Office of American Spaces Report FY 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Office of American Spaces FY 2019 BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE FEATURING CONTRIBUTORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD 19-22521 American Spaces Annual Report.indd 1 12/15/20 11:31 AM American Spaces are safe places for exploration, conversation, self-discovery, self-expression and interaction that counteract negative narratives and develop leadership skills. Learning English, starting a business, using broadcast technology and recognizing disinformation are among many self-improvement opportunities. TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome ........................................................................................... 3–7 With a Lot of Flexibility and a Little Sense of Humor, A Person in is Role Can Make a Dierence .....3 Assistant Secretary Marie Royce, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Aairs Linda Parker, Regional Public Engagement Specialist .............................. 16 Deputy Assistant Secretary for ECA Academic Programs Caroline Casagrande ... 3 Binational Centers: A Special Report ..................................17–18 Oce of American Spaces Director Carol Brey .............................................. 4 Binational Centers Handle Tough Issues With Finesse Overview of the Oce of American Spaces ............................................. 5 Mark Burrell, Regional Public Engagement Specialist .............................. 17 Glossary .................................................................................................. 6 Binational Centers in Venezuela: Models of Community Programs in American Spaces: What Happens ere? Je Ridenour, Programming Strategist Engagement in the Midst of Chaos ................................. 18 Myles Marken, Program Analyst .............................................................. 7 Sheila Weir, Regional Public Engagement Specialist Nuts and Bolts .............................................................................19–23 Case Studies: American Spaces Pay Unexpected Dividends ........................................................ 8–9 Training: Empowering American Spaces Sta to Youth Forums in Sri Lanka’s American Spaces Amplify Emerging Voices Become Changemakers in eir Communities ............................. 19 Sanjay D Mailvahanan, Director, American Spaces Sri Lanka ................... 8 Magia Krause, Regional Public Engagement Specialist American Corner Trieste Steps Up to Take on the Face of the ECA and American Spaces: e Evolution of a Partnership Former Consulate Lynne Scheib, Partnerships Coordinator .................................................. 20 .................... 9 Anne Johnson, Regional Public Engagement Specialist, retired American Centers: e Only U.S. Government-Owned ............................................................ 21 High-impact Programming in American Spaces ..................10–16 or -Operated American Spaces American Spaces Support Fund: Reliable and Consistent e Moscow Media Literacy Lab: Progressive Meets Practical Valorie Lee, Regional Public Engagement Specialist .................................. 22 John Fer, Foreign Service Ocer and Regional Public Engagement Specialist 10 Numbers Tell Many Important Stories China: Despite Risk, Visitors Flock to Embassy-Based American Space Chris Zammarelli, Data Specialist .......................................................... 23 Rita Botts, Regional Public Engagement Specialist ................................. 11 ..................................................................... Eritrea: Finding Work-arounds Works Where We’re Going 24–27 Stacia Clifton, Regional Public Engagement Specialist ............................. 12 e American Spaces 2019-2021 Strategic Plan Turkmenistan: Consider All Angles – en Consider em Again Oce of American Spaces Director Carol Brey .......................................... 24 Tracci Gabel, Foreign Service Ocer and Regional Public Survey Results for the Evaluation Pilot Project: ........................................................................... 13 Engagement Specialist American Spaces Want to Know How ey Are Doing Kolkata: Telling “One Story at a Time” Gives Voice to Michele Kimpel-Guzman, Policy Ocer Tracking Survivors Cynthia Nichols, Regional Public Engagement Specialist ..................... 24–27 Sarah Ziebell, Regional Public Engagement Specialist .............................. 14 ....................................................... Rwandan Businesswomen Turn Barrier into Connection Tributes / Credits BACK COVER Elizabeth Stromme, Regional Public Engagement Specialist ..................... 14 Cairo’s Virtual Reality: A Real Winner For Job Creation Heather Ward, Regional Public Engagement Specialist ............................. 15 FY 2019 The Office of American Spaces recognizes the life-changing challenges the world has endured in 2020 with the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 earlier this year. Because the pandemic occurred outside the time frame covered in this report, the disease is not mentioned, but, as with every facet of life, COVID-19 left its mark of disruption on the development of this publication. We are grateful to those who contributed to this report while working to temporarily close down American Spaces, departing post, taking on parent/teacher roles and accepting the many other challenges of the pandemic. American Spaces Office of 2 19-22521 American Spaces Annual Report.indd 2 12/15/20 11:31 AM WELCOME Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Functional Bureau Strategy 2018–2022: • Counter disinformation and radicalization • Advance American foreign policy objectives • Encourage strong civil society institutions • Increase America’s global competitiveness • Achieve greater efficiency in ECA operations Assistant Secretary Marie Royce Deputy Assistant Secretary for ECA Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Academic Programs Caroline Casagrande I am proud to welcome the Oce of American Since we formally welcomed the Oce of Spaces team to ECA, including the Regional Public American Spaces into the academic neighborhood Engagement Specialists, the Foreign Service corps in May 2019, we have begun to realize many located around the world that provides expert avenues for innovation to strengthen and enhance guidance to American Spaces and the embassies the collaboration between American Spaces and and consulates that manage them on a day-to-day some of our most in-demand programs, such as basis. Since May 2019, we have been delighted to English learning and U.S. college advising through see American Spaces build stronger partnerships our EducationUSA program. and tighter integration with ECA programs. American Spaces often provide a community’s rst American Spaces have long been delivering four encounter with the United States and their integra- major ECA programs to international audiences — English language learning, tion with ECA provides our program oces with countless compatible resources promotion of study in the United States, providing programming venues for for developing or expanding creative programs that t within the policy objectives alumni of exchange programs and promoting of the U.S. government, ECA and the embassies that manage American Spaces. As we look to 2020 and American culture and values. rough training and guidance from the Washington We are taking advantage of the natural anities that exist with American Spaces. beyond, I challenge For example, 150 EducationUSA advising centers (approximately one-third of everyone in ECA and the oce and the Regional Public Engagement Specialists, this diverse network has evolved the network) are located in American Spaces, and English language clubs can be field to think beyond some found in many more. of the boundaries that into delivering policy-driven, high-impact have defined the work of programs, strengthening our national security Last fall, the EducationUSA oce in the American Center in Korea hosted a American Spaces in recent position in hard-to-reach locations around session at the Busan American Corner featuring a representative from Kapi‘olani the world. years. We have new tools, Community College in Hawaii. Community colleges are shining stars of our higher education system, o¢ering incredible benets to international students, and new expertise and more I am particularly proud that American Spaces are an increasingly important pathway for international students to study in the than 600 places around provide a range of programs that empower en- trepreneurs. One approach is through building United States. e so-called 2+2 option — to begin study at a community college the world where we can before completing a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university — is an make new things happen. high-technology skills among local residents, such as virtual technology training in Cairo. a¢ordable, ¤exible path to earning a U.S. degree that we have been promoting Think about humanities around the world. and American values Other programs focus specically on devel- programs and ways we oping entrepreneurship skills among women. Learning English opens doors to study in the United States and creates an endless During my travels, I have personally witnessed can further diversify both range of opportunities for integrating other ECA programs. For those who are many of these great programs in American unable to visit or study in the United States, American Spaces can bring a virtual the subject areas and the Spaces in Yangon, Hanoi, New Delhi, Santo experience that is also very rewarding,