Blog

The International Center welcomes visitors from all around the world to Indiana throughout the year, connecting them to resources and sharing knowledge and networks to make them feel at home in the Hoosier State. For example, The Center is the local administrator for the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program where in 2017 we hosted 115 visitors on professional exchange programs. In addition, our destination services department provided relocation services to 133 families expatriating to Indianapolis on corporate assignments. By far, however, the greatest number of visitors we receive are when the firefighters come to town. From
Read more...

Over spring break, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Peru. Outside of time spent on planes and buses and in airports, I spent eight days travelling around the country. It was a whirlwind tour of some of Peru’s most incredible landscapes. By trying to pack as many sights as possible into eight days, sometimes it was difficult to tell if you were out of breath from the altitude or from exhaustion. Regardless, during those eight days I trekked some incredible landscapes, ate some incredible food, and met some incredible people. Though the mountains are towering and the
Read more...

First things first: tell us a little about your background.  I am a native Hoosier educated here in Indiana at Wabash College for my undergraduate degree (English and International Studies) and, after a few years of employment, earned my MBA from Butler University.  I’ve been fortunate enough to visit 46 U.S. states and 13 countries throughout my 25+ year career, all of which has been spent in nonprofit, higher education, and association management. I’ve also been married for more than 20 years and have two daughters. What drew you to your role at The International Center?   The COO role
Read more...

International Women’s Day (March 8) is observed all around the world, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is a day of observance that carries special significance to The International Center. We celebrate the global spirit every day, but on this day, it seems fitting to give a special nod to some of the women who have made significant contributions to The Center’s growth and success over the years. It all started back in 1973 when The International Center of Indianapolis was formed and its Articles of Incorporation and Application to the Internal Revenue Service were filed. The 26-member
Read more...

Indiana’s Relationship with India They say you can’t spell Indiana without “India.” Indiana has developed and maintained a strong relationship with India through various cultural and economic ties. In fact, in 2010, the City of Indianapolis established a sister-city relationship with Hyderabad, Telegana, India. Building on the connections between Indiana and India, Governor Holcomb established a sister-state relationship with Karnataka, India in 2017. Bridging diplomacy and economic development, this agreement was linked to the local foreign direct investment by Indian tech giant, Infosys. India ranks third among countries of origin for foreign-born residents in Indiana, with more than 30,000
Read more...

Every January, I assign a theme to the new year. I dubbed 2017 “The Year of Self Care”. It included a regular exercise regimen, eliminating (most) junk food, and face masks. Lots and lots of face masks. While I plan to carry this new lifestyle over into the new year, I knew I needed a new mantra. After much soul searching, I finally christened 2018 as “The Year of Just Do It”. No, I didn’t intentionally rip-off the famous Nike slogan (or the wonderfully strange Shia LaBeouf rant, if you’re an Internet meme fiend like me). “Just Do It”
Read more...

First things first: tell us a little about your background. I moved to Indiana in the summer of 2016 from the UK with my husband and our elderly cat, Kitty (yes, that is her name).  I grew up in Liverpool, where The Beatles are from, and went to the same high school as the lead singer of one of the biggest boy bands in the UK, Gary Barlow of Take That. What drew you to your role at The International Center? With my experience moving internationally, I realized how complex the little things can be and how challenging relocating
Read more...

So many of The International Center’s programs would not be possible without the support of volunteers. Firefighters, police officers, bankers, and educators give their time to our Community Orientation Program for Expatriates, providing helpful insights as families adjust to life in Indiana. Busy professionals also take time out of their work day to share experiences with our clients in the Orientation Program for International Employees over lunch. A team of engaged community leaders serve on our Festival Fund committee that supports international and ethnic groups hosting events in Central Indiana. Volunteers help welcome guests to The Center’s biggest annual
Read more...

Growing up in rural Southern Indiana, there were few forms of entertainment. My grandmother was a high school English teacher who adored books; my mother was also an avid reader. Books have always been an important part of my life—I am very grateful that I am a “reader.” I don’t typically hang on to a book once I’ve read it. However, there are a few staples I like to reread because of the moral. “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein is a classic and has long been one of my daughter’s favorite books. Like many other classic literary works,
Read more...

First things first: Tell us a little about your background. I am from a small town in Southern Indiana, but I moved to Indianapolis a few years ago to attend IUPUI. I started out as a nursing major but, somehow along the line, I landed in event management. During my senior year, I interned here at The Center as the International Citizen of the Year Award intern. That position turned into a part-time temporary role, which then turned into the executive assistant/board liaison position. I just couldn’t leave; I loved it here so much! What drew you to your
Read more...