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Mayor Eric Garcetti
City of Los Angeles
Mark Ridley-Thomas
Chair, L.A. County Board of Supervisors
Matthew Olsen
Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
Vice Chairs
Mathias Fobi, M.D.
Bariatec Corporation
Michele A. Franchett
Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP
Michael McDowell
Japan House Los Angeles
Deanne Neiman
Honorary Consul of Botswana
Legal Counsel
Wafa J. Hoballah
WJH Law Group, APC
Laman Alani
Haifa Azawi, M.D.
New Women Medical Care
Kathy Jones Irish
Kathy Jones Irish Consulting, LLC
Jonathan Kaji
Kaji & Associates
Patti MacJennett
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Kristin McCowan Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
Rima Nashashibi
Nashashibi International Consultants, LLC
Stephen Ozoigbo
International Advisor
Relativity Education
Lourdes Saab
L.A. County Office of Protocol
William Silva
Southern California Edison
David R. Stepp
Bryan Cave LLP
Yael Swerdlow
Women's Empowerment Foundation
Tina Tangalakis
Della
Tim Watkins
Watts Labour Community Action Committee
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In this month's issue you will find:
Quote of the Month
Chipping Away at the Glass Ceiling
Book Signing: A Place of Miracles
Fulbright Seminar Recap
Save the Date: Citizen Diplomacy Celebration!
World Trade Week Kickoff Celebration
Upcoming International Visitors in April
I hope you enjoy hearing about the recent goings-on at IVCLA. Please feel free to share your comments with me by sending an email to [email protected]
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Q: How did your perception(s) of the United States change during/after your visit?
A:
Before coming, I knew about American culture only through the media and cinema. After this visit, I'm aware about the real people of Los Angeles and I'm definitely convinced that America is not only Hollywood.
--Mustapha BENFODIL, Journalist, El Watan Newspaper, Algeria
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Chipping Away at the Glass Ceiling
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The women with Constance Anderson, Director of Pacific Coast Regional (PCR) Small Business Development Corporation
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In March, six socially-conscious women entrepreneurs from St. Petersburg came to Los Angeles as part of the Open World Program. These women are aiming to promote community-focused entrepreneurship among women in Russia. Fittingly, they came during Women's History Month, which gives us the chance to celebrate all the contributions and advancements to society women have made.
Equal opportunity is a fundamental principle the United States strives to uphold. As the fight for equal opportunity continues, so does the fight for equal pay. Equal Pay Day, which was April 4
th this year, is the symbolic day dedicated to raising awareness of the gender pay gap. This date symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. For every $1 a white man makes, a white woman makes $0.79, a black woman makes $0.64 and a Latina woman makes $0.54.
On March 27, President Trump revoked the 2014 Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces order, which was put in place to ensure that companies with federal contracts comply with 14 labor and civil rights laws. The Fair Pay order included two rules that impacted women workers: paycheck transparency and a ban on forced arbitration clauses for sexual harassment, sexual assault or discrimination claims. The Fair Pay order President Trump overturned was one of the few ways to ensure companies pay women workers equal pay.
Fortunately, these Russian women got to experience how Los Angeles supports, empowers, and bolsters women entrepreneurship. The group had the opportunity to discuss resources and tools for small businesses at the Pacific Coast Regional (PCR) Small Business Development Corporation, and the role of a congressional office and constituent services at the Office of Congressman Adam Schiff, 29th District. A collective meeting was held with Sister Cities of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles/St. Petersburg Sister City Committee, during which opportunities for joint ventures were discussed. At StartUp UCLA, the university-based accelerator that connects students with alumni who are successful in the startup world, the women networked with their counterparts and learned about programs for early-stage startups. An appointment with Community Partners answered all their questions about incubator services for start-up non-profits, from generating ideas in response to community challenges, to program management, to bringing together local stakeholders. The women met with fellow woman entrepreneur Sarah Penna, who co-founded Big Frame, the Los Angeles-based digital media startup specializing in growing YouTube audiences and connecting them with advertisers. She shared her personal experiences and challenges in the tech sector, and emphasized
the importance of digital networks and the necessity of a strong social media presence.
