Global Minnesota

On this episode, hear from one of last year’s YLAI Fellows who recently returned to Minnesota to showcase his new projects as part of the State Department’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund. Leorian Ricardo is Creative Director at Moro Studio, an arts and publishing studio that is leading the development of the comic book industry and providing professional opportunities for young talent and new, underrepresented voices in the Dominican Republic. He shared his comic book workshops called "Be the Superhero of Your Own Story" at local schools including Gideon Pond Elementary, Nova Classical Academy, and Risen Christ Catholic School and spoke with next generation creators at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. He was also featured at our recent Global Social with international visitors on October 5th.

Global Minnesota Professional Exchanges

YLAI Program

CDAF Fellowship

Moro Studio Website

While the State Department's footprint has grown from 41 diplomatic posts throughout the world in 1900 to more than 270 missions today, the need to increase the ability to hire and retain the highest quality individuals continues. In a dynamic and significantly connected world, what does our nation need from those representing us on the diplomatic front? How can the diplomatic corps be prepared for future opportunities and unexpected disruptions?  On October 30, 2023, Global Minnesota hosted a conversation with Ambassador and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Ronald Neumann about his recommendations to modernize America's diplomacy. In this event recording, Ambassador Neumann shared his personal insights and provide a behind-the-scenes look at diplomacy from his long career representing the United States.

In 1960, Cyprus became independent from the United Kingdom, but its early years were marked by violence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The United Nations established a buffer zone in 1964 to diffuse rising tensions. Ten years later, after a Greece-sponsored coup in Cyprus, Turkey sent thousands of troops to the island, citing its right as a guarantor power to do so. Nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots living in the northern part of the island were forced or fled to the south; 60,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the south did the same to the north. The island and the capital city of Nicosia have been divided since then, despite international attempts to reunify Cyprus. U.N. troops remain to protect the peace, but periodic flare-ups of violence have occurred as recently as August 2023. Hear a conversation with former U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, Kathleen Doherty.

Ambassador Doherty outlines the current status of the Cyprus issue, the obstacles to establishing a permanent solution, and how diplomacy can play a critical role in mediating these tensions.

Global Minnesota is launching the inaugural event in a new annual event series designed to provide a snapshot of international business megatrends and insights for Minnesota companies in search of strategies in response. The Global Business Outlook promises to be the premier event for tracking and adapting to global business megatrends and for understanding the risks and opportunities they present. The event will include a keynote presentation about business megatrends, a panel of major Minnesota multinational corporations, and networking with over 100 Minnesota business professionals. Confirmed guests include leadership officials from the US Commercial Service, Greater MSP, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Consular Corps.

On this episode, hear from the keynote speaker for the Global Business Outlook, John Pournoor, CEO and founder of Government Analytica. His has 35 years of experience working at the intersection of governments and industry. Most recently, he was the VP of Government Affairs for a Fortune 100 multinational, where he engaged policymakers at the federal level, in 29 states and in 37 countries. He has served on numerous boards and has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the Minnesota District Export Council. John launched Government Analytica out of a passion to unlock the public value of government proposals to inspire policymakers to improve lives. He helps his clients shape the conversation through thought leadership content. He unlocks the policymaker impasse by using his company’s access to data and analytics to show the public value and the greater good of these proposals. Government Analytica has helped companies, advocates, associations, coalitions, commissions, and councils to unlock the public value behind their proposals and receive or save millions of dollars. He is a tireless advocate and volunteer for community-based organizations, including Global Minnesota. He divides his time between Washington DC and Minnesota.

Event Page: Global Business Outlook

Government Analytica

Global Minnesota Corporate Membership

In October, some of Global Minnesota’s staff will be participating in the International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise (also known as ISCNE) at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. This is a diplomacy simulation designed to help college students learn about the negotiation process. To help the students prepare and to bring the discussion of critical issues to all Minnesotans, Global Minnesota will host two free public events featuring former U.S. Ambassadors. The first will include former Ambassador to Cyprus, Kathleen Doherty, on October 19, while the second will feature former Ambassador and Deputy Assistance Secretary of State Ron Neumann on October 30.

On this episode, hear from the local organizer for the ISCNE event, retired U.S. Navy Commander Jon Olson and Diplomat-in-Residence for the University of Minnesota – Duluth Tom Hanson. They’ve provide an exclusive preview of these two upcoming diplomacy events, the situation in Cyprus, and how Global Minnesota and the ISNCE program inform and engage the next generation of leaders.

This past month, an incredible group of emerging professionals from countries across Africa visited Minnesota as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program. On this episode, hear from two of these Fellows, Marcellin Tsihoboto and Sylvia Phaphali Adzitey about their professional careers, their time in Minnesota, and the insights they will take back to their home countries.

On the latest episode of The Global Minnesota Podcast, hear from Elizabeth Horst and Kin Moy, two Senior Foreign Service Officers at the U.S. Department of State who are both originally from Minnesota. They discussed Minnesota’s recent bid to host a World Expo, the role that organizations like Global Minnesota play in citizen diplomacy, and how American foreign policy affects us all right here in America’s heartland.

Special thanks to former Global Minnesota President Mark Ritchie and the entire Minnesota Expo 2027 Committee for their inspiring advocacy to bring the world to Minnesota. Though the 2027 Expo was awarded to Serbia, their incredible efforts have helped raise Minnesota's global profile.

Global Minnesota recently launched a new virtual youth diplomacy program to connect Ukrainian and American high school students. In this program, students from Kyiv and Lviv, Ukraine are connecting with Edina High School students through online meetings and via social media platforms.

On the latest episode of The Global Minnesota Podcast, hear from Edina High School teacher Lindsey Smaka and Andrii Ushytskyi from America House, Kyiv on how these young people have deepened their knowledge, empathy and understanding of one another during this difficult time in Ukraine.

Global Minnesota will host a public event featuring the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch on June 14. Hear a wide-ranging discussion with Ambassador Yovanovitch at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs starting at 6:00 PM. She will discuss her time in Ukraine, her diplomatic career, and will sign copies of her new memoir "Lessons from the Edge." Sign up here.

This episode features Marika Ollaranta and Helena Saren from Business Finland, which is dedicated to promoting Finland’s international business ties. They will be part of a delegation of Finnish businesses and the Ambassador of Finland visiting Minnesota in May focused on helping Minnesota businesses learn decarbonization best practices. Interested in meeting this delegation in May? Contact Corporate Relations Officer Steve Riedel to find opportunities for global access and exposure to meet your company's Sustainable Development Goals.