U.S. Africa Partnership: Prosperous Africa - Prosperous World
2022-09-08 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Chicago)
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
Minnesota Africans United, in partnership with Global Minnesota and Equity Group Holdings (the largest financial institution in the East/Central African region, including Kenya and Tanzania) and with the support of Prosper Africa, is excited to announce the 3rd Annual US – African Trade Partnership Conference. This conference will showcase successful examples of two-way trade and investment strategies that are creating profitable and resilient relationships on both sides of the ocean.
We’ll be hearing from participants in the Ghana/Cameroon trade delegation who came away with multiple signed agreements, and we’ll look ahead to the next big mission to Kenya and Tanzania.
This historic annual African summit will feature global leaders like President Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi, President & CEO of Equity Group Holdings, James Mwangi; Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz (invited); and Mr. Travis Adkins, President & Chief Executive Officer, United States African Development Foundation (invited), as well as high-level cabinet officials from the U.S. Government including, US Department of Agriculture, Power Africa, Small Business Administration, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and US Department of Commerce.
Register

Global Book Club: Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy
2022-09-08 12:00 - 13:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
As the world continues to face the looming concerns of global climate change, everyday heroes emerge in the effort for environmental diplomacy. To celebrate the launch of the new book “Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy,” Global Minnesota is presenting a special edition of the Global Book Club series with co-author Felix Dodds, adjunct professor of Environmental Sciences & Engineering at UNC, and Irena Zubcevic, Chief of Intergovernmental Policy and Review at the United Nations. They joined Global Minnesota President Mark Ritchie for a conversation on this new book and the future of the fight for environmental sustainability. Check out the interview on September 8 to learn how you too can become a hero of global environmental diplomacy.

Speakers
Felix Dodds, Adjunct Professor, Environmental Sciences & Engineering at UNC
Felix Dodds has been active at the UN since 1990 and has focused on issues such as water, climate, governance, environmental security and stakeholder engagement. His focus at UNC has been on the Nexus of Water, Food, Energy with Climate Change. He has co-directed the Water Institute’s two conferences on the subject in 2014 and 2018. This resulted in the 2016 co-editing for Routledge of “The Water, Food, Energy and Climate Nexus” with Dr. Jamie Bartram, Director of the Water Institute, with a Foreword by HRH Prince Charles. In 2019 he was a candidate for the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme and he is an International Ambassador for the City of Bonn.
He has written or edited eighteen books including: “Negotiating the Sustainable Development Goals: A transformational agenda for an insecure world” (2016), written with the co-chair of the negotiations Ambassador David Donoghue and Jimena Leiva Roesch with a Foreword by former Irish President Mary Robinson. In 2012 he was on the Steering Committees for the major global scientific conference “Planet Under Pressure”. In 2011 he chaired the UN conference “Sustainable Societies Responsive Citizens”. The outcome document was the first one to put forward some suggestions on what the Sustainable Development Goals should be. From 2008 to 2011 he ran the Water and Climate Coalition securing water as a major element of future climate negotiations.

Irena Zubcevic, Chief of Intergovernmental Policy and Review at the United Nations
Upon earning a Bachelor of Linguistics, and a Master of Science in humanities and social sciences from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, Ms. Irena Zubcevic began a lifelong career in international relations. Early on in her career, she worked as an advisor for the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Croatia. The multi-lingual and dedicated professional then transferred to the Croatian Foreign Service where she raised to the rank of minister plenipotentiary.
Ms. Zubcevic’s journey has culminated in her current position with the United Nations where she serves as Chief of Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch dealing with sustainable development. She previously worked as Chief of the Ocean and Climate Branch, Division for Sustainable Development, and she started as a senior sustainable development officer. Working in the United Nations in the area of sustainable development has been one of the highlights of her career. In June 2012, a number of countries began discussing how they could form a framework that would allow for everyone to be prosperous enough to grow economically while maintaining social responsibility and fostering gender empowerment and the protection of children and youth. Ms. Zubcevic is proud to have been a part of such a transformative project that will affect the global population as it culminated in the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by all Member States of the United Nations.

If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Events Manager Carolina Gustafson at cgustafson@globalminnesota.org.

International Student Day at Mall of America
2022-09-10 11:00 - 14:00 | Mall of America, 2131 Lindau Lane, Bloomington, MN, 55425
This event is being held in-person and is open to international students. If you have any questions or if you are interested in bringing a large group of students, please contact Anna DeWitt at adewitt@globalminnesota.org.
Welcome to Minnesota! New and returning international students are invited to come to Mall of America for a day of fun and global connections. Explore the most-visited attraction in Minnesota with over 500 stores, including more than 50 restaurants, Nickelodeon Universe® theme park, SEA LIFE® Minnesota Aquarium, two mini-golf courses, and much more! Be sure to bring your student I.D. card and meet at the South Bridge on Level 2 (overlooking The LEGO® Store). Guests are welcome any time between 11:00am and 2:00pm, but be sure to arrive earlier to participate in the scavenger hunt! Check out the full event details here.

Event Highlights

Free snacks and drinks
First 200 international students receive a free Mall of America tote bag and coupon book with 250+ discounts
Scavenger hunt competition for a chance to win Mall of America gift card prizes
Connect with Global Minnesota & other international students

Information about transportation to Mall of America can be found here. Please note that there is currently a closure on the Metro Blue Line that may impact those traveling via public transportation. More information about the replacement bus service can be found on the Metro Transit website.
Thanks to partners Mall of America and Study Minnesota for their support for this event.
If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Events Manager Carolina Gustafson at cgustafson@globalminnesota.org.

