A publication of the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles Volume 27 Number 1
Summer 2010
Three Decades of Citizen Diplomacy
From the
DIRECTOR’S CHAIR
T
his is an exciting year for IVCLA! We are celebrating our 30th Anniversary and we are welcoming outstanding new directors to the IVCLA board (see page 7.) Anniversaries are always a great time to acknowledge past accomplishments and set future goals. We intend to do just that. Throughout the years many individuals have built on the groundwork of the founding members, giving IVCLA the opportunity to grow and improve with their input. We thank them all. We would not be able to continue the important work we do each day without them. Some of the plans we will be implementing this year and next include: 1) working with more schools to bring Citizen Diplomacy into classrooms; 2) collaborating with our visitor alumni and their important projects around the world; and 3) securing new Citizen Diplomats for IVCLA during our 30th Anniversary membership drive. There are many benefits of being an IVCLA Citizen Diplomat member. Now is a great time to get involved!
Janet Elliott Executive Director
Connecting Los Angeles with the World For the past 30 years, IVCLA has been a vital force in fostering international dialogue in the Los Angeles area. We were proud to kick-off our 30th anniversary at the Annual Citizen Diplomacy Celebration. IVCLA began as a group of dedicated volunteers, motivated by their passion to connect with individuals from around the world. These local volunteers coordinated and provided funding for the USIA International Visitor Program after the World Affairs Council discontinued implementing the program. For the past three decades the program has evolved as USIA was dissolved and the U.S. Department of State took over the renamed International Visitor Leadership Program. IVCLA has also evolved to its current structure, but throughout the years the dedication and unsurpassed efforts of our volunteers have kept the program strong and relevant. Today we confront challenging but exciting times in people-to-people diplomacy. While conflict exists in many corners of the world, we continue to breakdown stereotypes across borders. Thirty years after its beginning, IVCLA’s small staff is hard at work ensuring the program continues for many years to come. And our Citizen Diplomat members continue to invite our foreign emerging leaders into their homes to share a meal or into their offices to discuss a topic of common interest. Often an exchange of ideas occurs that is so powerful attitudes shift and the visitors and the Angelinos walk away with a new perception about the other. These exchanges help build the foundation for a more peaceful world.
Recognizing Outstanding Citizen Diplomacy During the Citizen Diplomacy Celebration, IVCLA was proud to present Ann Kerr with the IVCLA Outstanding Citizen Diplomat Award. Ann coordinates the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Enrichment Program for Southern California. The program extends the visiting scholars’ experience into the community and fulfills the goal of Senator William Fulbright who initiated legislation just after World War II to fund an international academic and cultural exchange program. Over the years Ann has graciously welcomed numerous IVCLA international visitors into her home. IVCLA was pleased to honor her outstanding dedication to global issues and to the very mission of IVCLA, building awareness and developing cooperation between the citizens of the world. Bob Bates, Inner-City Arts Co-Founder & Artistic Director was recognized with IVCLA’s Outstanding Resource Award. Bob co-founded Inner-City Arts as a non-profit arts education center in 1989. The center has since grown from serving 60 students to more than 8,000 students and their families annually. Today the 44,000 square-foot complex continued on page 3
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Thank You! Thank You!
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has the feeling of an oasis, evoked by majestic palm trees, a student-created mosaic fountain and exquisite buildings. It represents a wellspring of hope and peace within a harsh urban environment.
Thank You to the Following Donors for Making Our Citizen Diplomacy Celebration a Great Success! Their Generosity Enables the Continuation of Our Work to Increase International Understanding and Cooperation.
Silent Auction African Community Resource Center
Guy Fox
Pot-ted
Architecture Tours L.A.
