Global Ties Kalamazoo

?? Women’s History Month Spotlights: Global Clinical Connections ?? Who They Are Global Clinical Connections (GCC) has been a leader in clinical supply chain management for over 12 years. Founded by Loretta Cipkus Dubray, an industry expert with 30+ years of R&D pharmaceutical experience, GCC supports clinical trials in over 40 countries, ensuring life-changing treatments reach patients efficiently and compliantly. Their Impact With a team averaging 25+ years of industry experience, GCC provides expert project management, vendor coordination, crisis response, and regulatory consulting for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. Their work has directly benefited over 250,000 patients worldwide, advancing critical research and innovation in medicine. How to Support ?? Connect with GCC for expert clinical trial support. ?? Learn about their impact in global health and supply chain management. ?? Celebrate women-led innovation in science and healthcare. Why They Matter for Women’s History Month As a woman-founded and woman-led company, GCC exemplifies leadership in the STEM and healthcare industries, fields where women have historically been underrepresented. Loretta Cipkus Dubray’s success in pioneering clinical supply solutions highlights the importance of women’s contributions to science, medicine, and business. Pictured here are a few of the many science and tech innovators from around the world who have been inspired connecting with Loretta through our programs. ?? Visit & Learn More: https://lnkd.in/gywqgpcQ? ????1615 W Centre Ave # 103, Portage, MI 49024 ??????Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM #WomensHistoryMonth #GlobalClinicalConnections #WomenInSTEM #WomenInBusiness #SupportLocal

?? Women’s History Month Spotlights: YWCA Kalamazoo ?? Who They Are YWCA Kalamazoo is the longest-serving YWCA in Michigan, working tirelessly to eliminate racism, empower women, and advocate for social justice. They provide critical services for survivors of violence, family support programs, and community-driven advocacy initiatives. Their Impact From transitional housing and legal aid to victim-focused counseling and crisis services, YWCA Kalamazoo is a pillar of safety and empowerment for women, children, and families in our community. How to Support ?? Donate to their Annual Fund: Evolving the Story – helping sustain essential programs. ?? Assist-A-Family: Support local families in need. ?? Volunteer: Give your time to vital services like childcare, pantry organization, and community health programs. ?? Donation drop-offs: 353 E. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 ?????????????????????????????Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 AM – 5 PM. ?? Questions? Contact their Development Team at [email protected]. Why They Matter for Women’s History Month For over 138 years, YWCA Kalamazoo has led the way in fighting for equity and systemic change, ensuring that women and families have access to safety, dignity, and opportunity. Join us in celebrating YWCA Kalamazoo’s lasting impact and supporting their mission of equity, empowerment, and justice for all.?We have loved our opportunity to connect visitors from across the world, over the course of many, many years, with the staff at the YWCA for connection and professional engagement. #WomensHistoryMonth #YWCAKalamazoo #EmpowerWomen #EliminateRacism #CommunityStrong

??? Event Recap: Together for Tomorrow ??? On Wednesday night, we gathered at Crawlspace Comedy Theatre for Together for Tomorrow, an evening of connection, conversation, and idea generation on international exchange opportunities in Kalamazoo, from a local perspective. ???? This group of home and professional hosts, and community partners brought wonderful perspectives. Thank you! Your insights, energy, and commitment to strengthening our community through global engagement inspire us every day. We explored what exchange means in 2025, discussed ways to maximize local impact, and celebrated the power of peer-to-peer connections around the world. Special thanks to all who contributed to this important discussion. If you couldn’t make it but want to be part of the conversation, we’d love to hear from you! ?? Here’s to continuing our mission: Enriching local community with global diversity, one relationship at a time. Stay connected, stay engaged, and let’s build a brighter, more connected future together! ?? Share your thoughts in the comments or DM us! #TogetherForTomorrow #ExchangeIsForEverybody #GlobalTiesKalamazoo #CommunityConnections

?? Women’s History Month Spotlight: Bee Joyful Shop ?? Who They Are Located in Downtown Kalamazoo, Bee Joyful Shop is Michigan’s first Zero Waste Shop & Refillery! Founded by Jess, a pioneer in zero-waste living, Bee Joyful offers sustainably sourced and locally made products for your home, kitchen, bath, and beauty routine. With 85% of products sourced from Michigan-based artisans, they are dedicated to making sustainable living accessible, practical, and affordable. Jess partnered with us as a YLAI Field Placement Organization (FPO), hosting April in 2024 and we love her commitment to the power of international exchange and the Kalamazoo community - global and hyper local! Their Impact ?? Eco-Friendly Mission: Helping the community cut down on waste with sustainable products. ?? Award-Winning Leadership: Jess was recognized as the 2024 Woman-Owned Business of the Year in West Michigan. ?? Leading by Example: Bee Joyful prioritizes plastic-free shipping, repurposed packaging, and refillable essentials to minimize environmental impact. How to Support ??? Shop sustainable goods in-store or online. ?? Learn about zero-waste living through their resources. ?? Refill & Reuse to reduce plastic waste. Why They Matter for Women’s History Month Jess’s journey from living off-the-grid to becoming a leader in sustainability is a testament to women’s innovation, resilience, and leadership in environmental advocacy. Inspired by her grandmother’s wisdom, she turned her passion for zero-waste living into a movement—one that is changing the way our community thinks about waste. ?? Visit Bee Joyful Shop: 243 S Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI ???Monday - Saturday, 10 AM - 6 PM and Sunday, 12 PM - 5 PM ?? Learn More: https://lnkd.in/gHh4mVam? #WomensHistoryMonth #BeeJoyfulShop #SustainableLiving #WomenInBusiness #ZeroWaste