Global Networking: Navigating Business Relationships in China
2022-09-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Utepils Brewery, 225 Thomas Ave N, Minneapolis, MN, 55405, United States
This event is being held in-person and is open to everyone. ASL interpretation will be provided during the main presentation.
The United States and China represent the two largest economies in the world. Despite recent trade tensions and a cooling of diplomatic relations, both nations still maintain substantial economic and trade connections. Join Global Minnesota for a networking reception with the Minnesota District Export Council and the Minnesota China Business Council. Don’t miss your chance to gain exclusive insight into Chinese business practices and network with leading business executives.
The event will also feature a discussion with Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Residence at the Alworth Institute for International Affairs at the University of Minnesota – Duluth and former Foreign Service Officer. His conversation will focus on a range of U.S.-China issues that could impact on global business including:

CHIPS Act & Supply Chain Onshoring
China’s Crypto-Currency Regime
IP Theft & Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
Taiwan
Sino-Russian Relations & Ukraine

Registration fee includes a drink and light appetizers.
Speaker
Tom Hanson
Tom Hanson currently serves as Diplomat in Residence at the Alworth Institute for International Affairs at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. His U.S. Foreign Service postings included East Germany, France, Norway, the Soviet Union, Sweden, and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. He also participated in the opening of new U.S. embassies in Mongolia and Estonia, worked on the Foreign Relations Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and served as director for NATO and European Affairs at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C. A member of Global Minnesota’s Great Decisions advisory committee, Tom speaks frequently on international issues and contributes to local and international media. He is also a board member of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, the International Leadership Program at the University of St. Thomas, and the Cultural Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and graduate degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; the Institute of Advanced International Studies in Switzerland; and the National School of Administration in France.
Presented in partnership with the Minnesota District Export Council and the Minnesota China Business Council.
If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Events Manager Carolina Gustafson at cgustafson@globalminnesota.org.

Culture Through Cuisine Virtual: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage with Amalia
2022-09-21 17:30 - 19:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
Bring the world to your kitchen table for this year’s Hispanic Heritage month! In this interactive Culture through Cuisine experience, watch or follow along with award-winning author & Chef Amalia Moreno-Damgaard as she presents an exploration of the delights of Mesoamerican food. She will be joined live in her kitchen by Global Minnesota President Mark Ritchie and Events Manager Carolina Gustafson.
Follow along from your kitchen counter as they prepare a meal over Zoom including traditional dishes that celebrate the cultural contributions of Hispanic heritage. Along with these traditional dishes, Chef Amalia will share her lived experience, personal anecdotes, culture, and history. Using two cameras to capture the cooking action, Amalia will delight you with scrumptious dishes you can easily make at home. Learn more about Amalia at AmaliaLLC.com. Guests will also have the chance to talk directly with Chef Amalia for advice, questions, or troubleshooting tips.

MENU
Arroz con Flor de Izote: izote flower, tomato, and lime rice
Guiso de Chilotes con Pipián: baby corn and chayote squash stew
Mole de Plátano: pan fried sweet plantains in chocolate-chile sauce

Prior to the event, registrants will receive the following: the traditional recipes, healthy cooking techniques & tips, the menu above, and a shopping list of ingredients needed for cooking along at home.

SPEAKER
Chef Amalia Moreno-Damgaard
If you are registering for this event from outside the United States, please go here.
If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Events Manager Carolina Gustafson at cgustafson@globalminnesota.org.

Global Social with International Journalists and Humphrey Fellows
2022-09-23 17:30 - 19:30 | Augsburg University, Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, 700 21st Ave. S, Minneapolis, 55454
This event is being held in-person and is open to Global Minnesota members and their guests.
Later this month, we’re proud to welcome international journalists from the Edward R. Murrow Program and fellows from the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program with a special reception hosted by Global Minnesota and Augsburg University.
These international journalists come from Armenia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Croatia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. While in Minnesota, they will examine press freedom in the United States, the role of journalism in a democracy, and how new technologies shape the way news is gathered, reported, distributed and consumed.
Likewise, the Humphrey Fellows represent countries from around the world, including Argentina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Indonesia, Lesotho, Mozambique, The Philippines, Romania, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. In Minnesota for a year, these fellows will learn about U.S. cultural, political, and economic systems and further develop a sense of the global context in which they and their countries operate.
Be a part of this exclusive event for Global Minnesota members and their guests to meet these international fellows and learn about their cultures, countries, and professional work. The evening includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
Want to attend but not yet a member? Check out the many benefits of membership and join today!
Presented in partnership with Augsburg University’s Center for Global Education and Experience (CGEE) and the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. International journalists are visiting as part of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Events Manager Carolina Gustafson at cgustafson@globalminnesota.org.

Ukraine, Russia, and Leadership from the Shadows
2022-09-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Cowles Auditorium, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, 55455
This event is being held in-person and is open to everyone.
The devastating invasion of Ukraine has captured headlines around the world. But behind the scenes, a shadow war of spies is being waged globally for the future of the country. How are intelligence officers altering the course of the war for Ukraine? What will the future hold for this classic story of David vs. Goliath?
Join Global Minnesota for an in-depth look into Ukraine, Russia, and leadership from the shadows with retired CIA senior intelligence officers, Marc Polymeropoulos and Patrick Weninger. Global Minnesota members receive tickets for half price with promo code GLOBALMN.
Register

Farewell Open House for Mark Ritchie
2022-10-03 15:00 - 17:00 | Sunrise Banks Corporate Headquarters, 2525 Wabash Ave., St. Paul, MN, 55114
This event is being held in-person and is open to everyone.
Help us thank Global Minnesota President Mark Ritchie for his service in building Minnesota’s global engagement at a farewell Open House from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on October 3. Stop by over the course of the afternoon for cake, coffee, and conversation with Mark as he plans for his upcoming retirement on October 10.
Throughout his career, Mark has championed Minnesota as one of the world’s most globally minded places, working tirelessly to ensure a warm welcome for people from every corner of the planet. We are especially appreciative of Mark’s leadership through the challenges of the pandemic, transforming program delivery with new digital tools that expanded the organization’s work of connecting Minnesotans to the world, and the world to Minnesota.
Bring your good wishes and favorite Mark stories to share at the Open House.
If you’d like to make a gift in honor of Mark, any contributions received online or at the event will be dedicated to providing stipends for International Fellows at Global Minnesota in 2023.
Special thanks to Sunrise Banks for providing the Open House event venue.

