IVLP visitors posing with Mid-America Regional Council staff at their offices
From August 14-19, 2025 Global Ties KC welcomed 21 visitors from 17 different European countries on the U.S. Department of State sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program titled “Current U.S. Social, Political, and Economic Issues for Young European Leaders.” The visitors included different political leaders, political advisors, educators, diplomats, and non-profit leaders. Participants were from Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
During the program the visitors were exposed to a broad range of current U.S. social, political, and economic issues in addition to finding solutions to common issues faced by both the United States and their home countries. They were in Kansas City as a small part of their larger U.S. tour with their Kansas City visit focused on political engagement, volunteerism, youth development, immigration policy, and community services.
While here they met with the Olathe Teen Council coordinator and youth member who talked about the impact of programs like Teen Council. This was followed by a meeting at the University of Kansas Dole Institute of Politics allowing them to connect with college students and discuss the importance of civic education in a younger generation. They spent their Saturday volunteering with Harvesters and were moved by the organization’s mission of fighting against food insecurity in Kansas City and its surrounding areas. They wrapped up their time in Kansas City meeting with organizations like U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy, and the Mid-American Regional Council to learn about topics such as immigration policy, youth engagement, and city planning especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup. All of these conversations are critical for the visitors as they continue shaping policy around youth development and bipartisan civic education within their communities. Visitors left inspired by the organizational initiatives, community spirit, and overall hospitality and generosity they saw in all of their professional and cultural interactions. One IVLP visitor put it best:
“From young leaders to regional councils, from food banks to federal agencies, Kansas City showed us why it truly is a crossroads—of people, politics, and possibility. This isn’t flyover country: it’s the heartland, and anyone seeking to understand America should spend time here with these good folk.” — Ian Kenny, Executive Director of John Adams Institute, IVLP Visitor
Visitors enjoying their different meetings with the KC Urban Youth Academy, volunteering at Harvesters, and other fun cultural activities!
We extend our sincere thanks to all the local resources who met with visitors to make this program possible: Olathe Teen Council, University of Kansas Dole Institute of Politics, Harvesters, HSI, The KC Urban Youth Academy, and Mid-America Regional Council. Local support allows Global Ties KC to deliver meaningful and impactful programming that connects Kansas City to the world.
