The Washington, DC-based nonprofit Global Ties U.S., in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is pleased to announce the 2023 lineup of the Career Connections professional development seminars taking place in cities across the United States, with additional events to come in 2024 and beyond.
Career Connections seminars bring together U.S. citizen alumni of U.S. government-sponsored or funded exchange programs and leaders in the business, government, civil society, and nonprofit sectors to strengthen and facilitate new global connections to further their professional development. Programming is designed to be hands-on and skill-building, and typically includes sessions focused on resume reviews, grant writing, and integrating exchange experiences into their work.
In 2022, following a two-year shift to virtual programming, Career Connections returned in-person to cities across the United States. Since then, U.S. citizen alumni have connected in Washington, DC; Boston, MA; and Albuquerque, NM. In April, the first in-person seminar of 2023 took place in Indianapolis, IN, Career Connections: Crossover at the Crossroads, with The International Center.
There are three more in-person events planned this year:
- June 22-23: Careers in the Federal Government | Washington, DC
*Note: The Washington, DC event occurs annually. Registration is open now through Monday, June 5 at gties.us/CC - September 23-24: [Theme TBC] | San Francisco, CA
Hosted in partnership with Global Ties San Francisco - November 2-4: [Theme TBC] | Charlotte, NC
Hosted in partnership with International House
Career Connections seminars are funded by the U.S. Department of State and are implemented by Global Ties U.S., in collaboration with local Community-Based Members across the United States. These events are an opportunity for U.S. citizen exchange program alumni (U.S. ExchangeAlumni) to forge new connections, build on their exchange experiences, and elevate their role as community leaders locally, nationally, and globally.
“The Career Connections events are a wonderful opportunity to showcase the role international exchange programs play in fostering global connections, creating career opportunities, and developing new skills,” said Katherine Brown, Ph.D., and President & CEO of Global Ties U.S. “We are thrilled to work with our colleagues at the Office of Alumni Affairs and with Global Ties Network members across the country to offer this resource for U.S. alumni to connect and build on their global experience.”
“These seminars can be a piece of the toolkit ExchangeAlumni use as they chart the path of their post-exchange journey,” Nini Forino, Office Director of Alumni Affairs in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, said.
“The conclusion of an exchange program marks the beginning of the ExchangeAlumni experience,” said Nini. “Through our partnership with Global Ties U.S., we are continuing to invest in U.S. ExchangeAlumni. This year’s Career Connections seminars in Indianapolis, Charlotte, San Francisco, and Washington, DC are opportunities for the U.S. Government to connect with alumni communities across the country and support them as they continue building upon the skills developed during their exchange.”
With more than 500,000 U.S. citizen alumni in the United States and around the world, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Alumni Affairs opens the door to alumni networking, professional development, and the many opportunities that exist in citizen diplomacy. In addition to Career Connections (including virtual Career Connections Global+ events), the partnership with Global Ties U.S. includes the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF), a small grants competition for exchange program alumni to carry out public service projects, and the Impact of Exchange exhibit, a traveling photography exhibition featuring stories and photos from U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni—more details on the exhibit dates and locations to come soon.
More Information
Global Ties U.S. powers individuals, communities, and nations to build trust and advance peace and prosperity through international exchange. It is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of State and supports a community-based network of 90+ nonprofit organizations serving all 50 U.S. states. Global Ties U.S. members are exchange professionals who provide the domestic infrastructure for U.S. public diplomacy efforts, implementing the International Visitor Leadership Program and a wide variety of educational, cultural, and professional exchange programs.
The Office of Alumni Affairs in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs The Office of Alumni Affairs cultivates and extends the impact of U.S. government funded and sponsored educational and cultural exchange programs through continued engagement with alumni of these programs. This dynamic global network of millions of ExchangeAlumni includes current and former heads of state, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Olympic athletes, award-winning artists, and untold numbers of community leaders and changemakers around the world.
The Office of Alumni Affairs collaborates with U.S. embassies and consulates abroad to leverage the expertise, energy, and enthusiasm of exchange alumni in support of shared goals. Domestically, The Office of Alumni Affairs works with implementing partners to support U.S. citizen alumni in leveraging the impact of their exchange experience after returning to the United States. Every day, exchange alumni make a difference in their communities and around the world, in health care, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, volunteerism, the democratic process, technology, and much more.