Lunch & Learn: Behind the Scenes at the UK Natural History Museum
2022-10-04 12:00 - 13:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
The natural world is at a critical moment of crisis. With climate change, plastic pollution, and overfishing of our oceans, multiple issues have converged in recent years which require bold solutions. The historians and environmental policy experts at the United Kingdom’s Natural History Museum are addressing these concerns directly with the exhibit “Our Broken Planet: How We Got Here and Ways to Fix It.”
Join Global Minnesota and the UK Natural History Museum for the latest in the Lunch & Learn series for a virtual look at these exhibits. Learn all about the major environmental issues facing the planet today and hear what actions can still be taken to avoid the worst-cast scenarios of climate catastrophe. The discussion will be held virtually via Zoom and participants will have the opportunity to talk directly with museum staff. In addition to this exhibition, they will talk about other exhibitions on tour and share some details about how these got out on the road. The exhibits open currently are in Chicago (Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep, closing Sept 3) and in Toronto (Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature open until Jan 3).
Global Minnesota members receive free admission!

Speakers
Felicity Sylvester
Felicity works in the Touring Exhibitions department at the Natural History Museum in London organizing the tour stops of exhibitions such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature at museums, galleries, festivals (and sometimes, even cathedrals) across North America and around the world. Felicity moved into the museum sector after years working in publishing houses in the UK and brought her experience in account management and contract negotiation to the Museum. She received her BA with Honors in American and Latin American Studies from the University of Nottingham, has worked and studied in Spain, Chile and Portugal and speaks fluent Spanish. Felicity regularly attends the American Alliance of Museums conference and the Association of Science and Technology Centers conference, enjoys discovering the breadth and depth of the North American museum sector, and loves walking past the Museum’s Sophie the Stegosaurus (the world’s most complete Stegosaur skeleton found in Wyoming) on the way to the office.

Hanna Schieve
A North Dakota/Minnesota native, Hanna works in the Director’s Office at the Natural History Museum in London where she focuses on supporting the translation of the NHM’s ambitious Strategy to 2031 into actions and progress. Prior to this, Hanna gained wide-ranging experience working in policy and politics across the US and the UK, including at the House of Commons, the United States Senate, and the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles. Hanna received her Master’s degree from the London School of Economics where she specialized in conflict and genocide studies, and also holds a BA with Honors in Letters and Science and a double major in Political Science and French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Photo courtesy of ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), Toronto, Canada. ©ROM
Register to engage in this exciting opportunity. Not a member? Join today!
Presented in partnership with the UK Natural History Museum.
If you are registering for this event from outside the United States, please go here.
If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Events Manager Carolina Gustafson at cgustafson@globalminnesota.org.

The Future of Diplomacy
2022-10-05 19:00 - 20:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
The art of diplomacy is one of the central pillars of foreign policy. Through the years, various American administrations have placed differing emphasis on this critical tool in resolving international disputes and pursuing U.S. interests abroad. Join the conversation with three career diplomats as they discuss the past, present, and future of American diplomacy. An interactive Q&A will follow the panel discussion.
Speakers
Ambassador Ross Wilson
Ambassador Ross Wilson is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, visiting lecturer in international affairs at the George Washington University, and Global Minnesota Board Chair. Over the course over 30-years in the U.S. Foreign Service, he served as American ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan and held assignments at the U.S. Embassies in Moscow and Prague and at the U.S. Consulate General in Melbourne, Australia. In Washington, Ambassador Wilson held several positions including chief U.S. negotiator for the Free Trade Area of the Americas. From January 2020 through August 2021, he served as Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
Margo Squire
Margo Squire is a retired career diplomat with the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. Department of State, serving in Munich, Moscow, Melbourne, Baku, Ankara and Washington, D.C. Among many posts in her distinguished 30-year career, Margo served at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and also as Director of the Press and Public Outreach Office in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Most recently, she served as a Cultural Affairs Specialist supporting 27 American cultural centers across Afghanistan from 2020-2021.
Tom Hanson
Tom Hanson currently serves as Diplomat in Residence at the Alworth Institute for International Affairs at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. His U.S. Foreign Service postings included East Germany, France, Norway, the Soviet Union, Sweden, and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. He also participated in the opening of new U.S. embassies in Mongolia and Estonia, worked on the Foreign Relations Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and served as director for NATO and European Affairs at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C.
Presented in partnership with The Museum of Russian Art, East-West Connections, and The Committee on Foreign Relations-Minnesota.
Register Here

Tour the Minnesota State Capitol with Mark Ritchie (10:30AM)
2022-10-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, 55155
This event has reached capacity. If you are an international student, please contact Anna at adewitt@globalminnesota.org for more information.
This event is being held in-person and is open to Global Minnesota members and international students.
Help us welcome international students to our state Capitol! Fall is almost here and that means international students are arriving in Minnesota. Join Global Minnesota for a tour of the iconic Minnesota State Capitol with Global Minnesota President and former Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. Enjoy a walk through the Capitol building to engage in a discussion of art and history, as well as gain insight about the recent building restoration. This tour is open for international students and Global Minnesota members alike. Learn more about the state of Minnesota and connect with a globally minded community.
If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Events Manager Carolina Gustafson at cgustafson@globalminnesota.org.

