At DCG, we constantly seek new opportunities that provide fresh insights. That’s one of several reasons we were excited to help sponsor and attend the Global Ties U.S. National Meeting last week. In today’s evolving world, thoughtful research and diverse perspectives offer the insights needed to tackle global challenges and enhance the well-being of communities everywhere.
The three-day Global Ties U.S. National Meeting based in Washington DC brings together participants to gain high-level insights on trends affecting the international exchange and public diplomacy field, engage in professional development opportunities, and build networks to strengthen missions focused on citizen engagement in foreign affairs. Participants include international exchange and public diplomacy professionals and supporters from government agencies, the private-sector, nonprofit organizations, and academia.
This year’s meeting took place February 18–21, 2025, and the theme was Stronger Alliances, Stronger Communities. DCG proudly served as one of the sponsors for this event and had the chance to not only showcase our impactful services but also engage in diplomacy receptions with key stakeholders. We had the opportunity to meet directly with elected representatives over breakfast, where we had valuable discussions about the critical importance of international exchange programs for both foreign policy and U.S. communities.
A special shout out to DCGers, Tavian Mackinnon and Amanda Bevis for hosting our DCG booth during the event. They not only provided event support but were also able to share insights and information about how we merge research with global reach directly with event attendees. Here’s a glimpse of some of their conference experiences:
What was your favorite discussion that was presented and why?
Amanda: “Christian Achaleke’s presentation at Global Ties 2025 was particularly inspiring. His Creative Skills for Peace Project in Cameroon demonstrated the tangible impact of the IVLP in fostering international relationships and creating positive change. His work exemplifies why supporting these programs matters.”
Tavian: “My favorite session was the U.S. Department of State Regional Briefing for the Africa (AF) region. The discussion highlighted the importance of the AF region to U.S. interests and the complexities that such a diverse and young population will play on the global stage in the decades to come.”
How was the event overall as an attendee?
Amanda: “The Global Ties 2025 National Meeting reinforced our understanding of how diplomacy functions at the grassroots level. The face-to-face interactions with program implementers across the U.S. provided context that will inform our approach to supporting international exchange initiatives.”
Tavian: “The event culminated the theme of “stronger alliances, stronger communities” as I was able to connect with several researchers, non-profits focused on public diplomacy, and numerous IVLP exchange alumni and program staff that were unfamiliar with both DCG and our research and evaluation capabilities prior to our meeting. These types of connections not only help spread awareness of the great work DCG does across the world but also help potential collaborations in the future. As such, we already have several meetings scheduled as follow-ups to some of the initial connections made during the event.”
What did you enjoy about being a sponsor representative?
Amanda: “Participating in the Global Ties 2025 National Meeting strengthened our connections with the Department of State and allowed us to better understand how our services can address their evolving needs in public diplomacy.”
Tavian: “It provided visibility to DCG that would otherwise not be possible as a general attendant. Our logo was prominently displayed as sponsor, and it directed a lot of traffic of conference attendees during our exhibit table to make new connections.”
Our team looks forward to sponsoring more mission-driven events in the future!