Their final meeting was with the National Association of Women Business Owners, an organization dedicated to accelerating initiatives promoting women's entrepreneurship worldwide. There, Mary McCormick, Vice President of Public Policy, briefed them about working with the business community to build a legacy for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
For a complete immersion into American culture during their week in L.A., the six women stayed in the homes of IVCLA members. We would like to thank the following members for their gracious hospitality: Judy Chiasson,
Linda & Sam Dragga,
Janet Elliott,
Michele Franchett,
Terese Harris, and
Dr. Amarjit Marwah.
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Book Signing: A Place of Miracles
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The Aga Khan Council for the Western USA, in partnership with the Consulate General of Afghanistan and
the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles presents a book launch of A Place of Miracles with author Lee Hilling.
"Arising during a time of seemingly never-ending war, the French Medical Institute for Children (FIMC) is one of Afghanistan's most remarkable success stories. It has become the enabling catalyst for lives to be changed and dreams to be realized-a place where people have succeeded and survived against overwhelming obstacles and odds."
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 | University of Southern California | 5:00 p.m.
Presentation and discussion followed by a book signing and reception.
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Fulbright Seminar Recap
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All the Fulbright scholars regroup after a day of volunteering
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From March 8 to 11, IVCLA had the pleasure of organizing the 2017 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Enrichment Seminar "Building a Sustainable Future: Innovative Approaches for the Environment and Our Oceans". Nearly 100 international Fulbright scholars from universities all over the county came to Los Angeles to participate in the three-day seminar. They learned all about green technology and global adaptive solutions to climate change. Between panel discussions and presentations, the Fulbright scholars participated in environmentally-friendly volunteer activities, had home hospitality with Angelinos, went sightseeing, and mingled among themselves, exploring the nightlife Los Angeles has to offer.
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Save the Date: Citizen Diplomacy Celebration!
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Joumana Silyan-Saba
will be presented with IVCLA's Outstanding Citizen Diplomat Award. Joumana is the Director of the Mayor's Office of Public Safety.
We will also honor Youth Mentoring Connection with our Outstanding Resource Award. The m
ission of Youth Mentoring Connection is to awaken at-risk youth to their power, unique gifts and purpose by matching them with caring adult mentors and placing that "match" within a structured group dynamic that provides the resources youth need to reach a productive, conscious adulthood.
Sponsorship opportunities available.
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World Trade Week Kickoff Celebration
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For 91 years,
World Trade Week has been the most extensive and unique program of its kind in the country. Join more than 800 executives and members of the diplomatic corps to commence a month-long celebration of world trade in Southern California.
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Upcoming International Visitors
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The following are among the arriving guests of the
U.S. government whose professional appointments in
Los Angeles will be arranged by the
International Visitors Council of Los Angeles.
April 2017
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Botswana
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Niger
Papua New Guinea
Turkey
Iraq
Yemen
Syria
Sri Lanka
Peru
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2017 International Women of Courage
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Apr 5 - 8
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Russia
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Education and Outreach in U.S. Museums
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Apr 8 - 12
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Albania
Armenia
Bahrain
Brazil
Egypt
Haiti
India
Italy
Jordan
Kuwait
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
Nicaragua
Nigeria
People's Republic of China
Poland
Senegal
Tunisia
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
West Bank
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New and Traditional Broadcast Media
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Apr 11 - 15
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Brazil
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Youth and Community Conflict Resolution
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Apr 15 - 19
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Saudi Arabia
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Social Entrepreneurship and Fashion
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Apr 19 - 22
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Bangladesh
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Religious Education in the United States
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Apr 19 - 23
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Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Cote d'Ivoire
Haiti
South Africa
Swaziland
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
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Human and Civil Rights and Tolerance
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Apr 19 - 23
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Poland
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Community Building Around Cultural and Science Centers
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Apr 23 - 26
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Estonia
Jamaica
Lebanon
Lithuania
Nigeria
Palestinian Territories
Trinidad and Tobago
United Arab Emirates
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Toward A More Safe and Secure World - International Crime Issues
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Apr 26 -
May 2
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Germany
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Demographic Change and Integration in a Multicultural Society
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Apr 27 -
May 3
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Editor: Danica Kreculj
Projects Coordinator
(213) 388-1428
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