World Food Day 2022: Hunger as a Weapon of War & Promoter of Peace
2022-10-17 11:00 - 13:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
Throughout history, access to food has been used as a tool to both inflict great pain and advance peace and prosperity. The global food market has been reeling from pandemic disruptions, worldwide inflation, and international supply chain issues. Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine has dramatically accelerated these trends which threaten to push millions of people around the world into conditions of food insecurity.
But many organizations are working to provide food relief to millions around the world to help advance global stability. Join Global Minnesota for a special World Food Day presentation on October 17 as we discuss the local and global implications of hunger as a weapon of war and as a promoter of peace.
Speakers
Chase Sova
Chase Sova is the Senior Director of Public Policy and Research at World Food Program USA.
He has professional experience in the areas of climate change and agricultural development with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, International Center for Tropical Agriculture and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.
Focused on agriculture policy, Chase has worked in 15 developing countries across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. He holds a Ph.D. in political ecology on climate change and agriculture from Oxford University. You can view his TED talk on ending world hunger here.
Kojo Amoo-Gottfried
Kojo Amoo-Gottfried is the President of Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate, North America. Kojo.
He has over twenty years of global food and agricultural experience in various commercial, merchandising, asset management, sales, and management roles. Kojo is originally from Accra, Ghana, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Business from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.
Kojo serves on the Boards of Partners in Food Solutions, Books for Africa, and KIPP MN.
Jeff Dykstra
Jeff Dykstra is the Co-founder and CEO of Partners in Food Solutions
Jeff is passionate about bringing together unusual partners—strange bedfellows, as he likes to call them. In the case of PFS that means leading international food companies and promising food companies in Africa, as well as the US government, committed donors, NGOs, impact investors, and talented employees, all partnering to do much more together than they could on their own. Jeff has spent half his career in business and the other half in relief and development, including two years living and working in Zambia, and he has worked for both global organizations like Cargill and World Vision as well as several start-up ventures.
What Jeff likes most about his job is working with a strong international team—a whole network of people in the US, Europe, and Africa coming together to accomplish something significant. For his work with PFS, he was recently named an Ashoka Fellow, an honor reserved for leading social entrepreneurs around the world, and was awarded a Bush Fellowship in 2018.
Purbita Ray
Purbita Ray is the Vice President of Innovation, Technology, and Quality (ITQ) Growth at General Mills
Purbita is the Vice President of ITQ’s Growth team at General Mills. In this role, she leads a team responsible for driving best in class capabilities focused on helping grow core businesses, enabling disruptive growth and supporting GMI portfolio shaping initiatives. Over her 20-plus years with General Mills, Purbita has had a breadth of experiences; leading ITQ for Global Cereal, Big G, Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) in multiple plants as well as an expat assignment for FSQ & Regulatory Affairs in Canada.
Outside of work, Purbita is actively involved in the community mentoring high school students interested in STEM careers. She has been volunteering with Partners in Food Solutions since this organization began 10+ years ago and she serves on their Board of Directors. She loves traveling with her husband and two sons to national parks around the world.
John Guttery
John Guttery is Senior Vice President, Enterprise Initiatives at Ecolab
John Guttery is senior vice president of Enterprise Initiatives for Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and vital resources. He leads enterprise-wide projects that advance the company’s corporate priorities and create future growth platforms.
Guttery has served in a variety of senior leadership roles at Ecolab, including head of the Latin America region and head of Marketing for the Institutional division, which serves the foodservice, hospitality and facility care segments. Guttery joined Ecolab in 2015 as senior vice president of Strategic Planning.
Prior to Ecolab, Guttery spent fifteen years with the Hilti Group, a global leader in solutions for the construction, natural resources and power sectors, in a variety of international sales, marketing and general management leadership roles.

If you are registering for this event from outside the United States, please go here.
Thanks to promotional partner South Dakota World Affairs Council.
If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Program Director Tim Odegard at todegard@globalminnesota.org.

Global Book Club: The Cubans with Anthony DePalma
2022-10-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN, 55401, United States
This event is being held in-person and is open to everyone. A recording of the event will be available at a later date for those unable to attend.
The United States and Cuba have had a tense relationship for decades. Years of mistrust and sanctions between the two governments have isolated and impacted millions of Cuba’s residents. In his latest book, The Cubans: Ordinary Lives in Extraordinary Times, world-renowned author and former New York Times foreign correspondent Anthony DePalma chronicles several stories of hope and despair from throughout the modern history of this Caribbean island nation. Join Global Minnesota at the Hennepin County Library for a presentation and discussion with Anthony DePalma himself about Cuba, his life, and the stories told throughout the book. A book signing opportunity will follow the discussion. The event will also be streamed on Global Minnesota’s YouTube channel.
As a special thanks to our members, we’ll be giving away free copies of DePalma’s book to 20 lucky members who register by October 14 — but you have to be there to collect and to get your book signed!
Not yet a member? The first 5 attendees to become members at the event will also receive a free book. Please note, additional copies will NOT be available for purchase at the event, but can be purchased through Magers and Quinn.
“DePalma vividly depicts the lives of several families in modern Cuba. DePalma’s writing is evocative and detailed, and the reader feels as though they are walking alongside the people whose aspirations and dreams he so poignantly highlights. The country comes alive with each sentence, and the end result is an homage to Cuba and the Cuban people that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.”—The Washington Post

“In this beautifully crafted work of reportage . . . DePalma takes the reader on a tour of the glorious triumphs and ardent idealism of the early days of the Cuban Revolution, the dark years of the post-Soviet economic collapse, the revived hopes occasioned by the thaw of U.S.-Cuban relations under U.S. President Barack Obama, and now the seemingly endless days of deprivation.”—Foreign Affairs
Presented in partnership with Magers & Quinn Booksellers.

SPEAKER

Anthony DePalma spent 22 years as a reporter and foreign correspondent for The New York Times, serving as Bureau Chief in Mexico and Canada. At The Times he also was an international business correspondent covering the Americas, a national correspondent covering higher education, and a metro reporter covering housing, the working class, and the environment. He has focused his journalism on Latin America, especially Mexico and Cuba, but he has also travelled widely and reported from places as diverse as Albania, Montenegro, Guyana, and Suriname. Read his full biography here.
If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Program Director Tim Odegard at todegard@globalminnesota.org.
Moderator: Patricia Lopez – Editorial Board Member – StarTribune

Trade Mission To Kenya & Tanzania
2022-10-22
Minnesota Africans United in partnership with Global Minnesota and Equity Group Holdings (the largest financial institution in the East/Central African region) and with the support of Prosper Africa, is excited to announce the Trade Mission to Kenya and Tanzania from October 22 – November 5, 2022.
This trade mission is designed to energize the creation of commercial relationships between Minnesota businesses and Tanzania and Kenya government entities and private organizations.
Africa’s booming population and rapid development is creating substantial opportunities for economic investment throughout the continent. East Africa is quickly becoming a hub of investment in a variety of sectors including agriculture, energy, health, tourism, finance, education, infrastructure, and technology and in-country participants will be in a position to discuss U.S.- exports to and investment, and business relations in all of the noted sectors.
A series of events including networking, and matchmaking, business meetings, tours, site visits, and one-on-one opportunities will be part of the program. There will also be opportunities for self-generated meetings and discussions.
More Information

Career Connections: The Value of Your Global Experience
2022-10-27 16:30 - 18:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to international students.

