Global Minnesota

On January 31, Global Minnesota hosted our popular annual event, the U.S. Foreign Policy Update. In this event, Diplomat in Residence and retired career Foreign Service Officer Tom Hanson discussed the latest foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. this year. His insightful and wide-ranging discussion included topics like the repercussions from the ongoing war in Ukraine, concerns facing China’s economy, renewed conflicts in the Middle East, and ongoing global struggles for peace and security.

This episode is a follow-up conversation with Tom Hanson featuring questions that were submitted during the event. We received numerous questions for this special Q&A episode and have compiled a wide-ranging sample so we can hear more of Tom Hanson’s unique analysis on all things foreign policy.

Event Recording: 2024 U.S. Foreign Policy Update

Global Minnesota Membership

Hear the insightful and popular annual U.S. Foreign Policy Update with Diplomat in Residence and career Foreign Service Officer, Tom Hanson. Tom explored and discussed the latest foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. in the year ahead including the repercussions from the ongoing war in Ukraine, concerns facing China's economy, renewed conflict in the Middle East, and ongoing global struggles for peace and security.

In 2022, Global Minnesota was delighted to host Fellows from the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) to Minnesota as part of our Professional Exchanges Program. The YLAI program gathers emerging leaders from all across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada to advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities.

One such visitor was Luis Villaherrera, who is fighting for democracy and human rights in El Salvador. In 2017, he co-founded TRACODA, which stands for transparency, social control, and open data, to create innovative projects that focus on technological tools to combat corruption and foster democracy. After the government banned his platform, he founded The Center for Democratic Strengthening. As part of this incredible work, he recently won a prestigious Obama Foundation Scholars award and hopes to use the program help build grassroots movements, deliver messages to a broader audience, and push for accountability in government throughout Central America and beyond. He joined the podcast to talk about his Minnesota experience with the YLAI program, his recent Obama Scholars award, and the important work he is doing to advance government accountability in Central America.

YLAI Program

Obama Scholars Program

Global Minnesota Professional Exchanges

Upcoming Event: Global Social with YLAI Fellows

TRACODA

The Daily: El Salvador

The Little Prince

Global Minnesota Gala

Global Minnesota’s Professional Exchanges program brings the world to Minnesota by connecting international visitors from all over the globe with their professional counterparts throughout the state. One of the most important organizations that helps facilitate this process is called Global Ties U.S.

On this episode, hear from Katherine A. Brown, President & CEO of Global Ties U.S.  She joins to talk about the national Global Ties Network, their upcoming National Meeting and Advocacy Day in early March, Citizen Diplomacy Day on February 16, and how these professional exchange programs benefit communities throughout the United States and around the world.

Global Minnesota Professional Exchanges

Global Ties U.S.

Global Ties Network

Global Ties Community Impact Study

Podcast Episode with Leorian Ricardo

State Department Alumni Exchange Program

Upcoming Event: Global Social with International Visitors

As Ukraine approaches the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, increasing attention is turning towards long-term strategies for the country’s security, recovery, and rebuilding. Ukraine has begun accession negotiations with the European Union and a NATO Summit in 2024 will likely discuss Ukraine's future in this strategic alliance.

Global Minnesota hosted a timely discussion of Ukraine's postwar outlook with two distinguished guests joining virtually: Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum and former Prime Minister of Ukraine and Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civic Liberties and 2022 Nobel Prize Laureate. After their keynotes, the conversation continued with a panel of local human rights and Ukrainian experts.

This episode is a recording of a public event held on November 29. 2023 at the 3M Innovation Center. Our first ever Global Business Outlook explored the global business megatrends that can pose risks—or lead to growth opportunities for Minnesota companies. Leading the discussion on global megatrends was Dr. John Pournoor, CEO of Government Analytica. John’s keynote focused on his annual 2024 Top 12 Global Megatrends. The keynote was followed by an elite panel of Global Minnesota Corporate Members. Representatives from leading multinationals shared their insights and recommendations on how companies can pivot from risk to opportunity.

We all plan ahead. Companies and organizations set sustainability goals with a combination of short-term and long-term targets. But what about very long-term goals? The United Nations SDG goals reach out to the year 2050 and beyond. What does the road look like-- and what tools are available-- for such long-range thinking and planning? And how do we set a course that is not only sustainable but restorative?

Watch or listen to our Sustainable Development Goals Roundtable event recording featuring nationally recognized futurist Trista Harris. Trista is the president of FutureGood, a consultancy that helps visionary leaders build a better future. She speaks internationally about using the tools of futurism in the social sector.

Classroom Connection is part of Global Minnesota’s K-12 Education programs and brings the world to classrooms all over Minnesota. International visitors, many of whom are students at local universities, teach sessions on their country’s culture and language in a fun and interactive format that sparks the curiosity of our youngest learners. These lessons are unique to each class and can be conducted either virtually or in-person. There is no fee to participate and Global Minnesota staff handle all of the logistics for visitor placement and travel.

Marzia Saleem is one of this year's Humphrey Fellows and volunteered at Anne Sullivan Elementary School in the 1st grade classes of Whitney Newbauer and Amanda Davey. Marzia, Whitney, and Amanda joined to talk about their experiences in Minnesota and with the Classroom Connection program.

Classroom Connection Program

Humphrey Fellow Marzia Saleem

Earlier this year, Global Minnesota had the honor of welcoming the former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Algeria, and Bahrain, Ronald Neumann, for an in-depth public conversation about the critical need to modernize the State Department. He provided a comprehensive summary of ways in which we can better support our diplomats abroad, and the implications of this important work here at home. You can catch that recording here.

On this episode, hear Ambassador Neumann continue the conversation about his diplomatic career, careers in the foreign service, and a behind-the-scenes look at life as an Ambassador.

Event Recording: Modernizing America's Diplomacy

Ambassador Neumann Bio

American Academy of Diplomacy

America's Other Army (Book)

American Diplomat (Podcast)

The General and the Ambassador (Podcast)

Earlier this year, Global Minnesota had the honor of welcoming the former U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, Kathleen Doherty, for an in-depth public conversation about the unique situation of this divided Mediterranean island. She provided an excellent summary of the static conflict in this region and what it means for all of us here at home, as well as the wider world abroad. You can catch that recording here.

On this episode, hear Ambassador Doherty continue the conversation about her diplomatic career, careers in the foreign service, and a behind-the-scenes look at life as an Ambassador.

Event Recording: Cyprus in Context

Ambassador Doherty Bio