Hammer Museum
Roxana’s Exclusive Skincare Treatments
Aquarium of the Pacific
Helen & Neal Thomas
Sheraton Chicago
Bed Bath & Beyond
Hilton Checkers Los Angeles
Starbuck’s Coffee on Larchmont
B&W Limo
Hilton Long Beach
Tembe Elephant Park – South Africa
Cirque du Soleil
Huntington Library & Botanical
The Improv
Cottage Antiques - Larchmont
Gardens
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Treasure Island Hotel Las Vegas
Consulate General of Croatia
June & Paul Bilgore
Two’s Company
Consulate General of Ecuador
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
UCLA Intercollegiate Athletics
Consulate General of Israel
Lanie Denslow
Universal Studios
Consulate General of Italy
Larchmont Beauty
USC Athletics Department
Consulate General of Lebanon
Laugh Factory Long Beach
Viceroy Hotel Palm Springs
Consulate General of Morocco
Long Beach Westin Hotel
Viktor Bene’s Continental Bakeries at
Consulate General of the Netherlands
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Gelson’s Market
Consulate General of Peru
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Warner Bros.
Consulate General of Switzerland
Malibu Family Wines
Consulate General of Turkey
Marc Tanner - Chime Entertainment
Courtyard by Marriott Old Pasadena
Mattel Toys
Dance Doctor
Michaeljohn Salon Beverly Hills
Doubletree Guest Suites Santa Monica
Museum of Contemporary Art
B&W Limo
Dr. George V. Chilingar
Native Chic
Dean & Deluca Fine Chocolates
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Nestlé USA
JetBlue Airways
Fogo de Chao
Orchids Anonymous
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers
Gail Anderson
Pacific Pond & Aquarium
Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Ginger Barnard
Pacific Park Santa Monica
Fine wine from the private collection
Geyser Peak Wines
Pasadena Playhouse
A GLOBAL GARDEN GATHERING (l to r) IVCLA Board President Hud Warren; 2009 Outstanding Citizen Diplomat Ann Kerr and IVCLA Board Member Wafa Hoballah enjoy the afternoon festivities.
For many years Bob has been eager and open to sharing the important work of Inner-City Arts with IVCLA international visitors, who find the information valuable for work in their home countries. In 2002 Bob joined an IVCLA delegation to Ukraine to meet with IVCLA visitor alumni working on arts education. Bob often continues the communication with IVCLA alumni long after their official program in Los Angeles. We thank him for his dedication to international cooperation. At the celebration, guests created a sea of pastel colored parasols throughout the beautiful garden of Paul & June Bilgore, while sipping wines donated by the Consuls General of Austria, Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, and from ProChile and Rio Joe’s Wines of Brazil. Guests bid on an array of silent auction items donated by friends of IVCLA and enjoyed music by Hollywood High School’s H2O Ensemble.
Lavish & Lush Drawing
PRETTY IN PINK PARASOLS (l to r) Bob Bates, Co-Founder of Inner City Arts and recipient of IVCLA’s Outstanding Resource Award; Gail Bates; June Bilgore; Joanne Peck and Paul Bilgore mingle in the Bilgore’s beautiful garden.
of Guy Fox
Retiring Board Members Retiring board members Dr. Mathias Fobi and Cyrus Mostofi were recognized during the event as they retired from the board after serving two three-year terms. Their commitment and dedication to IVCLA’s mission is greatly appreciated.
We are fortunate to have the support of dedicated individuals throughout the greater Los Angeles area who make our work possible. We would like to thank our year-end donors for their generous contributions. Michael Alexander Ginger & John Barnard Helen Brown Gwen Butterfield Marjorie Crutchfield
Marc Cohen William Collier Lanie Denslow George & Barbara Gleghorn Ila Grobe
Lowell Hattori Mary Hense Robin & Doug Hinchliffe Wafa Hoballah Laura King
Stephen Lesser Sonia Miller Sherry Mueller Sabina Munzhuber Irene Nevil
Mark Ryavec Lydia Takeshita Jerome Zerg
IVCLA NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE OUR WORK Although most of the International Visitors for whom IVCLA provides programming are sponsored by the U.S. only a small part of our budget comes from Dept of State grants. It is important IVCLA’s work remains a program government. Only with your help will this unique flow of international communication continue. Please consider including IVCLA in your estate planning. IVCLA is a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are tax deductible. You at www.ivcla.org or call 213-388-1428 for more information.