Calling all international students in Minnesota!
Join us to gain insight into how to use your unique international background and experiences to support your professional development. Learn about networking on a global scale, talking about international experiences with prospective employers, and hear from local professionals and international alumni about the value of an international background in your career.
This virtual event is open to international students studying at any college or university in Minnesota. While the event is designed for international students, all students are welcome.

Hosted by Global Minnesota and University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Career Services Administration. Contact Anna at adewitt@globalminnesota.org or Jane at sitt0036@umn.edu with questions.

Registration: Via Handshake or Zoom

Lunch with German Ambassador (ret.) Stefan Schlüter
2022-10-28 11:30 - 13:30 | GAI Haus, 301 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55102, United States
This event is now SOLD OUT. Please email Tim Odegard at todegard@globalminnesota.org with any questions.
Join The American Council on Germany, the Germanic-American Institute, the German-American Chamber of Commerce, and Global Minnesota for a lunch discussion with retired German Ambassador Stefan Schlüter. He will lead a discussion titled “Germany’s Zeitenwende: Setting New Priorities in Foreign, Security, and Energy Policy.”
Ambassador (ret.) Stefan Schlüter is completing a two-week tour of U.S. cities, through the support of the American Council on Germany, to engage with Americans and discuss current issues in Germany and the state of the transatlantic relationship. During this meeting Mr. Schlüter will discuss the domestic and international impact of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Zeitenwende speech in February, announcing a tremendous shift in Germany’s policies as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine. He will also address how the cut in Russian gas deliveries affects climate policy and sustainable development goals in Germany.
Ticket price includes a buffet-style lunch.
Stefan Schlüter served in the German Foreign Office until the summer of 2017 and is now a Program Director at the Diplomatic Academy in Berlin. After studying political science at the University of Hamburg, Mr. Schlüter joined the German Foreign Office in 1979. His first foreign assignments brought him to Buenos Aires and Algiers. From 1986 to 1990 he served as the spokesperson of the German Embassy in Tel Aviv before returning to the Foreign Office in Bonn as desk officer for the Maghreb countries. From 1992 to 1995 he served as Deputy Consul General in Los Angeles before returning to Bonn as Deputy Director for the southern part of Latin America. From 2000 to 2004, he was posted to the United States a second time and served as Deputy Consul General in New York City before moving to Buenos Aires as Deputy Chief of Mission. In 2007 he returned to the Foreign Office in Berlin to assume the position of Director for Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding, Democracy Promotion and State-Building, promoting German projects in this field world-wide. In 2010 he was appointed Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean Region, residing in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago before moving on to his last assignment as Consul General in San Francisco in 2014.
Register

International Roundtable: Global Megatrends
2022-11-07 10:00 - 11:30
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
With so much happening in today’s business environment, how can one parse through the daily noise to discover the larger global trends? Join us for a discussion on global megatrends, including what experts are seeing, how data is playing a leading role in identifying such trends, and what you should be doing to ensure your company is planning for these global megatrends.
Topics will include:
· How global megatrends are defined;
· Use of data to support global megatrends identification;
· Key global megatrends developing;
· How businesses should prepare for global megatrends; and
· Geopolitical trends, including national security and other related restrictions on global supply chains and technology imports and exports

SPEAKERS / PANELISTS
Dr. John Pournoor, Keynote
Chief Executive Officer, Government Analytica
Lawrence Reszetar, Panelist
Director, International Business Strategy, Minnesota Trade Office
Brian Trauman, Panelist
Chief Data Officer, KPMG LLP
Nelson Dong, Panelist
Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Jessica Libby, Moderator
Principal, KPMG LLP
Steve Riedel, Host
Corporate Relations Officer, Global Minnesota
Register

Presented in partnership with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, KPMG LLP, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the Minnesota Trade Office.

Partners in Peace: Armistice Day Commemoration
2022-11-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Brit’s Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN, 55403, United States
This event is being held in-person and is open to everyone.
Join Alliance Française and the Twin Cities local and international communities in Brit’s Clubhouse Room for live music, a University of Minnesota ROTC color guard presentation, and remarks honoring global veterans on the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War 1.
Speakers will include Global Minnesota board chair Ambassador Ross Wilson.
Guests are welcome to stay after the program to socialize. Food and beverage available for purchase. Doors open at 6:00 pm and the program begins at 7:00 pm.
Reservations will not be taken and seating is limited. Guests are encouraged to arrive early.
Presented in partnership with Brit’s Pub, Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis, Vets For Peace, Minnesota Vikings, and French American Heritage Foundation.
More Details

Culture Through Cuisine: Kramarczuk's & Ukrainian Heritage
2022-11-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Kramarczuk’s Restaurant & Deli, 215 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, United States
This event is now SOLD OUT. Please email Tim Odegard at todegard@globalminnesota.org with any questions.
Join us as we highlight the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine during this difficult time. Our partner, The Ukrainian American Community Center, has multiple programs to support Ukrainians as they defend their country. You can find information and resources on refugee assistance, including financial support of Ukrainian families in Minnesota, at this location.
Sample an Eastern European dinner of pastries, smoked sausages, and stewed cabbage from family-owned Kramarczuk’s Restaurant & Deli. Then enjoy exhibits from The Ukrainian American Community Center including decorating pysanka (Ukrainian Easter eggs), Ukrainian embroidery, and Hutsul wood carving displays. The Hutsuls are Ukrainians who live in the Carpathian Mountains.
Ticket price includes soft drinks, but alcohol will not be available at the venue.

