The Value of GCIV Membership
September 1, 2009
Every month, you receive a message in our e-newsletter asking you to become a member of GCIV. What does membership in GCIV mean, and why is it important?
GCIV administers the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in Georgia, which works to increase mutual understanding between 
Americans and emerging leaders of other countries. Visitors meet with their professional counterparts and local hosts to gain an understanding of U.S. policies and practices, while sharing their unique perspectives and experiences with us. Worldwide, fifty-seven program alumni are current heads of government or chiefs of state, including Gordon Brown of the UK, Felipe Calderon of Mexico, and France’s Nicolas Sarkozy.
- GCIV members have the opportunity to meet these impressive delegations at a variety of community programs: Members Only Receptions, Global Lunch Forums, International Dining Experiences, Envoy Young Professionals events, and more.
- GCIV members have the opportunity to volunteer as professional resources and home hosts.
- US Ambassadors rank the IVLP as most effective in a long list of public diplomacy tools at their disposal. GCIV members support our country’s foreign policy objectives and help improve America’s image abroad through mutual exchange and understanding.
- Membership in GCIV offers a unique opportunity to travel the world without leaving your home!
With support from our community, GCIV coordinated programs for over five-hundred distinguished international visitors last year, and provided even more opportunities for Georgians to interact with these future world leaders. Each visit represents an opportunity for us, as citizen diplomats, to learn about another part of the world, make a new friend, transform a misconception, and curb growing anti-Americanism around the world.
Our members are the heart of GCIV and we rely on their ongoing involvement as well as financial support to continue bringing the next generation of world leaders to Georgia. Membership contributions go directly toward the cost of implementing these important and meaningful international exchanges.
Click here to view the various levels of membership and the associated benefits. Your membership gift, ranging from $25 for young professionals and students to $1,000 as a member of the Ambassadors Circle, will bring us closer to fulfilling our mission and helping to make the world a more peaceful place.
Another View of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds
August 1, 2009
Group travel isn’t necessarily conducive to spontaneous opportunities, yet this is one of my favorite aspects of travel. So, when Ashley’s host family invited me to tag along with them during our one free day in Nurnberg, I couldn’t resist. The Dinstuehlers took us to nearby Weissenburg, where we were able to soak in the atmosphere of a charming Franconian village as well as see the remains of an ancient Roman bathhouse dating back to the turn of the first century. 
We visited both the Roman museum and the museum dedicated to the town of Weissenburg, with stops for cappuccinos and “spaghetti” ice cream in between. We later toured Ellingen Castle and sampled the offerings at the beer garden across the street. Ina Dinstuehler and her mom Birgit were perfect hosts, sweetly and patiently showing us all the sites I’m sure they’ve seen a hundred times before. They were generous in more ways than one, refusing to let us pay for anything, insisting that this was “the German way.” As the leader of an organization that prides itself on the hospitality it offers international guests, I was once again humbled to be on the receiving end.
Mr. and Mrs. Dinstuehler happened to have tickets that evening to see the Bavarian Youth Jazz Orchestra, which they kindly offered to us. The concert took place in a beautiful outdoor setting . . . inside what was once the Nazi Party Rally Grounds. Our group had toured this area a few days before during our visit to the Nazi Documentation Center. The Center analyzes the Nazi phenomenon, challenging us to understand the fascination and terror behind the Third Reich—how it came to be and how we can prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.
I remembered hearing somewhere that old Nazi sites had been converted to venues for arts and culture. In this case, part of the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds had been carved out to house the Nurnberg Symphony Orchestra. Ina said that there was a lot of debate about what to do with these buildings. That destroying them might indicate that Germans were trying to hide this horrific chapter of Germany history, but that simply leaving the buildings as abandoned ruins wouldn’t allow the German people to move through the devastation to a new place of growth and understanding.
The concert’s setting couldn’t have been more lovely. We were in an open-air courtyard surrounded by tall brick walls decorated with twinkling lights, climbing ivy, and trees chattering in the breeze. “Now you will see how Germans listen to music,” Ina said. “They sit perfectly still and look like they are not enjoying it, but the music is deep inside them.” She was right. The orchestra members, all 16 and younger, were accomplished jazz musicians. I let my mind relax and my toes tap to “Moondance” and “Over the Rainbow.” We could hear the birds chirping in between numbers, and as the big brass built up a crescendo the leaves on the trees danced.
