Global Minnesota

Global Minnesota offers a wide-range of programs in our mission to advance international understanding and engagement in Minnesota. Our efforts include major public events with international dignitaries, grassroots foreign policy discussion groups, K-12 education programs, international student outreach, and international Professional Exchanges. Overseeing all of these various programs is Global Minnesota’s Program Director. On this episode, hear from Erin Hart, who started as Global Minnesota’s Program Director back in January. Her career spans several tours as a Foreign Service Officer, as well as leadership positions at several nonprofit organizations in Minnesota. She joined to talk about her experiences, the various programs under her supervision, and what to expect from Global Minnesota throughout this year. Links Erin Hart in Oman (Beginning at 1:17) Kabul City Initiative Global Minnesota Events Professional Exchanges Discussion Groups K-12 Education Programs

The world seems to be entering a renewed period of global instability. From ongoing and emerging conflicts around the world to the evolving dynamics of great power competition, how can we navigate a course through some of the most pressing issues facing the international community today? Hear an enlightening presentation featuring Fiona Hill, former presidential advisor on Europe and Russia and Brookings Institution Fellow, as she delves into the intricacies of today's foreign policy landscape. Drawing from her extensive experience and insightful analysis, Hill offers a valuable overview of the dynamic nature of international relations, highlighting the interconnectedness of global events and the implications for U.S. foreign policy.

Ambassador Andrei Sannikov might be most well-known for his vocal criticism of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, but the exiled politician is also an accomplished author, human rights advocate, and negotiator. As a former Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, what insights can he provide on the strategic alliance between Belarus and Europe? Hear a special presentation from Ambassador Sannikov, where he explores the complicated and tight-knit relationship between President Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and what their relationship means for the greater question of security in Eastern Europe and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The State Department has a growing number of career tracks and entry points for a variety of professionals. Diplomats in Residence are available to answer questions and share insight with those interested in joining the State Department. On this podcast episode, hear from the Diplomat in Residence for the Midwest region, Susan Falatko. She talks about her time in the foreign service, the Diplomat in Residence program, and how to get a job in the Foreign or Civil Service. Links State Department Careers Talent Network Sign Up

The world's water challenges seem to be getting worse. Water scarcity has become acute in some parts of the world, while floods and storm surges occur with greater frequency in others. Businesses are watching closely to make sure their own water needs are met sustainably. Even the Land of 10,000 lakes has had challenges with overuse of groundwater in recent dry years. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are designed to tackle some of the world's largest development problems, so what can we learn from best practices for sustainable water use around the globe? What can international companies tell us about how and where they're implementing potential solutions? Hear the recording of our Sustainable Development Goals Roundtable from March 21. We partnered with Global Minnesota Corporate Member Cargill to learn about the work companies are doing to advance sustainable water use. Keynote Speaker Heather Tansey, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability, Cargill Additional Speakers Martin

On January 31, Global Minnesota hosted our popular annual event, the U.S. Foreign Policy Update. In this event, Diplomat in Residence and retired career Foreign Service Officer Tom Hanson discussed the latest foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. this year. His insightful and wide-ranging discussion included topics like the repercussions from the ongoing war in Ukraine, concerns facing China’s economy, renewed conflicts in the Middle East, and ongoing global struggles for peace and security. This episode is a follow-up conversation with Tom Hanson featuring questions that were submitted during the event. We received numerous questions for this special Q&A episode and have compiled a wide-ranging sample so we can hear more of Tom Hanson’s unique analysis on all things foreign policy. Links Event Recording: 2024 U.S. Foreign Policy Update Global Minnesota Membership

Hear the insightful and popular annual U.S. Foreign Policy Update with Diplomat in Residence and career Foreign Service Officer, Tom Hanson. Tom explored and discussed the latest foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. in the year ahead including the repercussions from the ongoing war in Ukraine, concerns facing China's economy, renewed conflict in the Middle East, and ongoing global struggles for peace and security.