Speakers:
Owner: Nicholas Kramarczuk
Luda Anastazievsky, Ukrainian American Community Center board member and MN Ukrainian American Advocacy Committee Chair

Irene Anastazievsky, Ukrainian American Community Center volunteer educator

If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Program Director Tim Odegard at todegard@globalminnesota.org.

Menu
All guests will have a choice of the following, and will go through the deli line to make their selections.

Choice of Salad:
Cucumber Tomato
Beet

Choice of Soup:
Borshch
Potato Leek
Mushroom

Choice of Pierogi:
Potato Cheese
Sauerkraut
Beef & Pork

Choice of Cabbage Roll:
Meat
Vegetarian

Choice of Sausage:
Ukrainian
Polish

Dessert:
Poppyseed Bread
Potica

China Town Hall
2022-11-16 17:45 - 19:30 | Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Cowles Auditorium, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, 55455
This event is being held in-person and is open to everyone.
Join us for the 2022 China Town Hall: Local Connections, National Reflections, organized by the National Committee on United States-China Relations and locally hosted by the University of Minnesota China Center, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and Global Minnesota.
The program will feature virtual remarks from Ambassador Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. in conversation with National Committee on U.S.-China Relations President Stephen Orlins, followed by an on-site discussion with Mary Curtin, diplomat-in-residence at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Program
5:45 p.m. — Welcome and recognition of sponsors
6:00 p.m. — Live webcast featuring Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., former U.S. ambassador to Russia, China, and Singapore
7:00 p.m. — Local speaker Mary Curtin, diplomat-in-residence at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Speakers
Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2017–19, to China from 2009–11, and to Singapore from 1992–93.
Huntsman has served in every presidential administration since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, not counting the Biden administration. He began his career as a White House staff assistant for Ronald Reagan, and was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Ambassador to Singapore by George H. W. Bush. Later as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under George W. Bush, he launched global trade negotiations in Doha in 2001 and guided the accession of China into the World Trade Organization. Huntsman is the only American ambassador to have served in both Russia and China, having served as the U.S. Ambassador to China under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011 and as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019.
Mary Curtin
Mary Curtin, Ph.D., a Minnesota native, joined the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota as diplomat-in-residence in 2013 after a 25-year career as a Department of State Foreign Service Officer. As diplomat-in-residence, she teaches courses in foreign policy and diplomacy and serves as chair of the Humphrey School’s global policy area.
During her Foreign Service career, she served at the US Mission to the EU in Brussels; as political counselor in Warsaw, Poland; and at missions in Tunisia, Mali, and Chile, as well as in Washington, DC. She has expertise in issues including Middle East policy; European affairs, including the EU and NATO; human rights and democratization, and non-proliferation. She was a member of the U.S. delegation to the 1995 UN Conference on Women.
She earned a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University in the City of New York (1986), writing her dissertation on “Hubert H. Humphrey and the Politics of the Cold War, 1943–1954.”
She speaks French, Polish, and Spanish.

Presented in partnership with The China Center and The Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Register Here

Global Costs of the War in Ukraine
2022-11-17 19:00 - 20:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has incurred devastating human and financial costs both in Ukraine and around the world. Energy price increases, food shortages, and supply chain issues stemming from this conflict are placing further strain on the global economy. Join the conversation with Global Minnesota and East-West Connections on the Global Costs of the War in Ukraine. An interactive Q&A will follow the panel discussion.
Speakers
Todd Lefko
Todd Lefko is Chairperson of East-West Connections as well as the President of the United Filtration Company, an import-export firm dealing with water purification equipment, art, linen, kilns, and new technologies. He has worked in Russia for over 34 years and has homes in both Moscow and Minnesota.
Dr. Raymond Robertson
Dr. Raymond Robertson is Professor and holder of the Helen and Roy Ryu Chair in Economics and Government in the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. He is also the Director of the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy. Widely published in the field of labor and international economics, Robertson chaired the US Department of Labor’s National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of US Trade Agreements and held other advisory positions.

Presented in partnership with The Museum of Russian Art, East-West Connections, Mosbacher Institute, and Russian Studies at Macalester.
Register Here

Governor Walz in Finland: A Review of Recent Minnesota-Finland Engagements
2022-11-18 19:00 - 20:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and a delegation of nearly 70 visited Helsinki in November 2021. What prompted the governor to choose Finland? What occurred in Helsinki and what has happened since? What opportunities exist for Minnesota businesses in Finland?

Join Minnesota’s Finnish cultural community on November 18 for a briefing on these questions and more. Finnish American Cultural Activities, in partnership with the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Minnesota chapter, has invited the Global Minnesota community to join them on Zoom to hear about the great partnerships happening between Minnesota and Finland.

Minnesota’s Honorary Consul for Finland Elaine Kumpula and Global Minnesota Corporate Relations officer Steve Riedel, both part of Governor Walz’s mission, will walk through how the relationship has grown in recent years and share stories and photos of the Helsinki visit. Audience discussion and questions will follow so you can learn how to get involved, too.

Presented in partnership with Finnish American Cultural Activities and the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce.
If you are registering for this event from outside the United States, please go here.

2022 WorldQuest International Trivia Competition
2022-12-02 18:00 - 20:30 | Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 301 19th Ave. S, Minneapolis, 55454
Registration for this event is now closed. Please email info@globalminnesota.org or call 612-625-1662 for questions.
Do you have what it takes to be Minnesota’s next global trivia champion? Join us as we celebrate the in-person return of Community WorldQuest on December 2! Gather your friends to assemble a team for our popular annual battle of international wits. Topics will feature national flags, capitals, geography, people in the news, current events, and topics from our Global Connect newsletter. Study up on past issues of the Global Connect here!
Space is limited, so sign up today. Don’t have a team? Don’t worry. Register as an individual and we’ll pair you up with amazing teammates.
Event Details

Registration is available for teams of up to 8 or individuals who want to be placed on a team.
Discount for Global Minnesota members (at least one participant on a team needs to be a member to receive member group rate).
New location: Humphrey School of Public Affairs
MPR’s Tom Crann will be returning as Emcee!
Prizes for the winning teams and Best Team Spirit will be awarded.
Check-in and dinner from Afro Deli will start at 6:00 pm with the competition kicking off at 7:00 pm.
High school, college and university students can play for a discounted price. See below and bring your ID.
This year, the competition will be conducted via either Kahoot! or MyQuiz, which don’t allow for any scoring challenges. Scoring is automatic and final.

