GTAZ welcomes members of Parliament from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of State Department’s Summit for Democracy Program
October 11, 2022 —- Global Ties Arizona, a Phoenix-based nonprofit, welcomed three female members of Parliament from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the valley on October 5th as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Summit for Democracy. Global Ties Arizona brings hundreds of international leaders and foreign subject matter experts to Arizona annually through the International Visitor Leadership Program. The Summit for Democracy in particular is a special initiative of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), convening leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector around the world in a shared effort to set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action.
The foreign dignitaries visiting from Democratic Republic of the Congo last week included:
● The Honorable Paola Kuntonda Yengo, National Assembly of the DRC
● The Honorable Tatiana Pembe Luemba, National Assembly of the DRC
● The Honorable Jolie Yama, National Assembly of the DRC
The delegation participated in a special home hospitality in Paradise Valley on the day of their arrival, hosted by Global Ties Arizona Chair of the Board, Richard Fincher, and Mary-Jeanne Fincher. Home hospitality is a staple engagement that Global Ties Arizona offers to its foreign visitors and local community members. Home hospitality allows our visitors a look inside an Arizona household and an opportunity to get to know our community members, as well as for all participants to learn more about one another’s communities, culture, and customs. To host a visiting delegation in your home, click here.
During the delegation’s professional agenda in Greater Phoenix, the Parliament members met with:
· AZ Clean Elections Commission
· The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy
The delegation attended the Arizona PBS Senate Debate where they met Arizona candidates for U.S. Senate: Mark Kelly (D), Blake Masters (R), and Marc Victor (L). They toured back stage and were even interviewed about their experience in the United States and their perspectives on American Democracy.
The delegation also met with Arizona Secretary of State, Katie Hobbs; Councilwoman Christine Ellis, the first African American woman on Chandler city council and first Haitian woman in elected office in the State of Arizona; in addition to Mayor Kevin Hartke, and Councilman O.D. Harris of Chandler.
To conclude the visit, Global Ties Arizona partner, Alliance Française of Greater Phoenix, hosted a special reception for the delegation on Friday, October 7th with members of the Phoenix French-speaking community and Global Ties Arizona board and advisory board members and affiliates.
Global Ties Arizona partnered with Meridian International Center to implement this edition of the Summit for Democracy, a special initiative of the International Leadership Program, on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.
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Since 1966, Global Ties Arizona has brought thousands of international leaders, selected by U.S. Embassies around the world, to Arizona to participate in short-term visits to cultivate lasting relationships with their Arizona counterparts and to support U.S. public diplomacy efforts with other nations. More than 200,000 international visitors have engaged with Americans through the IVLP, including more than 500 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government.
Visit globaltiesarizona.org for more information or contact Executive Director, Kristin Allen, at kristin@globaltiesarizona.org to get involved with an upcoming international visit.