​International Relations Committee:  
This committee educates and informs LWV members on selected current international issues.  The committee hosts international groups such as the Humphrey Fellows and facilitates cultural exchanges with community groups.

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows

For eighteen years LWV Duluth has hosted Fellows from the University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program at the Institute of Public Affairs and Human Rights Center at the Law School. 


Humphrey Fellows study at the Minneapolis campus for an academic year to expand their knowledge at a professional level in their respective fields. 

The Fellows come from designated developing nations and emerging democracies such as Pakistan, Philippines, India, Egypt, Columbia, Turkey, Kenya, Nepal, and many others. The ten or twelve Fellows come to Duluth annually to meet with government and non-government representatives, and discuss mutual issues and policies. 


Learning about our community and local governance is a major aspect of their visit.  A visit to the Mayor's office and key non-profit agencies provides perspective for participants.  The city is showcased with a tour of Duluth’s attractions and the visit is punctuated with a luncheon and discussion time provided by LWV Duluth.
2019 Visit
Each year for the past 40 years, the Humphrey International Fellows Program brings accomplished mid-career professionals from designated countries to the United States for a year of academic study, related professional experience, and cultural exchange. The people-to-people approach to international understanding provides a basis for lasting ties between US citizens and their professional counterparts in other countries, and strengthens the global exchange of knowledge and experience essential to a sustainable world.
 
The 2018-2019 University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Fellows visited Duluth April 24th, 25th, and 26th as guests of the Duluth League of Women Voters. This year, Fellows came from Israel, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Zambia, South Africa Morocco, Pakistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Tonga, and Tajikistan. They come to Duluth at the end of their exchange to learn what social services/programs a medium-size community offers and to have time to evaluate their learning experience in the program. Two delegates from Duluth’s Sister City Thunder Bay also joined the visit.
 
The theme for this year’s visit was Current innovative social services/social justice policies and programs, economic development which bring equity for all. As with past visits to Duluth by former Fellows, the group met with Mayor Larson and other City and human rights officials, learned about the history of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial and Program, and about the American Indian Community programs—but this year they also were part of discussions with UMD faculty on the Current Life of Refugees and on Food Insecurity. 
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Humphrey Fellows with Mayor Emily Larson
    2017 Visit

    Seventeen Fellows from the Hubert H. Humphrey International Fellowship Program--who come from developing countries to study at the University of Minnesota for ten months--plus two Thunder Bay representatives from their Multi-Cultural Association and Sister Cities' Committee, visited with Duluth's social and human service agencies, law enforcement, and City officials on April 12, 13. The visit provided open discussions on current issues in the areas of Human Rights and the Immigration and Refugee Experience, plus Gender Equality. Three Fellows also presented at an Alworth Institute public forum. 


    2016 Visit

    Humphrey Fellowship Program will bring eleven Fellows to Duluth
    April 17 - 19, 2016.

    This year’s program includes 167 Fellows from 90 countries who are being hosted by 15 campuses throughout the United States.

                                          2016 Humphrey Fellows
                        Alworth Institute International Lecture Series
                                     Monday, April 18 at 7:00 pm
                                            UMD’s Griggs Center

    During their trip to Duluth, the 2016 Humphrey Fellows from the Humphrey Fellowship Program, University of Minnesota Law School will present a program–Human Rights and the Immigration and Refugee Experience.

    If you would like to be part of the 2016 Fellows visit to Duluth, please contact Joyce Benson (    jmbenson@d.umn.edu) or
    Liz Taylor (    taylorjet@aol.com).
     

    2015 Visit

    Site Visits

    The site visit to Duluth has become an eye-opening experience with Fellows having access to local professionals in the areas of law enforcement, human rights, non-profit organizations, and especially the opportunity to meet and have open discussions with elected officials, including Mayor Ness. 


    2015 Visit Highlights

    • There has been a world-wide concern with Trafficking , which was addressed at a meeting with members of the Trafficking Task Force at PAVSA. Shared experiences, problems and possible efforts to find solutions were discussed. This was followed by a visit to Life House where they observed local efforts to provide for the needs of young people.

    • An area of great interest to the Fellows was their visit to the Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Memorial, 
    which was followed by a discussion at the offices of the Domestic Abuse and Intervention Program (DAIP). The Un-Fair Program was also addressed.

    • A break was provided to showcase the city – with the highlight site of Enger Tower! The colored leaves were at their best, and it was agreed this was a “must” in future visits to Duluth. A visit to the new Lakewalk Park—Sister Cities Park—later provided a visual awareness as Mayor Ness told how a holding tank, used to treat overflow waste water before it empties into Lake Superior, can also become a useful, beautiful location park. Clean water is an issue in many of their countries.