With the possible exception of myself, the only other person who was most obviously enjoying the music was Harald Ruschenbaum, the group’s director. Herr Ruschenbaum grooved with contagious enthusiasm as he coaxed energetic jazz classics from the youth. A man who clearly loved his work, he grabbed a cowbell more than once and enthusiastically played along. I thought about how fitting it was to transform this place with the positive energy of music, and how lucky I was (right here, right now) to be hearing this quintessentially American music performed by an orchestra of talented Germany youth.
As the evening drew to a close, the band played a song I didn’t know, something about saying goodbye when we don’t know when we’ll get to say hello again. My new German friend and I looked at each other at the same time and made a wish that our next hello would be sooner rather than later.
Day Four in Nürnberg
July 10, 2009
Today’s post comes from Erin Dabbs, a senior at Henry W. Grady High School. Our internet access is not as regular since we are now staying with host families, but we will try to keep the blogs posted regularly!
I cannot believe how amazing my day was! I woke up this morning with a smile on my face because I was so excited about what my day had in store for me. We headed to the Hans Sachs 
Gymnasium which is similar to what we call high school. The headmaster took us around the outside of the school where he explained how important civil rights is and the history of the school. Soon after, we went to a grade ten English class where we got a chance to speak with students and share information with each other. Once we did that, some of the German boys went on a break and I showed them some Michael Jackson moves. This showed me that our lifestyle weren’t that different as I thought they would be. Then we went inside of the new building where Cindy, Alex, and I showed the boys and girls famous American dances. They were willing to learn and showed much appreciation for learning something new.
The next stop was the Nürnberg Exhibition Center and it was very spacious. They had many showrooms that were located on the long street that the Nazis marched on. Its building reminded me of the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. After the tour, we had lunch and the pasta was so delicious! We sat in for an amazing presentation where we learned about the word culture. The presentation was presented very well and it helped me expand my knowledge and the significance of public speaking. As a youth commissioner, public speaking is very important; therefore, any opportunity to learn how to become a better public speaker whether it be by lessons or examples, is highly promoted. The presentation revolved around a number of things including:
- The definition of culture
- The specific questions about learning a new culture which are as follows: Who am I? Who are they? How do they see me?
- The Layers of Culture: Values, Rituals, Symbols, and Heroes
These points were very critical and we all related to them as a group. Thanks to this specific presentation I opened my eyes and my mind to my Germany experience.
As soon as the presentation was over, we got on the train and went to visit the mayor of Nürnberg. He was so funny and had a great enthusiasm about our visit. Chairman Eaves had met him previously and made it even easier for us to welcome the mayor with open arms. Once the reception was over, we headed back to the hotel to meet the host families. My host family came and I was so excited!
We left with them and went to Ausfahrt which is where they live. When we pulled up to their gate, we were astonished. They have a huge home with an indoor pool and windows on the ceiling. The house was so beautiful and very comfortable. We had dinner and afterwards Prachi and I choreographed a dance with Paula who was the daughter in the house. We danced to Thriller by Michael Jackson and had a blast. Later on we played Twister in German and that was so fun. Then Paula did our hair and we finally decided to get some rest.
Living with our host family has already been great and it’s just the first day. I feel so welcomed and this had taught me that everyone is the same and even those who have plenty have good hearts. The German culture is definitely different but I feel like I am at home.
More Thoughts on Day Three in Nürnberg
July 8, 2009
Now we hear from Christopher Morris, a senior at Benjamin E. Mays High School. Today’s adventure began in a similar fashion as yesterday; I woke up, ate breakfast, and I along with the rest of the group walked to a nearby train station to catch a trolley. Today our destination was the Nazi Documentation Center on the former Nazi Rally Grounds. I was particularly interested in today’s tour because of the slight fascination I have with World War II. Our tour began at a large, coliseum-like building, built during Nazi Germany. Our tour guide showed us around the building and explained how the Nazis put emphasis on taking away individuality and focusing on the group as a whole. He explained how this was evident in their architecture. Myself, having some experience in the field of architecture, found the Nazi buildings to be quite wasteful, putting emphasis on power and size as opposed to efficiency. It began to rain during our tour, so we hurried along finishing up the tour and heading inside to look at the exhibit. The exhibit was in German, so we carried around small devices to translate. The exhibit showed how the Nazi regime came to power over the course of 20 years. It also illustrated some of the 
horrors that occurred in the Nazi concentration camps. After going through the tour, we walked to a nearby a restaurant to refuel. While I must admit that the food wasn’t the best of our stay, it was good enough. After refueling we headed back to the documentation center for a lecture on the Nürnberg Trials. The trials were basically a military tribunal for high ranking Nazi officials that had committed war crimes. I learned a from the lecture about Nürnberg during World War II and how they document the past events today. After the lecture we headed back to the hotel, concluding our day.
