I am a fourth generation South African with Indian roots. During the 1800s, when South Africa and India were both colonized by the British, my ancestors were brought to South Africa as indentured laborers to work the railroads, coal mines and sugar cane fields. They left India for various reasons, among them being the current state of government in India, family issues, or just an adventure. By the time their contract ended, most of the Indians working in South Africa had established a community—building schools, places of worship and starting informal businesses. My ancestors, like many other Indians, decided
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First things first: tell us a little about your background. I’m a homegrown Hoosier from the southern part of the state, graduating from IU when Pearl Jam hit the scene! I loved living in Chicago; love my Cubbies but hated the weather, so I am migrating south. What drew you to your role at The International Center?  The mission. I did extensive research after learning about the development position, convinced this opportunity was too good to be true! The International Center is truly a catalyst that connects, convenes and informs public, private and civic constituents, through ideas, strategy and
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Each May, the energy in this city is palpable.  Each May, there’s a contagious enthusiasm emanating from the “Racing Capital of the World.”  For more than a century, this crescendoing buzz has helped Indy take a pole position as an international city to visit. This was evident last May, when record-breaking crowds raced into Indy for the 100th running of the largest single-day sporting event on the planet.  We witnessed a strong 10 percent increase in the number of international visitors—with the UK, Germany, and Canada taking the podium.  The Memorial Day weekend also helped generate a healthy nine-figure
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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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