(C) U.S. State Dept This story was originally published by U.S. State Dept and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Hometown Diplomats [1] [] Date: 2022-12-12 By Maura M. Pfeifer When Mia ter Haar spoke to ninth graders at Holmes Junior High, in Davis, Calif., she had hoped to give back to her hometown and inspire the next generation to think beyond the bounds of where they live now, and engage with the world outside California. She never imagined, however, that her speech would inspire one of those students, now in college five years later, to consider a career in foreign affairs. However, that is exactly what happened. According to ter Haar, results like these demonstrate the power and effectiveness of the Hometown Diplomat Program. Foreign Service Officer Nicole Fox (top, center) speaks to high school students at her alma mater, Seabury Hall, in Maui, Hawaii, August 2019. Photo by Linda Lindsay The secretary of state’s Hometown Diplomat Program recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Founded under the leadership of Secretary of State Colin Powell, the program’s goal is to make foreign policy, and the Department of State, accessible to the American public. Since its inception, more than 2,300 Civil and Foreign Service employees have engaged with local community organizations, university, and student groups in communities throughout the United States. These individuals take an active role in upholding the Department’s commitment to make foreign policy work for all Americans, by bolstering security, growing the economy, and promoting core values like freedom, democracy, and universal human rights. As one of the program’s earliest participants, Mark Johnson, now serving as a deputy executive secretary in the Executive Secretariat, recalls thinking as a young mid-level officer serving in Madrid that sharing the story of American diplomacy—of the specific work Civil Service employees and Foreign Service officers (FSO) do—with the American people was of vital importance. It was so vital, in fact, that in 2001 he wrote an email to the embassy’s public affairs officer proposing a program very much like what is now the Hometown Diplomat Program. Olukemi “Kemi” Lombardo-Yai, peace and conflict resolutions advisor, attends the talks during the Sudan peace process in Juba, South Sudan, December 2019. Photo by Daniel Fullerton Johnson remembers meeting Spokesperson Richard Boucher on Powell’s trip to Spain and asking him, “Who started the Hometown Diplomat Program?” Boucher responded, “You did.” While Johnson believes that the program’s founding was the result of a confluence of events rather than a single note written by a junior employee, he interpreted this comment to mean that it is the responsibility of all Department employees to take ownership of the program and make a commitment to connecting with the American people. FSO Sarah Wardwell, who served in the Hometown Diplomat Program in Oregon, agrees with Johnson’s assessment. “We have an obligation to serve the American people and they are interested to learn more about what we do. It’s also a win-win because we can use our time to talk with people in our hometowns about what we do, and we feel more connected to those communities,” she said. Foreign Service Officer Roxie Houge speaks virtually to students at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., November 2021. Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy In addition to speaking to schools and community organizations, Hometown Diplomats also engage with local media. Whether calling into a morning radio show, or being interviewed by hometown newspapers, participants share their career experiences and ideas about how foreign policy not only affects events abroad, but why it also matters in the United States, in effect making foreign policy local. “Many Americans don’t understand the work that the State Department does, or in some cases even realize that the Department exists,” said Jeffrey Willey, a diplomatic security special agent. “I think it’s important that we highlight our role in furthering American interests across the globe in a way that demystifies foreign policy, provides a personal connection, and ultimately leads to a stronger interest recognizing the sacrifices that the men and women of the U.S. Foreign Service are making on behalf of their country.” Holmes Junior High alumna and Hometown Diplomat Mia ter Haar, left, answers questions from students in a ninth-grade World Geography class, May 2018. Photo by Fred Gladdis The Hometown Diplomat program has evolved as technology has made the world a more interconnected place. Department employees at home and abroad can now easily connect with local communities, increasing opportunities to share foreign policy priorities virtually. This evolution has allowed the program to reach new audiences and to engage a broader range of Americans. These developments have the potential to further Department goals of increased diversity and equity, and expand outreach to underserved communities. “Talking to my community gave me a sense of pride,” said Olukemi “Kemi” Lombardo-Yai, a peace and conflict resolutions advisor in the Bureau of African Affairs “It reinforced the essence of the American dream. As an immigrant who now works for the State Department, and who represents the United States government abroad, I can truly say I am also an ‘ambassador’ to those communities that are underrepresented.” Diplomacy and the work of the Department affect the daily lives of all Americans, even if it takes place in languages, cultures, and corners of the globe that feel distant. Department employees and leadership are eager to serve the American people and engage with domestic audiences across the country. In the coming weeks, months, and years, the Hometown Diplomat Program looks forward to continuing its work with schools, colleges, libraries, and community organizations nationwide to tell the story of American diplomacy to the nation’s own people. Maura M. Pfeifer is a Foreign Service officer in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs. [END] --- [1] Url: https://statemag.state.gov/2022/12/1222feat03/ Published and (C) by U.S. State Dept Content appears here under this condition or license: Public Domain. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/usstate/