By Abigail Barkley, Development Intern, Global Ties U.S.
From February 18 to 21, our nationwide Global Ties Network gathered in Washington, DC for the Global Ties U.S. 2025 National Meeting. More than 600 people were in attendance, including 15 representatives of the 2025 Emerging Leaders cohort. The Emerging Leaders Program is a year-long professional development opportunity for rising public diplomacy and international exchange leaders from communities across the United States who got their start in the Global Ties Network.
This year’s National Meeting theme, “Stronger Alliances, Stronger Communities,” explored how exchanges like the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) strengthen U.S. influence and security abroad and build stronger communities and workforces at home. Our Emerging Leaders embraced this theme by presenting their community service projects, networking with international exchange and public diplomacy professionals, and participating in our annual Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, where they met with the offices of their members of Congress to speak up about the domestic benefits of public diplomacy and encourage support for international exchange programs.
Emerging Leaders attend a welcome dinner.
On Tuesday evening, the Emerging Leaders attended a welcome dinner hosted by Global Ties U.S. supporter Glenda Schillinger at Immigrant Food. “It amazed me how comfortable most of them seemed that night after the food started arriving and folks started getting to know each other,” Glenda remarked about the dinner. “It was fun asking them how things were going and see them light up and they talked about what they had done or who they had met.”
To help kick off the National Meeting programming on Wednesday, three Emerging Leaders, Lainey Chi (WorldOregon), Mary Claire Flynn (Cleveland Council on World Affairs), and Chase Taylor (San Antonio Council for International Visitors), introduced the Global Ties Network Honors for the IVLP Interpreter Award and IVLP Liaison Award during the Opening Plenary. The Emerging Leaders also met with U.S. Department of State employees representing the Office of International Visitors and the Senior Foreign Service, who provided career advice as the cohort begins the next steps of their professional journeys.
The first day wrapped up with six concurrent embassy-hosted receptions around Washington, DC. The Emerging Leaders joined their fellow conference attendees at the Embassy of Switzerland, and many got to speak with Ralf Heckner, the Swiss Ambassador to the United States.
Group photo of the Emerging Leaders at the Embassy of Switzerland
On Thursday, the Emerging Leaders Celebration took place at the National Meeting, where Ben Chang, a member of the Global Ties U.S. Board of Directors, facilitated a session that explored their involvement with the Global Ties Network, their motivations behind their service projects, and their experiences in the Emerging Leaders Program. After snapping a selfie with Ben, the Emerging Leaders spread out around the ballroom to interact with other attendees, present more about their service projects, and stamp the Emerging Leaders passport booklet.
“The passports were a very creative way for people to meet the Emerging Leaders and showcase our project,” said Jess Emanuel from the International Institute of Wisconsin. “It was so much fun stamping passports for people in the Global Ties Network and getting to know them.”
Emerging Leader booklet page depicting Valentina Suarez from Global Ties Sacramento.
Raven Jules, an Emerging Leader from Global Ties Alabama, shared, “I particularly enjoyed this event because everyone who attended genuinely seemed so proud of us, even those who didn’t know us prior to the event.”
During the celebration, Global Ties U.S. President Emeritus Sherry Mueller, Ph.D., and former Emerging Leaders Program Manager Judy Donner led a special tribute to the late Sharon Durtka. Along with her husband Al, Sharon supported the program since its founding and shared her wisdom with numerous Emerging Leaders cohorts over the years.
The National Meeting was a great opportunity for the Emerging Leaders to come together and grow their personal and professional networks. When talking about the Emerging Leaders Program and spending time with the rest of the cohort, Mary Claire, said the “Emerging Leaders Program is a great opportunity for young people in the Global Ties Network to see all aspects of IVLP and meet the many people who work to put it together.”
Nichole Hotzler from the Iowa International Center added that the Emerging Leaders Program matters “because it lets you meet the people you’ve been working with, see the impact you make, and talk with others who understand your career and its challenges.”
Emerging Leaders on stage for the Emerging Leaders Celebration session.
To date, the Emerging Leaders Program has helped launch the careers of more than 200 young professionals, many of whom are still involved in the Global Ties Network as programmers, executive directors, and mentors to new cohorts. The program is made possible through the support of our donors. Their support allows us to continue supporting future leaders committed to citizen engagement in foreign affairs and giving back to their communities across the United States.
The 2025 Emerging Leaders Program will culminate later this year in a Virtual Showcase to highlight their service projects and impact this year.