1. David Ríos Duran

   First Name

   David

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   

    

   Content created by Virtual Intern Regina Navarro-Gomez

   Working in the law enforcement field in Panamá, David Ríos Duran has been an advocate for building relationships across Latin America and the United States. Ríos Duran's leadership is built on the foundations of interpersonal relationships and communication as he works to maintain the security and well-being of Panamanians.

   Ríos Duran says, "there is a before, during, and after an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)." In 2012, Ríos Duran participated in the "Administration of Justice" IVLP, during which he attended workshops and court hearings focused on human trafficking, money laundering, and the rule of law.

   Following his IVLP, Ríos Duran built a strong relationship with other IVLP participants. "There was a richness of connections that were made after the program," says Ríos Duran, noting that some of those contacts had been useful in the resolution of several important cases he handled while managing a regional immigration office. Years later, in 2018, he traveled back to Washington D.C. and completed a one-year-long Master's of Science in Inter-American Defense and Security at the Inter American Defense College. He attributes his IVLP to his acceptance into the Master's program and says, "my IVLP project opened the doors to millions of opportunities."

   David Ríos Duran brings his enthusiasm, drive, and leadership to law enforcement initiatives in Panamá.

   Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra

    

   Home Country

   Panama

   Last name

   Ríos Duran

   IVLP Alumni

2. Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women's Mentoring Partnership

   This month, talented, emerging women leaders from 11 countries began the 15th annual Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, and Vital Voices Global Partnership.

3. Pamela Calletti

   First Name

   Pamela Calletti

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   

    

   Content created by Virtual Intern Erinn Heffes

   Pamela Calletti currently serves as the Legal Advisor to the Governor of Argentina's Northwestern province of Salta. She previously served in Salta as Argentina's only female Provincial Minister of Justice and Human Rights. As Minister she was responsible for setting policy and overseeing programs for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers in her province.

   In 2016, Calletti participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project titled "Administration of Justice and Combating Organized Crime." Calletti said, "Without a doubt participating in the IVLP had a positive impact on both my professional and personal life. I took the opportunity to bring what I learned back to Salta." During her program, she noted how federal and state judges and prosecutors in the United States worked together and attempted to duplicate that cooperation in Argentina.

   Following her IVLP, Calletti worked with colleagues to incorporate her province to the Federal System of Police Communications (SIFCOP). Through SIFCOP, Calletti has significantly impacted the fight against drug trafficking by better allowing law enforcement to learn about criminal networks.

   As a legal advisor, Pamela Calletti builds bridges between all actors in the criminal justice system and seeks to improve criminal prosecution in the Argentine province of Salta.

   Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra

    

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   Home Country

   Argentina

   Last name

   Calletti

   IVLP Alumni

4. Samanta Olivero Pacheco

   First Name

   Samanta

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   

    

   Content created by Virtual Intern  Shayna Canty

   Samanta Olivero-Pacheco brings art to at-risk and underserved youth in the Dominican Republic as a director of the nonprofit Proyectarte. When the U.S. Embassy of Santo Domingo's Cultural Section began planning a dance program for underserved youth, Olivero-Pacheco was asked to participate to ensure the dance program's success.

   In 2017, she participated in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project, "Addressing the Needs of Underserved and At-Risk Youth." She traveled to several cities where she was able to fuel her passion for volunteerism and engaging communities through the arts. With that knowledge and inspiration, she returned to the Dominican Republic and established ProyectArte Cultural, a nonprofit that creates a bridge to allow people to view art in public spaces.

   Olivero-Pacheco built a strong network with fellow IVLP participants. After her IVLP, she partnered with alumni from Costa Rica, Honduras, and elsewhere in Latin America on art education and social inclusion projects.

   Olivero-Pacheco continues to work with social, educational, and cultural institutions to transform art. Samanta Olivero-Pacheco advocates for the needs of underserved communities, promotes a sense of place by conveying its history through the arts, and is committed to using art to help underserved youth build life enhancing skills.

   Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra

    

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   Home Country

   Dominican Republic

   Last name

   Olivero Pacheco

5. Finding your Voice: Encuentra Tu Voz

   An Arts Envoy Program supporting freedom of expression and human rights of artists from Cuba and around the world.

6. IDEAS Grant Competition Now Open for U.S. Colleges and Universities

   The U.S. Department of State’s IDEAS Program is pleased to announce the launch of its 2024 IDEAS grant competition, which assists U.S. colleges and universities in creating, diversifying, and/or expanding their study abroad programming in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.

7. Empowerment and the Soccer Field

   

   "Playing sports gives a girl the feeling of empowerment, ...how to become a better, stronger character."

8. Sports Visitors from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela

   

   Organized to coincide with the World Baseball Classics, ECA had a Sports Visitor program for baseball and softball youth coaches from March 1 to 11, 2013.

9. Unpublished

   Are You Ready for Futsal?

   More than 12 million people in over 100 countries play an indoor version of soccer called futsal.

10. U.S. Visit Motivates Leaders to Empower Women

    Through an exploration of women, peace and security, international participants took away strategies for directing positive political, social and economic change in a democratic society.

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