Blog

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. (Mexico’s Independence Day, which is called “El Grito”, is actually celebrated on September 16.) To share the history of Cinco de Mayo, on the 5th of May, nearly 160 years ago in the unlikely city of Puebla, the small Mexican army successfully fended off the most powerful forces of the French led by Napoleon III. The event is celebrated every year on “Cinco de Mayo”, although it is celebrated differently in my native Mexico than in the United States. In the U.S., people have parties, eat Mexican food
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First things first: tell us a little about your background.  I grew up in the small Central Indiana town of Winchester which is “famous” for three things: we have the Winchester Speedway which, according to their website, is the fastest half-mile racetrack in the world; we have the factory that makes Wick’s Pies, the state sugar cream pie; and Robert Wise, director of The Sound of Music, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, The Day the Earth Stood Still, West Side Story, etc., was born there. I went to college at the University of Evansville, first for archaeology and then, after having
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Tell us a little about you and your organization. Founded in 1834, Franklin College (FC) is a small liberal arts based institution located 20 miles south of Indianapolis in the city of Franklin. With 55 majors, 41 minors, and 11 pre-professional programs from which to choose, Franklin College offers students hands-on learning experiences, as well as a commitment to ethical leadership at home and abroad. Our campus emphasizes the importance of being exposed to global experiences both on- and off-campus while also striving to create a welcoming inclusive environment for international students to study in the United States. As
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In Ethiopia, where I grew up, giving is part of the culture.  After living in the USA for several years, there was a part of me that missed that feeling of connectedness to communities that result from giving and sharing. It was a void I could not quite fill through monetary donations alone. So I began to search for a different approach.  I started by first finding an environment to share my culture with others of similar backgrounds.  I joined Lilly AMECA ERG, an employee resource group that represents people from Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia. At AMECA,
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First things first: tell us a little about your background.  Texas born and raised but I found my passion during my year in Moscow, three years in Memphis and the last seven years in D.C. Working for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition for the last three years has truly endeared me to the Midwest. Most of my previous colleagues had forgotten that I’m from Texas or that I lived abroad. I feel very much at home with the kindness, modesty and directness that I find in Indiana and across the Midwest. I’m motivated to make the world a better
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Indiana’s relationship with the UK  Indiana has developed and maintained a strong relationship with the United Kingdom through various cultural and economic ties. In 1999, the city of Fishers established a sister-city relationship with Billericay, Essex. The relationship has flourished since then through Fisher’s annual  Renaissance Faire, as they support the sister-city exchange by transforming the city into the Elizabethan town of Billericay. Indianapolis and Northhamptonshire County also share an important bond because of the sister-city program through their mutual interest and economic ties in the motor sports industry. Nowadays, Hoosier-British relations are further enhanced by the many business
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All of us can agree that, at its core, International Women’s Day is a celebration of women around the world. However, I believe it also serves as a reminder of the fact that the condition of women around the world can improve, not only at home, but also abroad. It establishes a sense of unity among women around the globe; it allows us to celebrate one another’s accomplishments, as well as recognize one another’s needs. On a day such as this, one might ask, “What exactly is an international woman?” While the answer to that question may vary from
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As the newly appointed Chief Economic Development Officer at the Indy Chamber, I oversee Indy Partnership, our nine-county region’s economic development organization, implement the Accelerate Indy Plan, our regional economic development strategy, and guide the Global Cities Strategy that maps out the path for our region to become a globally competitive center of business and livability. The Indianapolis Region has the key assets that are important for international companies to succeed, and now is the time to not only secure that knowledge locally, but be very deliberate in telling our story to the world. The three essential assets that
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First things first: tell us a little about yourself and your background.  My name is Angelique Barrere. I arrived in Indy 18 months ago after spending 8 fascinating years in China. I speak 4 languages besides English—including Chinese, German, Italian and French, my native tongue—and have extensive experience in global marketing. What drew you to your role at The International Center? I heard about The International Center a few months after I arrived. I found it a very interesting and unique place with great services. That’s why I offered to volunteer in the global competency department last year. Martin
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Tell us about yourself and the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center. We’re a full service neighborhood center. We have three main service areas, one of which is basic needs, which includes emergency food, housing and utility assistance, and evening meals. We also have Center-based and school-based services, which include before and after school programs, summer day camps, Head Start and community-based services at five public schools. Our third program area is adult learning and jobs. We’re a Center for Working Families site, which means we have employment and financial coaching, we have on-site HSE (high school equivalency), and we offer
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