Presented in partnership with the University of Minnesota’s Global Programs and Strategy Alliance.
Thanks to 2022 WorldQuest sponsor Horton.

Global Holiday Gathering
2022-12-03 17:30 - 19:30 | European Christmas Market, 240 E. Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul, MN, 55101, United States
Registration for this event is now closed. Please contact Anna DeWitt at adewitt@globalminnesota.org with any questions.
International students and friends are invited to join Global Minnesota for a holiday celebration at the Union Depot and European Christmas Market in Downtown St. Paul. On Saturday, December 3 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM, explore all the European Christmas Market has to offer including festive food, warm drinks, and local vendors selling handcrafted items in a traditional European market setting. The Union Depot’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony will happen next to the European Christmas Market at 7:00 PM, accompanied by live entertainment. Admission to the Union Depot and European Christmas Market is free.
Want to stay past 7:30 PM? This is a great opportunity to explore Downtown St. Paul! Several other holiday-themed attractions are located within walking distance of the Union Depot and European Christmas Market. Starting at 7:30 PM the Union Depot will host a free indoor movie showing of “Elf”. Other options include the Glow Festival located at CHS Field (6 minute walk), which features a large interactive walk-through light display. Tickets for the Glow Festival can be purchased online. Alternatively, you can create your own walking tour to see the holiday lights. Check out the decorated trees in Mears Park (4 minute walk) and Rice Park in front of the historic Landmark Center (15 minute walk).
Transportation: A Global Minnesota group will meet outside of the European Christmas Market around 5:30 PM. The Union Depot is easily accessible by public transportation including several bus lines and the Metro Green Line. Parking is also available. Click Here for more information about public transportation.
Contact Anna (adewitt@globalminnesota.org) with questions.

Democracy, Human Rights, and U.S. Foreign Policy: A Conversation with Under Secretary Uzra Zeya
2022-12-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Cowles Auditorium, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, 55455
This event is being held in-person and is open to everyone.
Join Global Minnesota and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs for a wide-ranging discussion of U.S. efforts to promote democracy and protect human rights around the globe.
As Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya leads global diplomatic efforts to strengthen democracy, advance universal human rights, support refugees and humanitarian relief, promote rule of law and counternarcotics cooperation, fight corruption and intolerance, prevent armed conflict, and eliminate human trafficking. In addition, she serves as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, leading U.S. efforts to support the human rights and meet the humanitarian needs of the Tibetan people and preserve their unique cultural, religious, and linguistic identity.
About the Speaker:
Uzra Zeya was sworn as Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights by Secretary Blinken July 14, 2021. She leads global diplomatic efforts to strengthen democracy, advance universal human rights, support refugees and humanitarian relief, promote rule of law and counternarcotics cooperation, fight corruption and intolerance, prevent armed conflict, and eliminate human trafficking. In December, 2021, Secretary Blinken announced her designation to serve concurrently as the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, for which she leads U.S. efforts to support the human rights and meet the humanitarian needs of the Tibetan people and preserve their unique cultural, religious, and linguistic identity.

Under Secretary Zeya brings to these roles over three decades of diplomatic and leadership acumen at the intersection of international peace, security, and human rights. From 2019 to 2021, she served as president and CEO of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, a non-partisan global network of more than 130 organizations working in more than 180 countries to end conflict by peaceful means. During her 27-year Foreign Service career, Zeya served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d’Affaires in Paris; Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of State; and served in Syria, Egypt, Oman, Jamaica, and in various policy roles at the Department of State. Zeya speaks Arabic, French and Spanish.
Presented in partnership with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations Minnesota.
ASL interpretation provided. If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Program Director Tim Odegard at todegard@globalminnesota.org.

Podcast Special: Agriculture in Türkiye with Yigit Ates
2022-12-15 - 2022-12-29
In a new series of audio conversations, Global Minnesota Marketing & Communications Manager Nick Hayen talks with some of the amazing people Global Minnesota connects with in our mission to advance international understanding and engagement.
In this first podcast interview, Nick is joined by Yigit Ates, Director of Commodity Exchanges at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye. Mr. Ates recently visited Minnesota as part of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. For his visit, Global Minnesota created a custom itinerary including meetings with Ecolab, General Mills, Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Partners in Food Solutions, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the University of Minnesota Extension. His visiting group included agriculture and trade specialists from nearly a dozen countries including Botswana, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Peru, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan.
Global Minnesota was honored to host these professionals participating in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

Listen below, or subscribe to our podcast on all major podcast apps.

Unable to listen to the podcast? You can also read the computer-generated transcript here:
Yigit Ates Agriculture In Turkiye Transcript
About Yigit Ates
Mr. Yigit Ates is the Director for Agriculture and Livestock at the Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges. Mr. Ates works closely with the Turkish government to promote trade and agricultural interests on behalf of the industry, with the goal of increasing agricultural trade and solving market access and policy issues.
Links
Global Minnesota Professional Exchanges
State Department International Visitor Leadership Program
Ecolab
General Mills
Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy
Partners in Food Solutions
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
University of Minnesota Extension
Hmong Village Market

This interview was recorded on November 15, 2022, and will be available for viewing on our Calendar of Events for several weeks. Registration is not needed for this program. All interviews are archived on our podcast feed and in our Past Events calendar.

