Global Ties Kalamazoo

Global Ties Kalamazoo Our programs offer professional meetings, internships, job-shadowing, and seminars.

Since 1971, Global Ties Kalamazoo (formerly Colleagues International) has been fostering and promoting citizen diplomacy, enriching local community with global diversity “one relationship at a time.” Global Ties Kalamazoo (formerly Colleagues International) hosts professional exchange programs connecting emerging and established leaders worldwide with Kalamazoo people and organizations. Training p

rograms are tailored to the specific professional interests and needs of both the exchange visitors and local host organizations. Visitors are offered home stays and warm Midwest hospitality, giving them an inside look at life in the United States and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

What started as an exchange in Kalamazoo is now being shared with leaders from across the Americas! �Sarkozy Bakery co-o...
06/10/2026

What started as an exchange in Kalamazoo is now being shared with leaders from across the Americas! �

Sarkozy Bakery co-owner Alec Wells is in Belize for the 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Alumni Conference, where he'll speak about the fellowship exchange between Sarkozy Bakery and Tobago-based Slice Twice.

Through a Global Ties Kalamazoo exchange program, Slice Twice owner Dixie-Ann Daniel visited Kalamazoo in 2024 and spent time with the Sarkozy team. The following year, Alec and his colleagues traveled to Tobago to learn alongside Dixie at her bakery.

They exchanged recipes, techniques, and business insights – but the most meaningful outcome was the relationship they built. It's a connection that continues to benefit both businesses and demonstrates how exchange creates opportunities long after a program ends.

We're proud to see this story being shared on an international stage. Safe travels, Alec, and good luck on the panel!

06/05/2026

Ask Mr. Paul about his experience with Global Ties Kalamazoo, and he’ll tell you that driving for exchange groups has become one of the coolest things that has happened in his life. Here’s another one of his favorite stories to tell about the friends he gained by bonding over his love for storytelling and his love for growing sunflowers! 🌻🌻🌻

All the sunflowers in this video were grown and photographed by Mr. Paul!

We hear you're all loving our videos of Mr. Paul, including the man himself! "Sometimes when we are generous in small, b...
05/29/2026

We hear you're all loving our videos of Mr. Paul, including the man himself!

"Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone's life forever." -Margaret Cho
And we're glad to highlight one of our neighbors who embodies just that. We have plenty more to come of Mr. Paul 😉

05/19/2026

If there’s one story you’re going to hear from Paul, it’s about Rahand. And Paul has a lot of stories about our international guests.

He’s a driver by profession, that’s how he connected with the Global Ties Kalamazoo team. But he’s so much more than a trusted vendor, he’s become a lifelong friend to those who sit in his car. Many of his strongest memories started with simple questions along the ride. Visitors ask about Kalamazoo; Paul asks about home. Listening. Sharing. (And lots of dad jokes that actually make you laugh out loud.)

Paul’s best memory ever is encapsulated by a letter from a young man who mostly made him laugh but also made him cry.

😘
05/10/2026

😘

05/09/2026

This month we want to introduce you to Paul. Ask Paul about his experience with Global Ties Kalamazoo and he’ll tell you that driving for exchange groups has become one of the coolest things that has happened in his life. He has a chauffeur’s license because his work is professional transportation. He is not a volunteer but a trusted vendor, and yet what he talks about most is not the miles he drives. It is the people.

“The world comes to me in my car, and I don’t have to go to the world,” he says.

Paul provides our guests with an essential service, but more importantly he engages directly in the art of citizen diplomacy with every ride. This month we’re sharing some of his stories and most memorable moments.

Meet Paul.

05/01/2026

What would the world be without laughter? We don’t plan on finding out. 😄

If you hear hearty laughter nearby, there’s a good chance it’s a group of Global Ties Kalamazoo hosts, guests, and volunteers sharing a moment together. It’s the kind of joy that only comes from real connection.

Share this with someone who makes you laugh. And Happy World Laughter Day! 😂
(Laughter makes the world go round, get it lol)

Worlds collided on April 27 when Global Ties Kalamazoo hosted two IVLP delegations at the same time! One from Indonesia ...
04/30/2026

Worlds collided on April 27 when Global Ties Kalamazoo hosted two IVLP delegations at the same time!

One from Indonesia focused on innovation through academic partnerships, and the other from all over Africa (Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Morocco, Togo, Uganda) exploring entrepreneurship and small business development.

What better excuse for a gathering together with local hosts and citizen diplomats extraordinaires?!

Some parts of exchange can't be measured. Like the quiet realization that strangers can become something closer to frien...
04/09/2026

Some parts of exchange can't be measured.

Like the quiet realization that strangers can become something closer to friends.

In 2025, 19 international participants not only shared meals in local homes, but stayed with Kalamazoo families, adding up to 357 nights hosted by local families.

It's the kind of connection people carry with them long after they leave, often forever.

If you've been a host, what's your most memorable moment?

Health challenges don't stop at borders and neither do the ideas that help solve them. 🏥🌏Today on World Health Day, we'r...
04/07/2026

Health challenges don't stop at borders and neither do the ideas that help solve them. 🏥🌏

Today on World Health Day, we're reminded that some of the most powerful solutions come from people sharing their experiences across cultures and communities.

Through Global Ties Kalamazoo exchanges, health professionals, social workers, educators, and community leaders meet with their peers here to exchange knowledge, compare approaches, and grow networks.

Because when communities around the wold share what works, everyone benefits.

Address

225 W Walnut Street Ste 209
Kalamazoo, MI
49007

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12693419494

Website

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