Global Ties Nebraska

After years as the Lincoln Council for International Visitors (LCIV), we’re embracing a new name that better represents our statewide impact and global mission. ?? Our commitment to fostering international connections and cultural exchange remains stronger than ever! We’re looking forward to new opportunities, new partnerships, and a new look to be officially rolled out to the public in early 2025 https://lnkd.in/gF9dBGb8

Global New Orleans laissez les bons temps rouler as they hosted the Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summit for the Global Ties U.S. network and other diplomatic stakeholders. Global Ties Nebraska Executive Director, Crystal Bock Thiessen, and board member, Janet Scott, had the opportunity to learn more about Creativity Through Exchange and how citizen diplomats in New Orleans are fostering global and local connections to advance U.S. foreign policy goals. Way to represent Nebraska in our national network!

Lincoln Council For International Visitors

This week, we are welcoming an International Visitor Leadership Program delegation of 20 emerging global leaders and enjoyed an evening of live music and community connections at the Hub Cafe’s Hub & Soul Music Series ?? These visitors are here in Lincoln from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Republic of Kosovo, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, the Philippines, the Republic of Türkiye, Romania, Rwanda, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay, and Uganda. ?? #IVLP

Did you know there is a prestigious program run by the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)? Our embassies around the world select people to come to the U.S. for 3 week focused programs, visiting 2-4 cities, learning about vocational interests along with American culture. This week I’m volunteering with a group of 20 here visiting about Drought Mitigation. Building goodwill is one of my favorite ways to serve others. #internationalvisitorsprogram #globalcollbabortion #alohaspirit Jennifer Williams Lisa Lee #argentina #somalia

Join us on from 4:00-5:30pm July 28th at Bin 105 in the Haymarket! We invite LCIV members and the community to join us?at?Bin 105?in the Haymarket to welcome a?delegation of 20 emerging leaders from around the world on an?IVLP project?focused on?Building Drought Preparedness and Resilience. This delegation includes professionals working on land use management, water resources and conservation, efficient irrigation technologies, and broader climate change challenges, including drought impacts. Countries represented are Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Republic?of Kosovo, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Türkiye, Romania, Rwanda, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay and Uganda.? Light snacks will be provided by LCIV. No RSVP is required.

The Global Ties U.S. Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits help bring our national network together for collaborative learning and sharing. Great to have LCIV represented this week in Kalamazoo! #IVLP

Crystal Bock Thiessen and Mikki Sandin are currently in Michigan learning more about local efforts towards diplomacy at the Diplomacy Begins Here Summit, hosted by Global Ties Kalamazoo with the support of Global Ties U.S. and the U.S. Department of State. #IAmDiplomacy

LCIV (soon to be Global Ties Nebraska) is excited to announce the hiring of our inaugural Executive Director, Crystal Bock Thiessen! Crystal has been a volunteer with LCIV since 2014, serving as board vice president (2014-2017) and president (2017-2020). Her involvement also includes both IVLP and fee-for-service programing, representing Nebraska as a Network D.C. participant in 2017, and presenting at the Global Ties U.S. National Meeting twice on capturing diplomatic stories through better photography. As an English language educator, Crystal believes in the power of citizen diplomacy through education, travel, and relationship-building. She lived and taught in Sapporo, Japan for three years (2008-2011) and in Lugansk, Ukraine for one (2011-2012) as an English Language Fellow in conjunction with Georgetown University and the U.S. Department of State. She has worked as a U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist since 2013 on multiple teacher training assignments in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Russia, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Besides teaching and running the Hub Cafe with her husband, she is a professional photographer and, combined with her love of travel, has photographed and visited 53 countries and 32 U.S. states. Crystal will also be continuing her role as an English language instructor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she is a PhD Candidate in education (with an anticipated graduation this year--fingers crossed!). We're looking forward to having her serve in this new role to help us better build our #IVLP capacities as we transition into a new and improved organization!

Join us this Saturday, June 15th, at the Jayne Snyder Trails Center for a global conversation on immigration, relocation, and security issues with our Ukrainian neighbors and visiting delegation from Europe. All are welcome! #citizendiplomacy