In March, we had the privilege of hosting “Sustainability and Economic Development in the Blue Economy,” a U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) delegation from the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Vanuatu, dedicated to fostering a sustainable oceanic future.

This is the power of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP): Building meaningful, lasting connections that keep us together while 5,969 miles (9,606 km) apart. In April 2021—five years after arranging Saad Abid’s local IVLP experience—we at Global Ties San Francisco partnered with Saad’s Association Bahri to engage our respective communities in a series of Earth Month challenges to #RestoreOurEarth.

Sydney Tweedley is one of our spring 2024 International Visitors Programming Interns at Global Ties San Francisco.