In 2022, Global Minnesota was delighted to host Fellows from the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) to Minnesota as part of our Professional Exchanges Program. The YLAI program gathers emerging leaders from all across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada to advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities. One such visitor was Luis Villaherrera, who is fighting for democracy and human rights in El Salvador. In 2017, he co-founded TRACODA, which stands for transparency, social control, and open data, to create innovative projects that focus on technological tools to combat corruption and foster democracy. After the government banned his platform, he founded The Center for Democratic Strengthening. As part of this incredible work, he recently won a prestigious Obama Foundation Scholars award and hopes to use the program help build grassroots movements, deliver messages to a broader audience, and push for accountability in gov

Global Minnesota’s Professional Exchanges program brings the world to Minnesota by connecting international visitors from all over the globe with their professional counterparts throughout the state. One of the most important organizations that helps facilitate this process is called Global Ties U.S. On this episode, hear from Katherine A. Brown, President & CEO of Global Ties U.S.  She joins to talk about the national Global Ties Network, their upcoming National Meeting and Advocacy Day in early March, Citizen Diplomacy Day on February 16, and how these professional exchange programs benefit communities throughout the United States and around the world. Links Global Minnesota Professional Exchanges Global Ties U.S. Global Ties Network Global Ties Community Impact Study Podcast Episode with Leorian Ricardo State Department Alumni Exchange Program Upcoming Event: Global Social with International Visitors

As Ukraine approaches the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, increasing attention is turning towards long-term strategies for the country’s security, recovery, and rebuilding. Ukraine has begun accession negotiations with the European Union and a NATO Summit in 2024 will likely discuss Ukraine's future in this strategic alliance. Global Minnesota hosted a timely discussion of Ukraine's postwar outlook with two distinguished guests joining virtually: Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum and former Prime Minister of Ukraine and Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civic Liberties and 2022 Nobel Prize Laureate. After their keynotes, the conversation continued with a panel of local human rights and Ukrainian experts.

This episode is a recording of a public event held on November 29. 2023 at the 3M Innovation Center. Our first ever Global Business Outlook explored the global business megatrends that can pose risks—or lead to growth opportunities for Minnesota companies. Leading the discussion on global megatrends was Dr. John Pournoor, CEO of Government Analytica. John’s keynote focused on his annual 2024 Top 12 Global Megatrends. The keynote was followed by an elite panel of Global Minnesota Corporate Members. Representatives from leading multinationals shared their insights and recommendations on how companies can pivot from risk to opportunity.

We all plan ahead. Companies and organizations set sustainability goals with a combination of short-term and long-term targets. But what about very long-term goals? The United Nations SDG goals reach out to the year 2050 and beyond. What does the road look like-- and what tools are available-- for such long-range thinking and planning? And how do we set a course that is not only sustainable but restorative? Watch or listen to our Sustainable Development Goals Roundtable event recording featuring nationally recognized futurist Trista Harris. Trista is the president of FutureGood, a consultancy that helps visionary leaders build a better future. She speaks internationally about using the tools of futurism in the social sector.

Classroom Connection is part of Global Minnesota’s K-12 Education programs and brings the world to classrooms all over Minnesota. International visitors, many of whom are students at local universities, teach sessions on their country’s culture and language in a fun and interactive format that sparks the curiosity of our youngest learners. These lessons are unique to each class and can be conducted either virtually or in-person. There is no fee to participate and Global Minnesota staff handle all of the logistics for visitor placement and travel. Marzia Saleem is one of this year's Humphrey Fellows and volunteered at Anne Sullivan Elementary School in the 1st grade classes of Whitney Newbauer and Amanda Davey. Marzia, Whitney, and Amanda joined to talk about their experiences in Minnesota and with the Classroom Connection program.   Links Classroom Connection Program Humphrey Fellow Marzia Saleem

Earlier this year, Global Minnesota had the honor of welcoming the former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Algeria, and Bahrain, Ronald Neumann, for an in-depth public conversation about the critical need to modernize the State Department. He provided a comprehensive summary of ways in which we can better support our diplomats abroad, and the implications of this important work here at home. You can catch that recording here. On this episode, hear Ambassador Neumann continue the conversation about his diplomatic career, careers in the foreign service, and a behind-the-scenes look at life as an Ambassador.   Links Event Recording: Modernizing America's Diplomacy Ambassador Neumann Bio American Academy of Diplomacy America's Other Army (Book) American Diplomat (Podcast) The General and the Ambassador (Podcast)