Urban Expedition: Mexico
2023-01-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Landmark Center, 75 5th St. W, St. Paul, MN, 55102
This event is being held in-person and is open to everyone.
This program is presented by the Landmark Center.
Explore the globe with the 2023 season of Landmark Center’s popular Urban Expedition! Designed for everyone to enjoy, Urban Expedition offers the opportunity to learn more about the world. With a focus on a different destination, each program in the series provides cultural experiences that include music, dance, crafts, and traditions.
Join Landmark Center and Global Minnesota, in partnership with Ecolab, the Xcel Energy Foundation, Ramsey County, Travelers, and RBC Wealth Management.
Urban Expeditions are free and open to the public.

LEARN MORE

Global Minnesota is proud to be a sponsor of the Landmark Center’s Urban Expeditions series.

2023 U.S. Foreign Policy Update
2023-01-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Coffman Theater – University of Minnesota, 300 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455
This event is being held in-person and virtually and is open to everyone.
Join us for the insightful and popular annual U.S. Foreign Policy Update with Diplomat in Residence and former career Foreign Service Officer, Tom Hanson. Tom will explore and discuss the latest foreign policy developments, trends, and challenges facing the U.S. including a look at the impacts of Russia’s war in Ukraine, increasing tensions between the U.S. and China, and movements to promote peace and human rights from Ethiopia to Iran.
We’re back in-person at Coffman Auditorium! The evening will include a Q&A session with Tom, moderated by Molly Hayes Baril, Great Decisions speaker and former foreign affairs officer. Following the program, join us for a special reception to welcome Global Minnesota’s new President Phil Hansen!
About Tom Hanson
Thomas Hanson is a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State whose diplomatic postings included East Germany, France, Norway, the Soviet Union, Sweden, and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. He also participated in the opening of new U.S. embassies in Mongolia and Estonia, worked on the Foreign Relations Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and served as Director for NATO and European Affairs at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hanson currently is Diplomat in Residence at the Alworth Institute for International Affairs at the University of Minnesota – Duluth and has taught diplomacy at Carleton College. He also serves as Chair of the Minnesota Committee on Foreign Relations and as Co-Chair of the Minnesota China Business Council. He is a past board member of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights and Director at the Institute for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (IEECA).
As a member of the Great Decisions advisory committee of Global Minnesota, Mr. Hanson speaks frequently on international issues and contributes to local and international media. He is a member of the U.S. Foreign Policy Working Group of the British International Studies Association (BISA) as well as the Council of Advisers at the Museum of Russian Art and the Minnesota Peace Initiative (MPI) at Norway House.
Mr. Hanson holds a BA degree from the University of Minnesota and graduate degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; the Institute of Advanced International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland; and the National School of Administration (ENA) in Paris, France.
About Molly Hayes Baril
As a Foreign Affairs Officer with the State Department from 2008-2014, Molly Hayes Baril served as a policy advisor in various positions related to civilian security (human rights, refugee policy, and counterterrorism policy). Since returning to Minnesota, she has served as program director for a local refugee resettlement agency; deputy chief of staff and speechwriter to the president of the University of Minnesota; and special advisor for global engagement at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Molly is also a 2020-2025 Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an independent consultant and printmaker. She holds an MPA from the Humphrey School, a graduate certificate in international relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS, and a BA in English and Arabic from the University of Notre Dame.

ASL interpretation provided. If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact our Program Director Tim Odegard at todegard@globalminnesota.org.
Presented in partnership with the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
If you are registering for this event from outside the United States, please go here.

Podcast Episode: Classroom Connection -- Honduras and Argentina
2023-01-26 - 2023-01-28
In a new series of audio conversations, Global Minnesota Marketing & Communications Manager Nick Hayen talks with some of the amazing people Global Minnesota connects with in our mission to advance international understanding and engagement.
In this podcast interview, Nick is joined by Alejandro Pavón, an international student from Honduras who recently finished a study abroad at the University of St. Thomas. As part of the Classroom Connection program, he taught lessons about Honduras’ language and culture to Agustina Borre’s English learner’s class at Roseville Area High School. They both joined to talk about their experiences with the Classroom Connection program.
Classroom Connection is part of Global Minnesota’s K-12 Education programs and brings the world to classrooms all over Minnesota. International volunteers, many of whom are students at local universities, help 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 interactive with classroom teachers, unique to each class, and can be conducted either virtually or in-person. There is no fee to participate and Global Minnesota staff handle logistics for volunteer placement and travel. To learn more and get your classroom signed up, visit globalminnesota.org/education.

Listen below, or subscribe to our podcast on all major podcast apps.

Unable to listen to the podcast? You can also read the computer-generated transcript here:
Classroom Connection – Honduras & Argentina Transcript

Links
Global Minnesota Classroom Connection
St. Thomas University
Minnesota United
Hamline University
Roseville Area High School
Mate

This interview was recorded on December 20, 2022, and will be available for viewing on our Calendar of Events for several weeks. Registration is not needed for this program. All interviews are archived on our podcast feed and in our Past Events calendar.

Planning for Life After Graduation: Visas and Immigration Options for International Students
2023-01-31 16:30 - 18:00
This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone.
International students from any college or university in Minnesota are welcome to attend.
Planning for life after graduation can be a challenge, especially for international students. Join Global Minnesota and Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP for an information session about post-graduation visa and immigration pathways. The conversation will cover visa options including F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, H-1B work visas, J-1 issues and waivers and more, followed by a question and answer session. The discussion will also include a brief overview of the permanent residence process. This information session is designed for international students considering working or living in the United States after their studies, but is open to everyone.
About the Speaker:
Beth Carlson is a senior lawyer at Faegre Drinker and has practiced immigration law for almost 25 years. Beth moves corporate talent across borders, counsels U.S. and international companies on business immigration issues and is a recognized leader for her skills in complex immigration matters, including all types of work visas and permanent residence issues. Beth takes a pragmatic approach to business immigration and advises companies and their foreign national employees on all issues, including those specific to F-1 students, H-1B workers and J-1 exchange visitors. She is creative and solution driven to explore work visa and permanent residence options that may not be readily apparent.
This event is presented in partnership with Global Minnesota corporate member, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.

Registration: Please register to attend the event below. A Zoom link will be sent out to everyone who has registered a few days before the event.
Contact Anna (adewitt@globalminnesota.org) with questions.