Day Three in Nürnberg
July 8, 2009
For Wednesday, July 8th, we hear from Gerald Crawford, senior at Henry W. Grady High School.
Today was unlike any other day, even though the day started the same as yesterday; wake up, take a shower, and then eat breakfast. The thing that made today different was we didn’t ride the train but hopped on a trolley and got off at a big grey stone building that looked like the coliseum in Rome. Yeah, but I am clearly in Germany. This particular coliseum model was a part of Nazi Rally Grounds, which sat on about two square miles. The rally ground was built around a lake, exactly in line with the castle of the old Nurnberg. The reason the Nazis built the rally ground where it was because it was the space was on a land that was not being used because it was swamp land. Hitler’s plan was one in which he was able to 
manipulate the minds of others and start a major movement. The one thing that really stood out for me was the meeting space at the rally ground, it seemed as if I see the people standing there listening. There was an since of silence as the emotion of the place stood for went through my mind.
Day Two in Nürnberg
July 7, 2009
Hello my name is Malik Epps. I am a W.E.B. Du Bois scholar and I am traveling along with the Fulton County Youth Commission to Germany. So far the trip has been great and I love experiencing the German culture. Today we visited a school in Nürnberg and spoke with a few of the sixth grade students, as well as the headmaster and an English teacher. The headmaster explained how the German educational system operates. Then we got to ask each other questions about our cultures, which helped me become aware of the German lifestyle. After speaking with the students, I realized how similar the culture in Germany and America are.
On our way to the train, we stopped by a construction site where the students of Nürnberg are 
working together to create a tribute to a famous European artist. The children are building play areas that will resemble the name Leo from a bird’s eye view. Leo is short for the famous painter from Nürnberg, Leonhard.
Soon after we ate lunch and we took an extensive walking tour around Nürnberg. During the tour we visited a medieval fortress. In this tour we found out how the city of Nürnberg was born. After the tour of the fortress we toured an ancient church and we learned a great deal about the way religion was back in medieval times in Germany.
When the tour came to a close we headed over to a youth club that was just a train ride away. The youth club had a ping-pong table and a pool table and it seemed like a cool place for the youth of Nurnberg to hang out. After we spent approximately an hour enjoying ourselves we headed back into the city to eat dinner. I can’t wait to have another great day tomorrow.
Further Reflections on Day 1 in Germany
July 7, 2009
As I have been unable to sleep since yesterday, I assume that today began as we reached closer and closer to Germany. Between the entertaining allure of the film Watchmen and the anticipation generated by the computerized map, I noticed enthusiastically as we edged nearer to landing. Soon, I was disappointed because I could not finish the ending of Watchmen; but, we had finally arrived at Frankfurt!
Once we departed from the plane, regained our luggage, and grabbed a quick bite to eat, we were ready to take the train to Nürnberg. The only minor setback was the delay, which did not suppress my eagerness. While we waited patiently we partook in interactions such as games and music. Once the train did arrive, I finally had an opportunity to rest. If not, I would have soon fainted from exhaustion. I do not remember much from the ride, hence the fact that I was asleep, but it was fairly quiet and serene. By now, it had finally occurred to me that I was in 
Europe, my first encounter outside of United States borders. Now I was truly anxious for what was to next to happen.
When we made it to Nürnberg, we were escorted to out hotel, where we registered and deposited our luggage. Next, we ate at a fine restaurant and, afterwards, were able to freely browse the mall, shops, and stores around the hotel.
Up to now, I had had a very enjoyable time; but now my body craved relaxation. I took a quick yet substantial nap; and, when I awoke, it was time for a meeting. At the meeting, we discussed and scheduled the order of speeches and formal presentations during our expedition. Once the meeting was adjourned, I prepared the gifts for my host family. This trip has been quite an experience so far, and I am rather zealous for what is in store for the days to come.
FCGYLP Reports from Germany
July 6, 2009
Today begins daily blogging by participants in the Fulton County Global Youth Leadership Program, who are on an educational exchange to Germany. Today we start off with Prachi Fulay, rising junior at Northview High School:
I blog for July 5th and July 6th in a single entry, for that is how these two days have been stored, for the most part, in our memories.
