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Global Conversations with: Mauro Guillén, Director, The Lauder Institute
Linguistic abilities and cross-cultural sensitivities are skills sometimes overlooked in higher education management and business programs. In 1983, the Lauder family of Estée Lauder Companies decided to address this by establishing the Joseph H. Lauder Institute in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. A dual-degree and intensive language program prepares students for careers in international business. Director of the Lauder Institute Mauro F. Guillén spoke with GPA staff member, Kait Lavinder, about the importance of global awareness, his experiences as a native of Spain, and how Philadelphia can capitalize on its rich cultural history.
Philadelphia Encourages Global Mindset Through International Baccalaureate Program
In July 2000, Lower Merion’s Harriton High School became the third public school in Pennsylvania to provide the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma to its graduating seniors. Since its start, the program has grown so that this past year around 60 of the school’s 304 seniors were part of the IB. Next year, 61 rising juniors are entering the program.
Spotlight on: Krista Bard, Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Philadelphia
This November, the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show will present the largest collection of Lithuanian crafts and design ever in the United States. It is no coincidence that this and several other Lithuanian cultural events are coming to Philadelphia in the fall. This Northern European nation and largest of the three Baltic states assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, 2013, and Philadelphia is helping to celebrate.
“The Answer You’re Looking for is Keep Looking”: A Portrait of M. Night Shyamalan, a Global Philadelphian
He started life as a child of doctors, migrating at a young age from Pondicherry, India to mainline Philadelphia. Later, he would become one of the highest-paid screenwriters in the world. No matter your opinion of his films, M. Night Shyamalan epitomizes the American success story. But this isn't necessarily what occupies him.
Philadelphia Carnival Showcases Caribbean Culture
The Philadelphia Carnival, which occurred in Fairmount Park on Father’s Day Weekend of June 15th, artistically celebrated Caribbean culture, and served as a platform to teach Philadelphians about this culture through showcasing artful expressions, including music, dancing, and costume.
Family-owned Chemtech International Inc. Successfully Navigates the Global Market
Although a small family-owned business, for nearly the past 30 years Chemtech International has brought its services based out of the Philadelphia suburbs to clients the world over.
"Come See About Me: The Mary Wilson Supremes Collection" Explores the History and Fashion of The Supremes
“Come See About Me: The Mary Wilson Supremes Collection" is going on now though August 18th at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Designed by Mary Wilson, an original member of the Supremes, the exhibit will showcase the group’s stunning gowns which draw inspiration from all over the world, including pieces channeling Parisian, Japanese, and Caribbean influences.
Odunde Street Festival Celebrates African Culture
On Sunday, June 9th the annual Odunde Street Festival kicked off on South Street with a full day of events celebrating authentic African culture in one of Philadelphia’s most historically African-American neighborhoods.The festival began with a gathering at the Schuylkill River, where attendees dressed in traditional African garments offered their prayers and blessings in a ceremonial procession. Next, thousands of individuals returned back to 23rd and South Streets for the start of the street festival designed as a traditional African Market.
Global Conversations with: Carol Wong, Director, Chinatown Learning Center
Chinatown Learning Center was founded 20 years ago by Carol S. Wong, M.Ed. Wong and the first teacher hired to work at the center, Mrs. Chan, have been teaching preschoolers and school age children Chinese and English since February 1993. Wong’s official title is Director of Chinatown Learning Center. I attended the preschoolers’ end of the year celebration where the children performed songs and received their certificates. After the ceremony, Wong and I sat down to talk about the center and Philadelphia’s immigrant community.
PHL is 2013 Home to Globally-Recognized Beyond Sport Summit
Later this year, the city of Philadelphia will be the site of the fifth annual Beyond Sport Summit. The 2013 Summit will be held from the 9th to the 11th of September, and will consist of everything from practical workshops to large-scale panels about global sports. Topics will range from sustainability to social inclusion and securing funding. Attracting delegates from six continents, the idea behind these events is to bring together prominent leaders in sports, government and business to discuss how global sports can be used to address social issues such as the environment, education and health.
Book Review: "Found in Translation" Reveals the Essential Nature of Language and Interpretation
Language shares a profound and complex connection with translation. Throughout the book, Found in Translation: How Language Shapes Our Lives and Transforms the World, authors Nataly Kelly and Jost Zetzsche do an incredible job illustrating this connection. Kelly and Zetzsche, both translators themselves, focus their attention upon the intellectual and practical difficulties of translating and interpreting, and the related realm of nuanced differences between written and spoken translation.
GlobalPhilly™ 2013 Shows "The World is Happening in PHL"
This fall, Global Philadelphia Association is showing Philadelphians the world within their own city. Kicking off on September 15 and running through November 1, GlobalPhilly™ 2013 will be the city’s first showcase of international programs and activities in Philadelphia, including arts, advocacy, commerce, and food, among others.
UPenn Professor Tells of Philadelphia's Importance to Museums Worldwide
On May 15, Dr. David Brownlee presented a lecture entitled, "Philadelphia, the Museum City," at the Wagner Free Institute of Science. Brownlee, the Frances Shapiro-Weitzenhoffer Professor in the History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania, beautifully dissected the history of some of the city's many significant museums. The term “Museum City” serves as an effective reminder of the City of Brotherly Love's cultural prestige. As if being the birthplace of modern democracy wasn't enough, Philadelphia is also the birthplace of the modern museum.
Philadelphia Artist and Singapore Native Meei-Ling Ng Envisions a Beautiful World Using Recycled Materials
Singaporean artist Meei-Ling Ng finds inspiration in Philadelphia's urban textures and dreams of a cleaner world through her art. Ng will be presenting at the Barnes Foundation on Friday, April 26. 
Temple University Succeeds in Attracting Global Students
With nearly 2,000 international students studying at Temple University from over 125 countries, Temple has one of the highest populations of international students in the Philadelphia area.
Philly Tech Week Puts Philadelphia in Global Technology Spotlight
This weekend marks the kick-off of the third annual Philly Tech Week held every April throughout the city of Philadelphia. Since 2011, the founders of Technically Philly have planned and organized Philly Tech Week, a week-long celebration of technological happenings that occur in the area. With 10,000 in attendance and 75 events in 2012, Tech Week is aimed to be a community organizing effort, where projected attendance for this year exceeds 15,000 and events number in the 85 and above range.
Latino Community & Culture Thrive in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s Latino community has played an important role in the city’s rich history for more than 200 years.  According to the 2010 American Community Survey, there are more than 420,000 Latinos living in metropolitan Philadelphia today. Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Central and South Americans are among the diverse nationalities that share and call Philadelphia home.
PIFA Explores the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Effects of Unification
For the 2013 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), three remarkably talented men embraced the opportunity to collaborate on a monumental work of art: “Fall of the Berlin Wall: Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.”
Cycling Culture Grows in Philadelphia
When you think of the City of Brotherly Love, the first things that come to mind are typically the Liberty Bell and cheesesteaks. Not often does the topic of cycling come up, but the growing culture is changing the game.
Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts Sends City into Another Time
“If you had a time machine . . .” That is the question this year’s Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) asks. The event takes people on a journey through space and time with a month of performances and exhibitions around Philadelphia.