Blog

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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As I started college, my parents encouraged me to travel, as they believe exploring the world will help me grow. My first time traveling abroad on my own was seven years ago. I spent two months traveling to Germany, Czech Republic, France, Austria and Hungary. That first taste of travelling left me with an amazing feeling. Two years later, I took my second journey. It was also great! It wasn’t always beautiful, but I had an unforgettable experience. After I graduated and worked for six years, I decided to pursue my master’s degree in the United States, and this
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Click here to view the Chinese translation. Chinese individuals who study or work overseas before returning to China are often called “Sea Turtles.” The recent notable trend is that more students going back to China after they earn their degrees. According to the statistics from the Chinese Ministry of Education, the ratio between students who study abroad and those that eventually return to China has narrowed from 3.15:1 to 1.28:1 within the last decade. What has caused the increasing number of Sea Turtles? How would American universities and communities that host Chinese students respond to this trend? This year,
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Like much of the United States, The International Center staff is preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday. We’re powering down our computers, ensuring our office plants are well-watered and checking the refrigerator one last time to make sure we haven’t forgotten to remove any foods that are unlikely to survive the long holiday weekend. We’re also taking a moment to reflect on what we’re most thankful for, both on a personal and professional level. The full list of accomplishments we as a staff are thankful for was too long for a single blog, but we’ve provided a sample of what
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Experienced globe-trotters know that one of the best ways to experience any city in the world is to dive into its local arts scene. The local art scene anywhere in the world provides insight into that community’s unique character, its values and people, and artisanship! Through the arts you can develop a deeper understanding of a community’s historic, social and economic contexts. They express a place’s human ideas, ideals, beliefs and struggles. The arts are truly universal and can be the most elemental way of communicating a city’s cultural narrative. “First Fridays” of the month are a great way
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As a quasi-native “Hoosier”, hospitality comes naturally to me. Hoosiers (people from Indiana) are proud of our hospitable nature, even coining the term “Hoosier Hospitality” for our innate ability to be welcoming to visitors and newcomers to our state.  As a manager of a U.S. Department of State-funded international professional exchange program, I’ve had the privilege of hosting numerous emerging leaders from around the globe. It is extremely rewarding work — I get to showcase my city and state, connect people from places such as Kazakhstan to an Indiana farmer or take hospitality professionals to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to
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The phone rings in the Office of Protocol at The International Center. It’s a representative from one of our local university partners. The dean of the business school is traveling to Swaziland to establish a new partnership. As part of the visit, the delegation will meet with the Queen Mother, the spiritual and national head of this land-locked country in southeast Africa. The question is, “what is an appropriate gift to present to this important national leader?” Before answering the question, we must first do our due diligence and answer the question “what not to give?” In many countries,
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