Packing? What an understatement. For the past three days I have embarked on a mathematical endeavor of distributing a mass of clothes, shoes, soaps, and items that can only be classified as miscellanea in order to meet airport requirements. Finally, the test of my labors, the baggage weigh-in, was carried out. The result? Utter success – a precise 51 pounds! Soon, my bag was off! But we were not soon to follow. After gleeful and grudging goodbyes (depending, of course, on the speaker), a plethora of photos, three interesting interviews, and a heartfelt prayer, we departed to airport security no less than an hour and a half later. Nevertheless, we were at our gate a good bit early (which is always better than a good bit late) and were able to explore the wonders of the airport food court.
Group reservations? What irony. The plane could only be described as cookie dough, with Global Youth Leadership chocolate chips sprinkled throughout. But, I have no complaints, for one of the only ways to meet new people is to be forced into an undesirable situation. In line for the bathroom, of all things, I met a 21-year-old girl who was stationed in Germany as a part of active military duty. She is to remain there until October. After a few more minutes of conversation, we both returned to our seats. The other people who surrounded me on the plane were also generally pleasant, though no words other than the short few used to explain how to increase the volume on the personal TV were exchanged between my neighbors and I. Speaking of the personal televisions, my brain was practically fried after I got off of the nine-hour flight; I watched three television shows and one and a half movies. This selection included Two and a Half Men, The Bill Engvall Show, and Two Lovers.
Plane food? What a surprise. (No sarcasm intended). The plane food, no matter how harshly my fellow critics/passengers assessed it, was actually decent. At least, the pasta (which was served for dinner) was. Breakfast, which consisted of a fried/scrambled egg sandwiched between two biscuits, wasn’t quite to my liking. However, the supposedly torturous nine hours flew by. (Yes, the pun was intended.) Although, I must admit that towards the end (within the last fifteen minutes or so of the flight), my legs were beginning to feel the strain of facing such an inactivity for such a long time. Finally, we passed through German customs, which was a mere fraction of the time spent in American customs, and were through to the airport transit, which took us to the train station, which we arrived at two hours too early, even having had to navigate through a maze of escalators, turns, and hallways.
Better early than sorry? What a shame. Although this statement is undoubtedly true, one often is at a loss for how to fill up such a large time frame. After buying lunch and/or snacks from vendors located at the train station and hiking meters and meters to a distant Starbucks, there was still an hour left for the train to arrive. In dire desperation, a game was proposed. A game that turned out to leave all who played in a state of stomach pain – from laughing so hard. “Zoom, Skirt, Bing, Psych” can only be described as a game whose rules are made up as one plays. The train finally arrived, and we boarded the “ICE” eagerly, awaiting the comfort of
a bed in our hotel rooms. However, there was a slight seating situation. We didn’t have reserved seats, so for a few of the initial stops, some members of GYL were bumped back and forth between seats, as the passengers with reserved seats had the right to claim their positions. However, things finally settled down. After this point, the ride was a great blur, for I was in a state of deep relaxation, catching up on the sleep that I was deprived of on the flight. I do recall, though, that the ride was absolutely peaceful, and the scenery majestic. It was as if the colors of the grass and crops and houses were simply paintings, for they were too crisp, too clear, and too beautiful to be real. After dismounting the train, we were shown to our hotel rooms, given a chance to relax and refresh, and ate a breakfast/dinner. Following this was free time, mine of which was filled with wandering the streets and stores that surround our hotel.
Notes from the Executive Director
July 1, 2009
My how time flies! In early July, 14 Fulton County high school students, as well as GCIV and Fulton County staff members, will experience the 2009 Fulton County Global Youth Leadership Program – a collaboration between GCIV and Fulton County’s Office of Children and Youth. The program aims to introduce a new generation of Fulton County leaders to the institutions, politics, and people of other countries and to expose metro Atlanta’s future leaders to non-local approaches to meeting universal challenges.
With support from several generous sponsors, GCIV and Fulton County took a delegation of young leaders to South Africa last July, and then we welcomed a counterpart delegation to Atlanta in October. This year we are organizing a similar youth leadership exchange with Germany. This enriching educational experience would not be possible without the support of this year’s supporters: the Atlanta Foundation, Ernst & Young, the Fulton County Development Authority, Georgia Pacific, Georgia Power, and the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta.
As a member of the delegation traveling to South Africa, I had the unique opportunity to experience Johannesburg as an “international visitor.” Our hosts, staff from Johannesburg’s Office of the Speaker, organized a fascinating and action-packed itinerary of school visits, student government proceedings, and NGO meetings.
