Wilbur Wright College is part of the Diplomacy Lab network led by the Office of Global Partnerships. Diplomacy Lab is a public-private partnership that enables the State Department to "course-source" research and innovation related to foreign policy challenges by harnessing the efforts of students and faculty experts at universities across the country.
– More: http://diplomacylab.org/
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
U.S. Embassy Tbilisi and Open World Program - Judges/Rule of Law sent five Georgian judges to IL on the Open World program, where they learned about the U.S. judicial system, the structure of the federal court system and state court systems, and the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts.
– More: https://www.openworld.gov/
U.S. Embassy Tbilisi and Open World Program - Accountable Governance – Municipal Development sent five Georgian representatives of municipalities and city councils visited IL on the Open World program to learn how U.S. local governments manage citizen participation in the policy decision-making process.
– More: https://www.openworld.gov/
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
The commercial and recreational fisheries of the Great Lakes employ thousands of Americans and generate billions of dollars in economic activity each year in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Through the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission (GLFC), established by a treaty concluded in the 1950s, the United States and Canada cooperate to coordinate research into these shared fisheries and develop measures to ensure their long-term sustainability. The GLFC also coordinates efforts to eradicate parasitic sea lamprey, an invasive species that entered the Great Lakes in the early 20th century and nearly decimated populations of Great Lakes trout, salmon, whitefish, and other fish. Through its sea lamprey control programs, funded by OES through the International Fisheries Commissions account, populations of sea lamprey are sharply down, and the fish stocks are rebuilding.
Battelle Memorial Institute continues to implement a grant to create professional linkages between U.S. experts—from a variety of public and private institutions—and international public health communicators to share innovations and strategies that work to change behavior and build community resilience against Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases. The Mission Mosquito program, which runs from October 2017 to August 2019, will establish a self-sustaining international network among community leaders and trusted health practitioners, scientists, journalists, and educators to spur innovation in public engagement, and develop/implement communication strategies and follow-on programming that drive impactful and locally appropriate solutions.
– More: https://www.battelle.org/
Researchers from Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Rush University Medical College, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois received grants from the OES-supported U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) for joint research projects with Israeli scientists. Selected through a peer-reviewed process, the BSF research funding advances our bilateral relationship and shared scientific priorities.
Researchers from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, the University of Illinois, Northwestern University were awarded funds from the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum to conduct workshops or host joint centers related to cooperation between the United States and India on DNA repair, energy storage, the physics and chemistry of oxides, geoenvironmental practices and India’s biodiversity.
– More: https://www.iusstf.org/
The Department works with nine domestic non-governmental organizations, which place refugees with more than 325 affiliates in roughly 190 communities around the country. These local affiliates work closely with community partners, congregations, volunteers, and state and local officials to provide a successful start for refugees rebuilding their lives. Refugee communities have historically enhanced the economic dynamism and cultural vitality of our nation. Refugees contribute to the United States in numerous ways, including by starting businesses and joining the U.S. military. This program helps the world’s most vulnerable refugees find permanent homes, and it demonstrates the immense generosity of the American people.
– More: https://www.state.gov/j/prm/index.htm
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs partners with the American Association of Police Polygraphists (Wilmette, IL) to provide polygraph training updates in accordance with international best practices to Mexican law enforcement. 36 Mexican officials participated in the 2018 annual seminar in Kentucky on the topic.
– More: http://www.americanassociationofpolicepolygraphists.org/
In collaboration with criminal justice partners in Cook County, Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities (TASC) hosted a delegation of high-level justice and health officials from Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, who visited Chicago June 11-12, 2018 to explore innovative practices in implementing alternatives to incarceration. The visit was organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) with the support of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the Canadian Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP), the visit offered a unique opportunity for delegates to converse directly with leaders in Cook County (encompassing Chicago) who implement justice diversion practices.
– More: https://www.state.gov/t/isn/
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
1,092 Illinois residents hosted or supported 1,098 International Visitor Leadership Program participants who visited the state, volunteering a total of 47,518 hours of service.
– More: https://eca.state.gov/ivlp
56 emerging leaders studied or participated in a fellowship in Illinois on one of the Young Leaders Initiatives.
