Featured photos by Exchange Alumni Blake Bergen, Brian Rashid, Graham Wielgos, Nishi Rajakaruna, Savanna Lim, and Shukranna Shukrullah.
Starting today in Portland, Maine, there’s a new way to discover everyday life, cross-cultural experiences, and scenery in countries around the world. From August 31 through September 30, the “Impact of Exchange: Stories from U.S. Exchange Alumni” Photo Exhibition is open to transport viewers to locations all over the world, from places like China, Colombia, Moldova, Morocco, and South Korea. The open-air “Impact of Exchange” exhibit brings together curated photos and stories from 38 U.S. citizen Exchange Alumni representing 20 U.S. government-sponsored or funded exchange programs for local audiences, free of charge.
The exhibit aims to share the power of international exchange and its role in U.S. foreign policy, strengthen U.S. citizen exchange alumni networks in these communities, and inspire more Americans to go abroad with U.S. government-funded exchange programs. Funded and conceived of by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Alumni Affairs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented in collaboration with two non-profit organizations, Global Ties U.S. and Photoville, with community-based partners as local hosts, the exhibit will travel to five cities across the United States from 2023 to 2024.
Launching in New England was a natural choice, both for the late summer and early fall weather, and the fact that the state is among those with low rates of international exchange participation according to the 2022 Open Doors report, offering a real opportunity to attract new exchange program participants.
“We’re delighted to showcase the experiences and stories of alumni of our international exchange programs. This public exhibition tells it all through their own lens,” says Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Rafik Mansour. “And we hope that it encourages more people across the United States to consider applying for international exchanges. Through ‘Impact of Exchange,’ Exchange Alumni show us how international exchanges build connections that not only engage and empower people but also motivate them to become citizen diplomats wherever they go.”
It is the hope of the outdoor, free exhibition that audiences in Maine, Arkansas, Idaho, and two more soon-to-be announced stops will experience life abroad through the photos of U.S. Citizen Exchange Alumni who have had the opportunity to explore the world through U.S. government-funded exchange programs. The exhibit will run for a month in each location, giving audiences all over the country a chance to feel the impact of exchange.
Photos were chosen through an open call to U.S. citizen Exchange Alumni earlier in 2023. A panel made up of professional photographers, employees from across the U.S. Department of State, and the implementing partners judged the anonymized entries on the basis of photographic merit and the potential to inspire future international exchange participation.
For more information on the Office of Alumni Affairs at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, visit alumni.state.gov.
