Interfaith Dialogue and Religious Freedom
Home to nearly 1,200 churches, 90 of which are nationality churches, Cleveland is a pluralist community of a diverse-array of faith groups and religious institutions. In this exchange program, a group of religious and community leaders, government officials, and educators from the Near East and North Africa will learn about Cleveland's experience promoting religious pluralism while…
Women Entrepreneurs: Alumni as Economic Multipliers
Entrepreneur.com called Cleveland one of the country's "top five unexpectedly thriving startup scenes." The visitors of this program are previous alumni of State Department exchange programs that have been important advocates for women's entrepreneurship and economic inclusion. Through this program, the group will explore the social, economic, and cultural, and political factors of American private…
Transparency and Accountability in Government (Regional Project)
CCWA will be hosting local government officials, civil society leaders, policy analysts, and journalists from Latin America on a project exploring efforts to improve public transparency. The program will outline the role and structure of ethics in government in the United States, similarities and differences in approaches of ethical conduct between government and the private…
Sustainable Connectivity: Port Infrastructure
Over $3 billion worth of economy activity is tied to the Port of Cleveland. Through the International Visitor Leadership Program, port operators, managers, and engineers from Indonesia will have an opportunity to visit Cleveland's freshwater port and examine effective management of port operations. Visitors will also meet with developers and trade experts to see firsthand…
Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the United States (Project for China)
Visitors from China will explore the U.S. system of capitalism in a urban environment where private enterprise is supported through a variety of public-private partnerships, academic institutions, and incubator spaces. A program in Cleveland will allow visitors a unique perspective of economic recovery in a "rust belt" city and the promotion of a 21st century…
Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (A Project for Libya)
The city of Cleveland has been notable for its recent startup activity and economic development especially targeting small businesses. In this program, visitors from Libya will explore the many facets of business development through meetings with university programs, public/private partnerships, banks, and tech incubators in Cleveland. Visitors will discuss the best methods and practices in…
Water Resources Mangement
As efforts continue to grow to protect shared water resources that are at risk from pollution, depletion, population growth and rainfall changes, international visitors will travel to Cleveland to focus on Northeast Ohio's experience in protecting its most valuable resource: freshwater. The visitors will examine innovative financial, scientific and technical strategies for assessing, monitoring and…
Ending Gender-Based Violence
International visitors will travel to Cleveland to review best practices in providing care to victims of violence and the legal process for prosecuting and trying domestic violence cases in court. Meetings and in-depth discussions with social service agencies, healthcare facilities, law enforcement, and domestic relations courts will highlight efforts to prevent gender-based violence and enhance…
After-School Programming in STEAM
Six librarians and educators from Egypt will be in the U.S. to explore out-of-school learning environments and the most modern educational and instructional techniques that accelerate student learning in STEAM subjects. A program in Cleveland will focus on curriculum development and methodology and integrating youth services into schools and public libraries. International Visitor Leadership (IVLP)…
“The Troubles” in Northern Ireland: Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding
This half-day interactive workshop will be a deep dive into the history, politics and peacebuilding process of "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland. The workshop will build a strong knowledge of the Northern Ireland conflict and will strengthen conflict resolution competencies, which can be utilized in the classroom. We will share resources for educators to teach…
At a Crossroads: Insight Into the U.S.-Mexico Relationship
Cleveland Committee on Foreign Relations events are for CCFR members only. Richard Miles is the Director of the U.S.-Mexico Futures Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Following the election of the Mexican populist Andrés Manuel López Obrador as president, and with increasing tensions along the U.S.-Mexico border, Miles will join CCFR to discuss…
Happy Dog Takes on the World: Stories from the Border- DACA, TPS, and the Future of Immigration
Immigration and asylum are becoming two of the largest - and most controversial - issues worldwide. Political upheaval, displacement crises, changes in border security, and increases in nationalistic viewpoints have limited mobility for those escaping conflict, persecution, and seeking a better life.In the U.S., the Trump administration's commitment to ending two programs, the Deferred Action for…