Description

IU Indianapolis has a multicultural and international student, staff, faculty, and alumni community. The Global Voices program provides an opportunity for members of this community to volunteer to share their experiences and perspectives on campus and off. Volunteers, called Global Voices Speakers, can offer information about a particular country or culture, assist with the practice of a world language, or share a comparative perspective on a career or other topic. Their engagement with IU students can help facilitate an interactive, intercultural experience, encouraging cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.

Faculty and staff who are implementing learning activities with a group of students can submit a request online to be introduced to Global Voices Speakers who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences in the classroom, in-person or virtually, or at a campus event.

For example, in one first-year seminar, the instructor sought out an IU community member who was from the same country as the protagonist in a required course reading. She leveraged the Global Voices Program to be connected to a past participant in IU’s Civic Leadership Institute of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program. This individual runs a youth organization and their connection has led to an annual exchange between her students and youth in South Africa.