Department of State, of the people, not the making a donation or may make a donation
CITY CONNECTIONS (l to r) IVCLA Board Members Bruce Ishimatsu and Wafa Hoballah; City of Los Angeles Councilwoman Jan Perry; IVCLA Board Members Jerry Silva and Ginger Barnard; L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel and IVCLA Board Member Sandra Jones Anderson enjoy the afternoon camaraderie.
(l to r) Lourdes Saab, Deputy Chief of Protocol for the County of Los Angeles presents Dr. Fobi with a commendation as he retires from the IVCLA board.
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Continuing the Connections A benefit for IVCLA members is the opportunity to meet International Visitor Alumni when traveling to other countries. We encourage all our members to share their stories with us!
A Pleasant International Surprise
Intercultural Communication through Dance Aristeidou Apostolos, Director of “Battle of the Year” breakdancing competition in Greece invited Rufino “Rockadile” Josef Puno, whom he met in Los Angeles during his IVCLA program on Youth Culture, to come to Athens and perform a special breakdance show. Rockadile traveled to Greece to perform and also ended up teaching youth dance workshops in three Greek cities.
IVCLA Citizen Diplomats Sam and Heidi Losh on a recent trip to Estonia re-united with a visitor they had hosted for dinner years prior. Regarding their reunion Sam said: “One of our most interesting visits was with Ms. Kozbetzkaite from Lithuania. Her daughter informed us she was in Estonia, so we were able to contact her there. When she came to pick us up, we were surprised to see an embassy car. She had become the Lithuanian Ambassador to Estonia! She and her husband graciously gave us a tour of the embassy and spent the rest of the day showing us the best of Tallin.”
Political Cartoonists Reunite in Brazil Synergy with African Non-Profits Allan Pressel, an IVCLA Citizen Diplomat member for over 20 years, recently returned from a life-altering trip to Kenya. He is helping nearly 5,000 nonprofits in six East African nations build world-class, interactive websites. Allan’s busy week-long schedule included meetings with some of the most prominent nonprofits and businesses in Kenya, including several IVCLA international visitor alumni organizations. Allan has been invited to speak again in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa, and plans to return soon, when he’ll meet with even more IVCLA international visitor alumni.
Los Angeles based political cartoonist David Brown and Brazilian comic artist Mauricio Pestana met in 1997 when Mauricio came to the U.S. on an IVLP program focused on political cartoonists addressing social issues. Their connection has continued for the past 13 years. This year, David received an invitation from the U.S. Embassy in Brazil to participate in the “Picha” exhibition at the Afro-Brazil Museum in San Paulo. “Picha” has toured in the Netherlands, Nigeria and Majorca and presents the works of David and Mauricio along with 22 African comic artists. The exhibit includes original drawings from continental Africa, Brazil and the U.S. offering the artists’ personal perspectives of the African continent and the social issues they deal with. While in San Paulo David also conducted several workshops for at-risk youth and art educators.
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Community Connections and Open World L i n k i n g L o s A n g e l e s w i t h E u r a s ia For the past eleven years, IVCLA has proudly participated in the Community Connections Program sponsored by USAID and managed by World Learning. The program establishes a grassroots link between the U.S. and Eurasia by providing professional training and cultural experiences for professionals from the former Soviet Union. In April 2010 a group of ten film archivists from the Republic of Georgia came to Los Angeles to meet with their professional counterparts and gain knowledge of modern film archiving practices. Cinematography is an integral part of Georgian cultural heritage. In the early 20th century Georgian movie makers developed a unique national filmmaking school, producing a variety films. Due to the country’s economic hardship following the collapse of the Soviet Union, these archives have been inadequately maintained, resulting in the increasingly deteriorating conditions of these films. While in Los Angeles, the delegation gained the foundation to pursue improvements in film archiving.
