its people. Despite the fact that the impact of the IVLP is somewhat difficult to measure, it has now, along with the Fulbright program, become the most studied and most valuable program in reaching out to those of other nations, as well as changing of attitudes and recording lasting effects.

The closing reception took place at the Johnetta B. Cole Global Diversity and Inclusion Institute. Those who were lucky enough to stay until Saturday had one last activity planned for them, which was a tour at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and the Georgia Aquarium. What an amazing meeting – special thanks to everyone at the Georgia Council for International Visitors for their hard work and for making everyone’s stay in Atlanta so memorable.

Ayesha Quirke is the Program Director at the Miami Council for International Visitors. Ayesha was born in England, grew up in the Netherlands, and moved to the U.S. in 1998. She is a graduate of Florida International University where she received degrees in International Relations, Women’s Studies, and Conflict Resolution.

(Top row, l-r) Annette Alvarez, Miami Council for International Visitors, Inc., presenting the NCIV Gold Star to Ambassador Andrew Young; Home hospitality is always in abundance when the NCIV family is near

(2nd row, l-r) Shell Stuart, Georgia Council for International Visitors, with Walter Nunn, Arkansas Council for International Visitors Concurrent session on the IVLP thematic topic of healthcare, featuring Shirley Harrison, International Visitors Center of Jackson (Mississippi), Larry Johnson, MPH, Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, Pamela-Jean Mohamed, International Hospitality Council of Austin (Texas), and Danial Orange, Meridian International Center;

(3rd row, l-r) Peter Simpson, World Learning, introducing Brad Minnick, OIV, and Goli Ameri, Assistant Secretary of State, ECA; Cari Guitarrd, Business for Diplomatic Action, and George Brown, Friendship Force International, field questions during a panel discussion entitled "The Power of Partnerships"

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