|
|  | 
-
Albert Einstein
|
| In
a nut shell...
Tulsa Global Alliance bridges cultures
through awarenss, education and opportunities. TGA provides a world of services
that involve international vistiors, Sister Cities exchanges, international business
program and global education
Staff
Becky
Collins, President & CEO
Bob
Lieser, Vice-President of Programming
Jocelyn
Wood, Director of Community Relations
Cathy
Izzo, Office Administration
|
|
|
|
|
| Board
of Directors |
| Annual
Report |
Every
Citizen A Diplomat
TGA promotes excellence in Citizen
Diplomacy - the idea that the individual
citizen has the right, even the
responsibility, to help shape United States foreign relations "one
handshake
at a time."
|
Mission
Statement
Tulsa
Global Alliance is a non-profit volunteer organization
dedicated to increasing global awareness, understanding and opportunities in Northeastern
Oklahoma by hosting international visitors, facilitating Sister Cities activities,
promoting global education, assisting with international trade development, cooperating
with international organizations and serving as a resource for area governments,
businesses, educational institutions, organizations and residents.
back to top
History
Tulsa
Global Alliance is the merged organization of the International Council of Tulsa
(ICT) and Sister Cities International of Tulsa (SCIT). The two separate organizations
were merged into TGA in 1995. The International Council of Tulsa was started in
1976 by volunteers and the Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. Sister Cities
was organized by volunteers under the auspices of Mayor Terry Young in 1986.
As
a result of the merger, TGA has been able to remove duplications of effort and
strive for greater economies. More importantly, TGA has been better able to tie
together the individual program goals of the separate organizations with the broader
objectives of Tulsa's educational, cultural and economic goals. As a stronger
organization, TGA has been able to bring its programs to a greater number of people
throughout the community and internationally.
TGA
is affiliated with two national organizations -- the National
Council for International Visitors (NCIV) and Sister
Cities International (SCI). NCIV was founded in 1961 with the purpose of providing
services to government-sponsored international visitors. Today, NCIV is the umbrella
organization for 100 plus cities and university centers that provide local itineraries
and hospitality to international visitors. The IV program is funded by the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. State Department under the authority
of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended.
Affiliations
between cities in the United States and other countries began shortly after 1945
but with no real national focus until 1956 when President Eisenhower initiated
the People-to-People Program at the White House. Out of this grew Sister Cities
International (SCI). Over 650 communities in the United States are active members
of SCI and the numbers are growing rapidly. These member communities are linked
through their sister cities with over 2,100 sister cities in 121 countries throughout
the world. The City of Tulsa designated TGA as the organization responsible for
managing Sister Cities activities. TGA is very fortunate to have ongoing support
from the Mayor's office and the City Council.
In
1993, TGA established Kids' World, The Children's International
Festival, to introduce children to other cultures through hands-on learning
activities. The four-day festival is produced every other year and has become
one of the premier cultural events of the area. Kids' World has won several awards
and is the major educational initiative of the organization.
back
to top
A World of Services
TGA provides to Tulsans-
Opportunities to
show the Tulsa way of life to others through people-to-people exchanges and volunteer
opportunities.
A magnet to attract foreign leaders to Tulsa.
A structure to enable Tulsa to carry out its increasingly diverse activities as
an international city.
Speakers on contemporary international issues.
A referral center for international information, people and activities.
TGA provides to Tulsa's Business Community-
Opportunities to meet and consult with international visitors in a specific industry
or from countries where local businesses have a presence.
Increased contact with international opportunities.
Consultation and assistance in providing professional, social and multi-lingual
services to international visitors.
Guidance on cross-cultural resources and services.
Seminars with an international focus. 