Two particularly memorable visits reminded me what it is to be a good host. We went to an organization that empowers youth to work for social and economic change in their communities, and to a village offering home, care, and community to children and adults living with AIDS. Both places welcomed us with open arms, and the time and thought they put into arranging every detail of our visit was impressive. They gathered their group for a special welcome song when we walked in the door, they took the time for proper introductions and to learn about us individually, they displayed organizational materials on the conference table, and they included representatives from many aspects of their organizations in the meeting.
As I reflect on the thoughtful hospitality of new friends on the other side of the globe, I’m humbled by the effort GCIV’s members put into showing the world the best of ourselves right here in Georgia. I love to talk with both visitors and hosts about their experiences, and I love to hear what unique and innovative ways our volunteers come up with to make our international visitors feel special. Please share your thoughts! Also, be sure to check GCIV’s blog in July for frequent updates from Germany!
Welcome, MEPI Fellows!
May 27, 2009
GCIV is excited to welcome to Atlanta Aminah Abotalaf and Maisa Hakimi, participants in the U.S. State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). Aminah, from Kuwait, and Maisa, from Yemen, are part of the MEPI Legal and Business Fellowship Program, which brought twenty young Arab women professionals to the United States for executive training and business fellowships at top U.S. companies. They just finished their first week of their fellowships: Aminah at Southern Company, and Maisa at Coca-Cola Company. The fellows are also exploring Atlanta, having already visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Piedmont Park, Atlantic Station, and more.
Typically, GCIV’s exchange programs are extremely fast-paced: International Visitor Leadership Program delegations are in and out of Atlanta in four to five days. Every once in a while, we have the opportunity to host someone long-term, and the impact on our community is always incredible. We are lucky that Aminah and Maisa are here in Atlanta for three months as they put the skills they learned at the Wharton School of Business to use in their fellowships.
GCIV is not only tasked with arranging their professional experience, but also immersing them in American culture. In the coming months you will see notices of GCIV events planned for Aminah and Maisa. Please join us to welcome them to our city. Here is an example of some of the events we have planned in the coming weeks:
Thursday, June 4th, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Turner First Thursdays Art Walk
Join GCIV members and our MEPI fellows from Kuwait and Yemen at this free event. The First Thursdays Art Walk is a time when several downtown art galleries are open to the public. We’ll meet at GCIV’s downtown, office, visit several galleries, and end at the SunDial Restaurant, where the Mose Davis Trio plays jazz music every Thursday.Tuesday, June 9th, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Atlanta Braves Game
Join GCIV members and our MEPI fellows from Kuwait and Yemen at a baseball game featuring the Atlanta Braves vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. We will meet at the stadium and purchase tickets there, between $10-20.Thursday, June 11th, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Atlanta Botanical Gardens’ Cocktails in the Garden
Cocktails in the Garden on Thursday evenings provide an ideal opportunity to view the massive bronze sculptures of Moore in America when they are dramatically lit in the cool of the evening. Join GCIV members and our MEPI fellows from Kuwait and Yemen at this unique event. There will be light tastings from a local restaurant, and admission is $15 (free for members of the Garden).Monday, June 15th, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
GCIV International Dining Experience at Mosaic Cafe
Get to know other GCIV members and hosts and share your questions, experiences and insights about hosting international visitors in your home. We will share a meal at Mosaic Cafe in West Midtown, and our MEPI fellows from Kuwait and Yemen will join us. The price is $20 per person, and this includes the meal, a non-alcoholic drink, tax, and gratuity.
We hope you can join us at some of these events to welcome Aminah and Maisa to Atlanta and help them get a feel for the city. Please email Ashley to RSVP. We’ll also be taking them to Screen on the Green, Jazz at the High, and much more. Do you have any ideas of unique events they should attend while here in Atlanta? If so, please let us know in the comments. We welcome your input to help make their stay a memorable one!
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Our Mission & Vision
GCIV builds understanding and cooperation between the people of our state and the world. Our vision is that every Georgia citizen has the opportunity to become more globally engaged.
Upcoming Events & Delegations
- Wed 9/8/2010 - 9/10/2010: Italian Delegation
- Sat 9/11/2010 - 9/14/2010: Syrian Delegation
- Wed 9/15/2010 - 9/20/2010: Dutch Delegation
- Wed 9/15/2010: International Dining Experience