??? New Blog Post! ??? At Global Ties Kalamazoo, every relationship matters.?? Check out our latest newsletter to see what we have been up to, making a difference in our community. ?? ?? https://lnkd.in/g24TwnDt #GlobalTiesKzoo #ConnectingCultures #BuildingCommunity #ExchangeIsForEverybody #ExchangeMatters

?? Exciting Opportunity for U.S. Citizen #ExchangeAlumni! ?? #CareerConnections Kansas City: Skills for Success in the Heartland is coming up on March 27-28! Hosted by Global Ties KC this professional development seminar is designed to help alumni prepare for the 21st-century workforce. ?? Event Details: ?? Dates: March 27-28 ?? Location: Kansas City ?? Focus: Building skills for today’s dynamic job market How to Apply: Applications are open until March 17! Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your career development. Apply now: gties.us/CC Get ready for valuable insights and networking opportunities that will help propel your professional growth! ?? Global Ties U.S. #ExchangeAlumni - Alumni Affairs - State Dept.

?? Urgent Call to Action: Help Reinstate Funding for International Exchange Programs Global Ties Kalamazoo community members, volunteers, and supporters—we need your help! The U.S. Department of State’s funding freeze has extended beyond its initial 15-day hold, directly impacting our ability to implement crucial #InternationalExchange and #PublicDiplomacy programs. After connecting more than 400 international leaders with our community in 2024, Global Ties Kalamazoo has yet to welcome a single group in 2025 due to this funding freeze. This freeze not only impacts our organization, it means lost revenue for our local vendors, small businesses, and community partners—and most especially the missed opportunities for engagement and exchange of ideas around some of the most critical issues facing our communities, both globally and locally. This ongoing pause means funding is not available for the more than 80 Global Ties Network affiliate organizations, including Global Ties Kalamazoo, that implement our country’s flagship International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) which is celebrating 85 years in 2025, alongside other key exchange programs that help us connect West Michigan with the world. We also know this pause risks the health, safety, and future of more than 12,500 U.S. youth, students, and professionals who are currently (or who have imminent plans to be) abroad, including on Fulbright programs, and shuts off funding for U.S. programs now hosting more than 7,400 youth, students, and professionals from around the world in U.S. communities. Person to person diplomacy has the power to create lasting change in our communities and around the world, and we need those relationships now more than ever. When we say exchange is for everybody, we mean everybody. Please speak up, share your stories of the impact of exchange on your life, business, organization or family, and help us protect the future of international exchange. ?? We URGE you to take action. Contact your local representatives and call for an end to the funding freeze. Send a letter to your Representatives NOW: https://lnkd.in/dh4HXxw7 Thank you for standing with us in support of international exchange & citizen diplomacy! ?? ?? #ExchangeIsForEverybody #SaveECAFunding #ExchangeMatters #CitizenDiplomacy #GlobalTiesKalamazoo

? Every year, we look forward to the Global Ties U.S. National Meeting—a gathering of citizen diplomats from across the country, coming together to celebrate the power of exchange, strengthen networks, and share knowledge. This year was no exception. We’re returning from Washington, D.C. with renewed energy, fresh insights, and a deepened commitment to fostering the global and local connections that build a more peaceful world. ???? Kalamazoo was proudly represented, with members of our board, host community, and staff engaging in an action-packed week of advocacy, professional development, and collaboration. Stay tuned for more of our key takeaways later this week! #GlobalTies2025?#IVLPCommunity?#StrongerAlliancesStrongerCommunities

???? Farewell, Beth! ???? The Global Ties Kalamazoo team is saying a heartfelt thank you to our amazing colleague, Beth Clark. For years, Beth has played a vital role in keeping our digital presence strong—managing our social media across a multitude of platforms and updating our blog to keep us connected with our community, both global and local. We also appreciate her stepping in to help with programming, always with words of empowerment and a smiling face. We are grateful for Beth's dedication to lifting up and sharing the stories of our programs and participants with the community, sharing our belief that Exchange is for Everybody. While we’ll miss Beth's hard work and positive spirit, we are so excited for all the new opportunities ahead for her! Please join us in wishing Beth the very best in the next chapter! #ThankYouBeth #GlobalTiesKalamazoo

???? The Global Ties Kalamazoo team is delighted to welcome Emmi Smith, our new intern! ???? Emmi joins us with a passion for cultural exchange, storytelling, and community engagement. With experience in media production, social strategy, and event coverage, she’s excited to dive into the world of citizen diplomacy—using her skills to highlight the impact of international exchange programs and foster global connections. She’s eager to learn more about international program development, connect with voices from all over the world, and bring fresh ideas to our team! Fun fact: Emmi has a minor in International Studies and loves learning about different cultures Stay tuned for her work behind the scenes at Global Ties Kalamazoo! Check out our linktr.ee/globaltieskzoo for more details about our team. Join us in welcoming her! ?? #GlobalTiesKalamazoo?#MeetTheIntern?#CulturalExchange