– More: https://exchanges.state.gov/
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
The U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons awarded grants to the following organizations in Illinois to combat human trafficking: $750,000 was awarded to Heartland Alliance International to improve victim identification and comprehensive shelter-based services for victims of trafficking in the Lake Chad Basin; $750,000 was awarded to the American Bar Association to strengthen the investigations of human trafficking cases and services for victims of trafficking in Jordan; $500,000 was awarded to the American Bar Association to improve legislative, policy, and regulatory frameworks to combat human trafficking in Southern Africa; $750,000 was awarded to the American Bar Association to improve the protection of victims of human trafficking and systematize victim-centered investigation and prosecutions of human trafficking cases in Morocco; $500,000 was awarded to the American Bar Association to develop and strengthen anti-trafficking legal and policy frameworks, systematize victim-centered investigation and prosecutions in human trafficking cases, and improve comprehensive services for victims of human trafficking in Tunisia; $700,000 was awarded to the American Bar Association to systematize victim-centered investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking cases in Sri Lanka.
– More: https://www.state.gov/j/tip/index.htm
In Fiscal Year 2017, the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) issued visas to 214 children who were adopted by U.S. citizens from Illinois. Intercountry adoption is one CA's highest priorities. CA's Office of Children’s Issues plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process and works diligently to establish and maintain intercountry adoption as a viable option throughout the world.
– More: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption/adopt_ref/adoption-statistics.html
Bureau of International Organization Affairs
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site, the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico, in Collinsville, Illinois.
– More: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/198
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Diplomatic Security Chicago Field Office: Diplomatic Security has offices throughout the United States staffed with special agents and contract investigators, who conduct criminal, counterterrorism and background investigations. Agents assigned to field and resident offices assist in providing support to the protection of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Liaison with federal and local law enforcement, foreign mission personnel, local officials, and the private sector complements their major responsibilities.
– More: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/index.htm
Jobs and Economy
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Illinois hosted 8,308 foreign physicians, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs and others as part of work and study-based Exchange Visitor Program. The “Chicago Convention” established the International Civil Aviation Organization in 1944 – the first UN specialized agency. (Source: Bureau of International Organization Affairs)
– More: http://www.icao.int/publications/pages/doc7300.aspx
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
In FY17, Illinois-based companies received approval to export $9,401,391,447 worth of defense articles and services licensed by the Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
– More: https://www.state.gov/t/pm/
Illinois-based companies were approved to provide approximately $2.84 billion in defense equipment and services to U.S. partners under the Foreign Military Sales program, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
– More: https://www.state.gov/t/pm/
Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
Argonne National Laboratory received $87,540 to provide 5 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) internship positions for American students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain practical work experience in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy (agriculture, sustainable nuclear power, and environment).
– More: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/index.htm
Argonne National Laboratory and New Brunswick Laboratory received a total of $217,443 from the Department of State to invest in the U.S. Program of Technical Assistance to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards which funds the U.S. Support Program and provides budgetary assistance for peaceful nuclear research and development projects on technical safeguards.
– More: https://www.state.gov/t/pm/
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) contributes to the economy of Illinois through contracts and federal grants that directly supported INL missions.
– More: https://www.state.gov/t/isn/
Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
The Department of State, in partnership with agencies across the federal government, creates jobs for American workers by opening markets and eliminating trade barriers overseas and by attracting foreign direct investment to the United States. In 2018, goods exported totaled $65.4 billion. Those exports supported approximately 325,368 Illinoisan jobs (2016) and foreign direct investment into Illinois supports an additional 340,500 jobs (2016).
– More: https://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/statereports/states/il.pdf
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs advocates in meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) for conservation of pollinators, which contribute $24 billion to the national economy and $137 million to the economy of the state of Illinois for alfalfa – vital to the production of cattle for beef and dairy – and tens of millions more for other agricultural products like potatoes, pumpkins, apples, and others.
– More: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/Ag_Overview/stateOverview.php?state=illinois&year=2017
The Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Programs encourage applications from minority groups historically underrepresented in the U.S. Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Each fellowship provides financial assistance towards the completion of a two year master’s degree in a field related to the Foreign Service, academic funding, mentorship and two internships – one in the U.S. and the other abroad at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Fellows commit to a minimum of five years in the Foreign Service. Currently, there are 32 active participants from the state of Illinois.
– More: http://www.global.howard.edu/ralph-j-bunche/fellowship/
Education
Bureau of Global Talent Management
Diplomat-in-Residence (Melissa Martinez): Diplomats in Residence (DIRs) are career Foreign Service Officers or Specialists located throughout the U.S. who provide guidance and advice to students, professionals and the community about Department careers.
– More: http://careers.state.gov/connect/dir
Bureau of African Affairs
The Department provided grant funding to Illinois Community Colleges to host Community College Initiative (CCI) Program participants from Nairobi. The program helps raise the profile of U.S. community colleges as prime motivators and initiators of higher education globally.
