June Block Party: International Denver

A Look at the Efforts of Three
Networks

 

Each month the Posner Center hosts a Block Party, a lunchtime event that allows Tenant and Member organizations in our community to share about their work around a particular thematic area or topic. On June 14th we hosted a Block Party to feature a few of Denver’s most active international networks and long time partners of the Posner Center: World Trade Center Denver, WorldDenver, and Orbis Institute. Short presentations provided an in-depth look at their signature programs and new initiatives, and a panel-style discussion highlighted potential areas of collaboration among the groups as we all work toward helping Denver become a more global city.

WorldDenver kicked off the event, with presenter Dan Wienecke featuring what  he calls their “best kept secret”; their involvement as the Denver partner for the US State Department’s International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). Throughout the year the IVLP works with overseas embassies areas to identify emerging leaders from other countries, who travel in groups to the US as part of themed cohorts focused on topics like entrepreneurship, governance, or technology. The emerging leaders visit 4-5 cities in the US to meet with local professional counterparts, through meetings arranged by partner organizations like WorldDenver. A favorite past IVLP group to visit Denver included five women from Cameroon who  all work for different political parties, and were able to meet with the Denver Women’s Coalition as well as Mayor Hancock, whom shares Cameroonian lineage. The Posner Center also enjoys welcoming many of the IVLP groups who visit Denver.

The Orbis Institute followed, providing a description and walk-through of their new website wordlyevents.org. WorldlyEvents aims to compile all of the great internationally-themed events and activities being hosted in Denver by the many international networks and organization onto one central calendar. Their weekly Worldly Wednesday email update will keep subscribers apprised of new and upcoming events and opportunities, and will provide themed content, articles and media on timely international topics, like the global refugee crisis.

The World Trade Center Denver (WTC-Denver) was the final presentation of the day. CEO and President Karen Gerwitz gave a general overview of the programs and trainings WTC-Denver offers to their network of businesses, before launching into a description of plans for the brand new World Trade Center Denver campus, set to break ground next year. The campus will be located one mile away from the Posner Center and will include a co-working space for international exporters, event space, retail, and housing, all with the aim of creating and international hub for the growing city of Denver.

Overall what emerged from the panel was a sense of mutual appreciation for the unique work done by each organization, and desire to coordinate complementary efforts that will strengthen Denver as a global city. We at the Posner Center look forward to continuing the conversation among these great partners, along with all of the other great international networks and actors in our city.