Creating international connections.
Cultivating local innovation.
Activating global potential.
April 2020
CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NEWS
Expand Your World Today
In This Issue...
  • Quote of the Month
  • Sharing a Global Perspective
  • Stay Informed on COVID-19
  • Home Hospitality Highlights from March
  • Completing the Census Makes a Difference!
  • Stay Tuned for Upcoming Visitors
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Quote of the Month:

"I would like to thank IVCLA for hosting us in Los Angeles. This part of the trip has been informative and provided a good opportunity to network and share ideas on disaster risk reduction. All the meetings that were organized were relevant and important"

~ Tebogo Modiakgotla, a visitor from Botswana on a program about
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
February 2020
Sharing a Global Perspective
During the next couple of months we look forward to sharing the insights and stories of our local resources and our alumni from around the world who are making a difference during this difficult time. Let us know if you have an insight or story you would like share. 
This past October, Rawan Al Khatib, a Casting Director, Assistant Director, and Filmmaker from Jordan, was one of 17 filmmakers from the Middle East and North Africa who participated in a program IVCLA hosted on Documentary and Independent Filmmaking (see November 2019 Newsletter ). During their time in Los Angeles Rawan and the other filmmakers had the opportunity to meet with institutions such as American Film Institute and the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts . They examined independent and documentary film as a means of social, political and cultural commentary and as an expression of free speech, as well as exploring collaboration with others in the film industry.

We reached out to Rawan and asked her about the current COVID-19 situation in Jordan. She shared with us, “[The Jordanian government] has been taking control of the situation. Supermarkets and pharmacies will be open until this Thursday, which will be 10 days from 10am-6pm. After that everything will be closed again. Quarantine will start again on Friday. People flying into Jordan are staying in separate rooms in hotels and being tested for the virus. But for the last 10 days, the airports have been closed.” After returning from her L.A. program, Rawan worked as casting director for a Korean-Af ghani film project, however production on the project has been postponed until May. While waiting for production to pick-up again , she is making the best of things by enjoying her time to read, work out, and watch movies.
Zain Duraie was also a participant from Jordan in last October’s filmmakers group. She would like to share an interesting opportunity for a change of pace in your movie watching with the streaming of her short film, Give Up the Ghost. An award-winning filmmaker, Zain discusses her insights behind creating her film's message. A Venice film festival contender and winner of the best Arab short film award at the El Gouna film festival, Give Up the Ghost is available to rent/purchase online HERE.
Stay Informed on COVID-19
The IVCLA staff and board send good thoughts to all our members and friends during this challenging time of endless hand washing, social distancing and too much computer time. We hope you and your families are all staying safe and healthy! Although right now it may feel as if no end is in sight, we know it is just over the horizon. As we all do our part to follow the rules and flatten the curve here in L.A., we are looking forward to the coming months when IVCLA can get back to our work of creating people-to-people connections around world. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to continuing being part of the solution to stop the spread of the virus. We can also all do our part to lend moral support to others, not only in Los Angeles, but around the world. If you have made connections with IVCLA International Visitors over the years, now is a good time to reach out to see how they are doing. This unprecedented global crisis can only be solved by coming together to share all of our knowledge, expertise, and goodwill. We are stronger together!        
 
An easy to follow, informative, infographic report of the COVID-19 data is HERE .
Free COVID-19 Testing Available for Eligible Angelenos! HERE.
Check Out These Volunteer
Opportunities in Los Angeles
It is important to observe all of the Safer at Home rules to help end the spread of COVID-19. But you can still do your part to help your community and those who are struggling more than others during this pandemic, volunteering is a Safer-at-Home-approved activity . If you are under 65, in good health, not a member of a vulnerable population, and are meeting all advised public health requirements - here are some things you can do to help: donate blood , volunteer at an LAUSD food distribution center , or connect with your local meal delivery program
Home Hospitality Highlights from March
Just before the postponement of programs took place last month, IVCLA was able to welcome a group of visitors from South America who came to L.A. on March 5 th under an International Visitor Leadership Program focused on the U.S. Electoral Process . The visitors came from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela . While in L.A. the visitors' meetings included the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk , the Center for Civic Education , and the LAPD Elysian Park Academy , where they had in-depth discussions on understanding the development of democracy and civic education in the U.S.
The visitors were also able to experience L.A. on a personal level by enjoying dinner with some of our members. IVCLA member Deborah Dovitch (not pictured) and Victoria Meza (right/center) welcomed visitors from Bolivia and Uruguay to their home and had an amazing time bonding over common interests. New IVCLA member Stan Holt (above/left) told us he had a great time hosting his first dinner hospitality experience with guests from Chile and the Dominican Republic, and he looks forward to hosting more visitors when new programs begin again in Los Angeles.
Completing the Census Makes a Difference!
The U.S. Constitution requires a census be taken every 10 years to count all people living in the U.S. and its five territories, whether they are U.S. citizens or not. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the end date for the census has been pushed from July 31 st to August 14 th . But don’t delay! It only takes a few minutes and it has never been easier to complete the Census. You can fill it out online, over the phone or by mail. It is important for us all. A complete and accurate count is critical for your family and our community! The results of the 2020 Census will affect how our communities are funded, our number of congressional representation, and more. By filling out the census you are helping determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year!  
Stay Tuned for Upcoming International Visitors
We were looking forward to welcoming 59 visitors from 16 countries in April. However, due to restrictions set in place in response to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, all International Visitor Leadership Programs have been postponed until June 30 th. IVCLA looks forward to welcoming new visitors, hosting more events, and connecting Angelenos with our international visitors as soon as conditions improve.
Editor: Andrea Martinez
Communications & Events Coordinator
Share your comments with me at   amartinez@ivcla.org !