– More: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/community-college-initiative-program
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
105 Scholars, Students and Teachers from Illinois were awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, and 208 international students received a Fulbright to study in Illinois.
– More: https://eca.state.gov/fulbright
1,286 exchange visitors from overseas visited Illinois and 457 Illinois residents travelled overseas as part of the Department’s educational and cultural exchange funded programs.
– More: https://exchanges.state.gov/
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
U.S. Embassy Valletta - U.S.-Malta Dual Degree Programs - The University of Malta offers two dual post-graduate degree programs, one with George Mason University, and one with the University of Illinois in Chicago. The programs attract American, international, and Maltese students and support educational exchange and youth empowerment.
– More: https://www.um.edu.mt/icp
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Governors State University is a member of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs supported Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction. ICUDDR facilitates networking among universities to promote high quality education and training in the field of addiction prevention, treatment and public health interventions. It also pursues related applied addictions research, outreach and advocacy.
Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
U.S. Department of State partnered with Argonne National Laboratory and provided $474,470 for the Laboratory to host 9 courses on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) matters and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy (agriculture, sustainable nuclear power, and environment). Since 1976, the Laboratory has organized 224 joint U.S./IAEA training courses for 5,100 people from approximately 141 countries.
– More: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/index.htm
U.S. Department of State partnered with Argonne National Laboratory and provided $474,470 for the Laboratory to host 9 courses on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) matters and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy (agriculture, sustainable nuclear power, and environment). Since 1976, the Laboratory has organized 224 joint U.S./IAEA training courses for 5,100 people from approximately 141 countries.
– More: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/index.htm
U.S. Department of State partnered with Argonne National Laboratory and provided $175,124 to the peaceful uses of nuclear technology (agriculture, sustainable nuclear power, and environment) through training 184 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) science and engineering fellows from 55 developing countries. Since 2003, more than 1,000 fellows have been trained through this program, hosted by Argonne National Laboratory, and have been entrusted with responsibilities important to the development of their home countries.
– More: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/index.htm
Argonne National Laboratory received $142,800 to organize and conduct two export control training courses for international experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency to assist the experts in improving their nuclear trade analysis capabilities.
– More: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/index.htm
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Northeastern Illinois University along with Universidad del Atlántico (Colombia) and Universidad Simón Bolívar (Colombia) are collaborating to create new student exchange models that will enable U.S. students to travel to Colombia to learn about peace education projects involving youth in Colombia, while Colombian students will travel to the U.S. to learn about community organizations in Chicago that address youth violence. These exchanges form part of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, the dynamic public/private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, Embassies, NGOs, companies, and foundations that inspires U.S. universities and colleges in the United States to team up with higher education institutions in the rest of the Western Hemisphere region.
– More: http://www.100kstrongamericas.org/
Northern Illinois University and Universidad de La Sabana (Colombia) created a Joint Faculty-Led Mobility Program in Engineering with an overall mission to increase awareness of the education and research capacity in Colombia. These exchanges form part of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, the dynamic public/private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, Embassies, NGOs, companies, and foundations that inspires U.S. universities and colleges in the United States to team up with higher education institutions in the rest of the Western Hemisphere region.
– More: http://www.100kstrongamericas.org/
Northwestern University and Universidad Nacional de San Martin will collaborate to explore environmental issues and engineering solutions at the international level. Students from Argentina will travel to the U.S. to attend weekly research seminars, rotate through research labs, participate in field trips, and attend weekly graduate student seminars at Northwestern. These exchanges form part of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, the dynamic public/private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, Embassies, NGOs, companies, and foundations that inspires U.S. universities and colleges in the United States to team up with higher education institutions in the rest of the Western Hemisphere region.
– More: http://www.100kstrongamericas.org/
The University of Illinois Springfield and Universidade Estadual de Maringa in Brazil created a joint collaborative research program on river ecology. Students from both universities will work with real datasets, learn from river ecologists and river management professionals, and experience field studies on two large rivers in the Americas. These exchanges form part of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, the dynamic public/private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, Embassies, NGOs, companies, and foundations that inspires U.S. universities and colleges in the United States to team up with higher education institutions in the rest of the Western Hemisphere region.
– More: http://www.100kstrongamericas.org/
The U.S. Fulbright Commission and the Peruvian Ministry of Education awarded scholarships to 30 Peruvians to travel to the United States to participate in different programs at 24 U.S. universities. One graduate student is completing a two-year program studying agro-ecology at the University of Southern Illinois, and another is completing a three-year graduate program studying civil engineering at the University of Illinois.
– More: http://www.fulbright.pe/