IVCLA Alumnus from Georgia collaborates with L.A. movie studio David Imedashvili, a producer and studio owner from Tbilisi, developed a film about the experiences of an American journalist caught in the crossfire of the 2008 RussiaGeorgia conflict. The film is a joint venture between Georgian and American movie studios. Imedashvili was inspired to take on the project after a 2008 Community Connections Film Production program in Los Angeles. The exchange fostered connections that led to the joint production. “The CC exchange helped me understand the system of film production in the U.S.,” noted Imedashvili, “and how Georgian movies can be marketed worldwide”.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION - The Georgian film archivists enjoy an afternoon break following a professional meeting with Robert Heiber, President of Chace Audio, and his staff.
IVCLA hosted four Russian tourism professionals participating in the Open World Program, administered by the Academy for Educational Development. The program seeks to foster lasting ties of cooperation and collaboration between Eurasia and the U.S. The delegates’ meetings included: Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau (LA INC.), Hollywood Entertainment District, Urban Palate, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, PLANit, Avia Long Beach Hotel and Starline Tours. ◄ The participants were fascinated to learn and discuss the role and responsibilities of a congressional district office when visiting Congressman Adam Schiff’s office in Pasadena.
A private Long Beach harbor tour was one of the highlights of the delegate’s cultural program.
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A Truly Inspirational Citizen Diplomat
Board of Directors IVCLA Welcomes New Directors to the Board
Anyone who knows Dr. Amarjit Marwah knows why he is highly respected for his generous community involvement. And any IVCLA member who has attended the Annual IVCLA Fulbright Luncheon he and his wife have hosted for the past 20 years, has personally experienced their warmth and generosity. The Marwahs also consistently welcome international visitors into their home to share their gracious Malibu hospitality. For all of these reasons, IVCLA presented Dr. Marwah with the Outstanding Citizen Diplomat Award in 2006. Over the years Dr. Marwah has earned numerous awards for his community work and philanthropy, one of his most recent being the Alumni Humanitarian Award, from his alma mater the University of Illinois. The award is presented to those rare individuals who, through their outstanding involvement and dedication, have made a significant contribution of leadership or service which has improved the lives of others.
progress if women are not educated. He and his wife, Kuljit, founded the KK Marwah Girls College (named for Mrs. Marwah) in Faridkot, Punjab. He has adopted schools in India, helping to meet infrastructure needs by building auditoriums and facilities. He’s established schools for poor Indian women to learn trades (such as sewing), so they can earn money to feed themselves and their families. He’s adopted students, providing scholarships to pay for their educational needs all the way down to uniforms and pencils. He’s adopted slum children, convincing teachers to instruct them for free and schools to allow them to use classrooms after regular school hours. There are also the funds he has provided for families who have found suitable husbands for their daughters but cannot provide the celebratory meals, wedding clothes or household items for their new homes. Then there are the impoverished widows he looks out for, sending money to purchase groceries for these elderly women - every month. But now Dr. Marwah has adopted an entire village in India.
“You see, I’m retired from practice, but I’m very busy,” he laughs. Through a private foundation he runs with his wife and three daughters, he will personally provide the additional funds needed with a matching grant from the Punjab government to bring running water, a sewer system, paved streets, a town hall and a small man-made lake to Gurudidhabb, a historic village located near his hometown of Kotkapura. Dr. Marwah explains, “In Indian villages there is no running water, sewer system, or paved roads, so this town has never seen anything like this. When we finish, their health will change, the disease will [vanish] - their outlook will change completely.” Dr. Marwah is truly an inspirational Citizen Diplomat. Having been fortunate to have a successful dental practice and teaching career on the faculties of the University of Illinois, UCLA and USC, he feels a duty to give back. “You know, God gives you the privilege to do it, and that’s what I do,” he says. “It might give incentive to other people, I hope, to do things for the underprivileged. That is my wish.”