Earlier this year, Global Minnesota had the honor of welcoming the former U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, Kathleen Doherty, for an in-depth public conversation about the unique situation of this divided Mediterranean island. She provided an excellent summary of the static conflict in this region and what it means for all of us here at home, as well as the wider world abroad. You can catch that recording here. On this episode, hear Ambassador Doherty continue the conversation about her diplomatic career, careers in the foreign service, and a behind-the-scenes look at life as an Ambassador.   Links Event Recording: Cyprus in Context Ambassador Doherty Bio

On this episode, hear from one of last year’s YLAI Fellows who recently returned to Minnesota to showcase his new projects as part of the State Department’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund. Leorian Ricardo is Creative Director at Moro Studio, an arts and publishing studio that is leading the development of the comic book industry and providing professional opportunities for young talent and new, underrepresented voices in the Dominican Republic. He shared his comic book workshops called "Be the Superhero of Your Own Story" at local schools including Gideon Pond Elementary, Nova Classical Academy, and Risen Christ Catholic School and spoke with next generation creators at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. He was also featured at our recent Global Social with international visitors on October 5th.   Links Global Minnesota Professional Exchanges YLAI Program CDAF Fellowship Moro Studio Website

While the State Department's footprint has grown from 41 diplomatic posts throughout the world in 1900 to more than 270 missions today, the need to increase the ability to hire and retain the highest quality individuals continues. In a dynamic and significantly connected world, what does our nation need from those representing us on the diplomatic front? How can the diplomatic corps be prepared for future opportunities and unexpected disruptions?  On October 30, 2023, Global Minnesota hosted a conversation with Ambassador and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Ronald Neumann about his recommendations to modernize America's diplomacy. In this event recording, Ambassador Neumann shared his personal insights and provide a behind-the-scenes look at diplomacy from his long career representing the United States.

In 1960, Cyprus became independent from the United Kingdom, but its early years were marked by violence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The United Nations established a buffer zone in 1964 to diffuse rising tensions. Ten years later, after a Greece-sponsored coup in Cyprus, Turkey sent thousands of troops to the island, citing its right as a guarantor power to do so. Nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots living in the northern part of the island were forced or fled to the south; 60,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the south did the same to the north. The island and the capital city of Nicosia have been divided since then, despite international attempts to reunify Cyprus. U.N. troops remain to protect the peace, but periodic flare-ups of violence have occurred as recently as August 2023. Hear a conversation with former U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, Kathleen Doherty.   Ambassador Doherty outlines the current status of the Cyprus issue, the obstacles to establishing a permanent solution, and how diplomacy can pl

Global Minnesota is launching the inaugural event in a new annual event series designed to provide a snapshot of international business megatrends and insights for Minnesota companies in search of strategies in response. The Global Business Outlook promises to be the premier event for tracking and adapting to global business megatrends and for understanding the risks and opportunities they present. The event will include a keynote presentation about business megatrends, a panel of major Minnesota multinational corporations, and networking with over 100 Minnesota business professionals. Confirmed guests include leadership officials from the US Commercial Service, Greater MSP, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Consular Corps. On this episode, hear from the keynote speaker for the Global Business Outlook, John Pournoor, CEO and founder of Government Analytica. His has 35 years of experience working at the intersection of governments and industry. Most recently, he was the VP of Government Aff

In October, some of Global Minnesota’s staff will be participating in the International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise (also known as ISCNE) at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. This is a diplomacy simulation designed to help college students learn about the negotiation process. To help the students prepare and to bring the discussion of critical issues to all Minnesotans, Global Minnesota will host two free public events featuring former U.S. Ambassadors. The first will include former Ambassador to Cyprus, Kathleen Doherty, on October 19, while the second will feature former Ambassador and Deputy Assistance Secretary of State Ron Neumann on October 30. On this episode, hear from the local organizer for the ISCNE event, retired U.S. Navy Commander Jon Olson and Diplomat-in-Residence for the University of Minnesota – Duluth Tom Hanson. They’ve provide an exclusive preview of these two upcoming diplomacy events, the situation in Cyprus, and how Global Minnesota and the ISNCE program inform and engag