38 | MARCH 23 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

G

lobal Ties Detroit has one main 
mission in mind as the nonprofit 
organization strives to build lasting 
relationships between Metro Detroiters and 
international leaders worldwide: to promote 
global exchange and citizen diplomacy and, 
therefore, promote world peace.
The organization is part of the larger 
Global Ties U.S. network, a private sector 
nonprofit partner to the U.S. Department 
of State founded in 1961 by the Kennedy 
administration to encourage peace and 
prosperity. It’s an ongoing mission that 
Global Ties Detroit president Marian Reich 
likens to a “vehicle for better international 
understanding.
”
“We call it ‘citizen diplomacy,
’ meaning 
that you and I as regular people through 
our interactions with international leaders 
can build trust and improve understand-
ing,
” she explains.
Reich, who has worked with the Global 
Ties network for more than 20 years, began 
her career at the sister organization in 
Chicago before moving to Metro Detroit 
in 2011. Her role includes business devel-

opment, bringing international delegations 
to Southeast Michigan and launching new 
projects to help connect Detroit to the rest 
of the world.
Now, Global Ties Detroit is also creating 
opportunities for Metro Detroiters to head 
overseas for outbound exchanges that help 
everyday citizens understand life and cul-
ture in other countries, while strengthening 
connections between those countries.
Reich, 55, of Royal Oak and a member of 
the Metro Detroit Jewish community, says 
these missions are more important than 
ever in a time of increased global conflict. 
Her studies in Slavic languages and pre-
vious work in resettling Russian-speaking 
Jewish refugees from the former Soviet 
Union into Midwest communities has 
helped Global Ties Detroit create numerous 
exchange programs with Eastern European 
countries.

BUILDING INCLUSIVITY
Global Ties Detroit, which hosts anywhere 
from 50-60 delegations per year, welcomed 
a six-member delegation from Latvia to 

explore the theme of inclusivity and tol-
erance from March 10-18. The delegation 
lived with volunteer host families in the 
Metro Detroit area while learning about the 
local community.
The Latvia delegation included a mix of 
journalists, cultural leaders, higher educa-
tion experts and more who range in age 
from 23 to 51 and come from all areas of 
life. Each delegation member has a personal 
connection to inclusivity in their careers or 
volunteer work. “We really wanted to talk to 
them about what inclusivity means,
” Reich 
says.
Several participants have disabilities. One 
individual is a wheelchair user, while anoth-
er is blind. Others in the group work with 
at-risk youth. During their week-plus visit 
to Metro Detroit, the Latvia delegation met 
with organizations, businesses, nonprofits 
and government officials who work in the 
inclusivity space to discuss their ongoing 
work.
The agenda included visits to the 
Michigan Civil Rights Commission, the 
Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and 

Global Ties Detroit connects Metro Detroiters with communities worldwide.
International Diplomacy

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