Dr. Marwah has held a variety of positions serving his community. He has served on the boards of IVCLA and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, chaired the Hollywood Arts Commission and the Los Angeles/Mumbai (Bombay) Sister Cities, and was president of the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission. He founded the first Sikh gurudwara (temple) in Los Angeles in 1969. However, it is not just here in the Los Angeles area that he is known for his dedication to the community. Born in Punjab, India he has done much to help the underprivileged in his home country. Dr. Marwah co-founded the Bank of Punjab, a financial institution committed to community service for India. He has supported various Indian schools, believing that a community cannot
AT 2009 FULBRIGHT EVENT — Dr. Marwah warmly welcomes international Fulbright Scholarship students to his home for the 20th Annual IVCLA Members Fulbright Luncheon.
Michael Bautch is Managing Director of International Sales for FedEx Services with responsibilities for export and import business development in the Western U.S. His Western Region International team works with U.S. customers and FedEx support teams globally to expand sourcing points and seize new market opportunities. Michael serves on the board of the World Trade Center of San Diego. He earned his B.A. degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin and started his logistics career in 1988.
Albert Huang is the principal and an executive officer of Los Angeles based real estate development, construction, and design companies Richmont Development Corp. and Studio R. Inc. Huang has overseen the development of single-family and multifamily homes, mixed-use buildings, private schools, community centers, industrial warehouses primarily in Southern California. Huang is a lecturer at USC’s School of Architecture and currently serves as Mayor of the City of San Gabriel.
Melissa Kelly is President and Cofounder of Magnetic Sky, a strategic brand marketing agency in Los Angeles. Melissa is an award-winning marketing leader with over 18 years of client-side and agency experience. Magnetic Sky has a global track record in 59 countries and 33 languages for Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike. She received her degree from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Michelle Kezirian is a Directing Attorney at Bet Tzedek Legal Services. Previously, Michelle served as a senior staff attorney with Inner City Law Center in Los Angeles. She also worked as an associate at Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May and as an adjunct faculty member at Santa Clara University School of Law. Michelle is a board member of Downtown Women’s Center, a past president of the Junior League of Los Angeles, and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy.
Jim MacLellan is Director of Trade Services for the Port of Los Angeles. He oversees the Port’s relationship with beneficial cargo owners and promotes business opportunities to advance the Port’s relationships with its customers and increase its business outreach opportunities. Jim currently serves on the boards of the Pacific Chapter of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Foreign Trade Association, Los Angeles Harbor College Foundation and the California Council for International Trade.
Michael McDowell is Senior Director of Cultural Tourism for L.A. Inc., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. There, Michael promotes Los Angeles as one of the world’s premier cultural destinations to international and domestic visitors, travel industry professionals and area residents. Michael chairs the Board of Governors of the L.A. Stage Alliance and serves on the boards of Arts for L.A., 24th Street Theater and Film Your Issue, an international media competition for youth.
Wilma Pinder recently retired as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles. She had 30years experience as a top-litigator for the L.A. City Attorney’s Office and the Department of Water and Power. Wilma received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law and currently serves on the Children’s Collective Board. She has served on the Board of Directors for the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles and Women and Philanthropy at UCLA. She is also a life member of Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles.
James Santa Maria is President of the Santa Maria Group, a government relations firm that provides a full range of consulting services. James specializes in local government and has extensive experience handling local public policy issues. He founded the Santa Maria Group following a ten-year career in Los Angeles City government as Chief of Staff to former Councilmember Rudy Svorinich and former Councilmember Nick Pacheco. James received his degree in Political Science from UCLA.
