In October, some of Global Minnesota’s staff will participate in the International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise, a diplomacy simulation to help college students learn the negotiation process. To support this effort, Global Minnesota will host TWO free public events featuring former U.S. Ambassadors. The first features former Ambassador to Cyprus, Kathleen Doherty, on October 19, while the second features former Ambassador and Deputy Assistance Secretary of State Ron Neumann on October 30.

On our latest podcast episode, hear from the local organizer for the diplomacy simulation, retired U.S. Navy Commander Jon Olson and Diplomat-in-Residence for the University of Minnesota – Duluth Tom Hanson. They share an exclusive preview of these two upcoming diplomacy events, the current situation in Cyprus, and how Global Minnesota and the diplomacy simulation help to inform and engage the next generation of foreign policy professionals.

On this episode we’re taking a deep dive into local politics. In particular, we’re going to address some very particular issues currently impacting Salt Lake City, Utah. We have the honor of being joined once again by Grant Miller. Grant is a public defender in Salt Lake City and has recently announced his candidacy for the Utah State House of Representatives for House District 24. Grant joined to discuss his campaign platform and talk through some of the issues most critical to Utah and his proposed solutions.

LINKS

Grant Miller Campaign Website

This past month, an incredible group of emerging professionals from countries all across Africa have been visiting Minnesota as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program. On the latest episode of The Global Minnesota Podcast, hear from two of these impressive Fellows, Marcellin Tsihoboto and Slyvia Phaphali Adzitey about their professional careers, their time in Minnesota, and the insights they learned which will be brought 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.

Subscribe to The Global Minnesota Podcast to hear untold stories of international connections each month!

U.S. State Department Bureaus 

Minnesota Global Stats

Susan Falatko (Diplomat in Residence)

State Department Careers

Global Minnesota Professional Exchanges

Expo 2027

Protez Foundation (MPR Interview)

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.

Public Event with Ambassador of Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch

Global Minnesota K-12 Education Program

Yulia Tymoshenko

In a new series of audio conversations, Global Minnesota Marketing & Communications Manager Nick Hayen talks with some of the amazing people Global Minnesota connects with in our mission to advance international understanding and engagement. Subscribe to The Global Minnesota Podcast to catch these monthly episodes!

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.

In a new series of audio conversations, Global Minnesota Marketing & Communications Manager Nick Hayen talks with some of the amazing people Global Minnesota connects with in our mission to advance international understanding and engagement. Subscribe to The Global Minnesota Podcast to catch these monthly episodes!

This episode features two World Press Institute International Fellows, Ms. Fauziyya Tukur, a senior journalist focusing on disinformation for the British Broadcasting Corporation from Abuja, Nigeria, and Mr. Saqib Tanveer, social media editor for the Independent Urdu newspaper based in Islamabad, Pakistan. The World Press Institute was established in 1961 to strengthen and promote the founding principles and best practices of journalism. Each year, WPI brings together 10 professional journalists from all over the world and immerses them in the governance, politics, business, media, journalistic ethics, and culture of the United States. While they journey across the United States, they learn about the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. media, while engaging in the life and times surrounding them. Global Minnesota and WPI will showcase all ten of these individuals at a free Global Journalism Spotlight event at 6:00PM on March 23 at the Minneapolis Central Library.

On this episode, Nicholas is joined by guest star John Patterson. John who works at the U.S. Agency for International Development and is a founding board member and adjunct professor for the University of San Diego's new Master's of Science in Humanitarian Action program. They discuss John’s work with USAID, the link between humanitarian assistance and foreign policy, and Minnesota’s vast connections to international development and refugee assistance programs.

LINKS

University of San Diego Master’s of Science in Humanitarian Action

USAID

Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance

Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism

Food for Peace Program

Nagorno-Karabakh War

MINN 2020 Global Report

Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee)

USGLC in Minnesota

Stephen and Nicholas take a deep dive into the latest NATO summit in Madrid. They discuss the importance of NATO’s invitation to bring Finland & Sweden into the alliance, the dramatic increase of NATO forces in Eastern Europe, and NATO’s new Strategic Concept which places a heavy emphasis on countering China’s aggression. They also explain the overall importance of the thawing Arctic region and American leadership during this critical time in international relations.

Blog Post: The Return of the NATO Alliance

Blog Post: The Next Phase of the War in Ukraine

Russian Invasion of Georgia

NATO Baltic Map

NATO 2022 Strategic Concept

Quad Alliance

Blog Post: Global Policy & Climate Change (Arctic Ocean Shipping Lanes)

Blog Post: South China Sea (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea)

Global Minnesota

Minnesota International NGO Network

On this special edition of The Orientalist Express podcast, we discuss the devastating invasion of Ukraine by Russia’s military forces. Nicholas and Matthew are joined by returning guest host Toms Ratfelders, who previously worked in the Latvian government, and Steve Hatting, who recently returned from living in Ukraine for the past seven years. The team shares their thoughts on this monumental shift in European security and what it could mean for the future of international relations. Steve also shares his personal experiences in Ukraine and his optimism for the continued survival of Ukraine as an independent nation.

Alight (local org) Rapid Response Team in Poland

Ukraine Refugee Assistance

Support for Kyiv Jewish Community

Euromaidan Press Links for Support

Ukrainian Army Support (with Crypto donation)

Ukrainian Army Support

Ukraine President Zelenskyy Plays Piano