Richard St. John is a Partner with Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in downtown Los Angeles. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including representation of financial institutions, telecommunications carriers, private equity firms, and government contractors in courts across the United States. He received his J.D. from Yale Law School and is admitted to practice in California, New York and Connecticut. Richard is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy.
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Citizen Diplomacy in the Classroom
Naik Mohammad, Director, UN High Commission for Refugees, Afghanistan was part of a ten country IVLP delegation on Human Trafficking. The group visited Manual Arts High School in South L.A. during their program to exchange ideas with American youth.
Nowhere in the world is cultural and ethnic diversity more obvious than in today’s American social fabric and particularly in Los Angeles. However, even though this melting pot is also reflected in our schools, a lack of understanding of the myriad of cultures and religions represented in our classrooms still exists. IVCLA’s International Classroom Program encourages elementary and
high school students throughout the greater Los Angeles area to expand their horizons. International emerging leaders visit classrooms and exchange ideas with students about their countries and cultures. These classroom interactions prove valuable for both students and visitors alike and help dispel common stereotypes. Contact us if you would like your school to get involved!
Summer 2010
IVCLA Salutes Long-time Volunteer Dick Dommes
Virginia Clark, an IVCLA Citizen Diplomat for 26 years, thanks Dick for his steadfast involvement.
Dick Dommes recently retired as a volunteer in the IVCLA office after more than 25 years of service. Each week IVCLA members heard Dick’s friendly voice calling to request home hospitality for international visitors. We thank him for his continued dedication. Sandra Kohn, another long-time Citizen Diplomat member, now serves as our new volunteer home hospitality coordinator.
IVCLA Board of Directors Honorary Chairs
Legal Counsel
Jim MacLellan
Antonio Villaraigosa
Sandra Jones Anderson
Port of Los Angeles
Mayor, City of Los Angeles
Law Offices of Sandra Anderson
Gloria Molina Chair, L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chairman
Dwayne Gathers Gathers Strategies, Inc. President
Hud Warren ChinaWest LLC Vice Presidents
Guy Fox
Ginger Barnard Protocol & Diplomacy International and Protocol Officers Association
Michael Bautch FedEx Services
Keesal, Young & Logan
Lanie Denslow Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Wafa Hoballah
UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies Secretary
Haifa Azawi New Woman Medical Care
LOS ANGELES, CA PERMIT NO. 31852
L.A. INC., The Convention & Visitors Bureau
Wilma Pinder
Address Service Requested
Attorney at Law
Gary Rhodes Center for Global Education Loyola Marymount University
Lourdes Saab Office of Protocol County of Los Angeles
Elga A. Sharpe Office of the Mayor City of Los Angeles
WJH Law Offices
Kumamoto Associates
John Richardson Jr.
PAI D
Michael McDowell
William H. Collier, Jr.
Guy Fox & Associates, Inc.
Alan Kumamoto
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
International Visitors Council of Los Angeles 3540 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 910 Los Angeles, CA 90010
William Jerry Silva Albert Huang
Southern California Edison
Richmont Development Corporation
James Santa Maria Santa Maria Group
Melissa Kelley Magnetic Sky
Richard St. John Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Michelle Kezirian BET Tzedek Legal Services
Treasurer
Bruce Ishimatsu
Andrew Leeka
Bird Marella Boxer Wolpert Nessim Drooks & Lincenberg
Good Samaritan Hospital
Janet Elliott
Kim Ngoc Le
Karen Ramirez
Executive Director
Senior Program Officer
Project Assistant
Helen Thomas
Dana Schwarz
Ho Lo
Director of Public Relations
Program Officer
Accounting Manager
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Staff
Published by the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, 3540 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 910, Los Angeles, CA 90010. IVCLA is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization. Partial funding comes from the U.S. Dept. of State, the County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles. IVCLA is a member of the National Council of International Visitors (NCIV). Phone: (213)388-1428
Fax: (213)388-5879
E-mail: info@ivcla.org
Website: www.ivcla.org