Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming Atlanta

Lights, Camera, Action: 📸 and 🎥 from the 39th Annual International Consular Ball are here! #ICB2022, presented by the Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs and the GEORGIA COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS (GCIV), was the premier event bringing together the international and diplomatic communities in the City of Atlanta. The International Consular Ball brought together not only the diplomatic community, but corporations, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, trade offices, chambers of commerce, and government representatives on a local, regional, and state level under one roof and at a brand new location, Flourish Atlanta. Chaired by Vanessa Ibarra, Executive Director of MOIIA, #ICB2022 celebrated the many achievements of these various groups and acted as a catalyst for future endeavors. Special thank you to our speakers Mayor Andre Dickens, keynote speaker Frank Patterson of Trilith Studios, Amb. Charles Rivkin of Motion Picture Association, MC Jorge Estevez of WSB-TV Channel 2, Amb. Javier Diaz de Leon, Consul General of Mexico and Dean of the Georgia Consular Corps, Abby Turano of Georgia Department of Economic Development, Nico Wijnberg of the State of Georgia & GDEcD, Mar Anderson of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Rickey Bevington of World Affairs Council of Atlanta, & late night MC Dr. Rashad Richey of Rolling Out. Another special thank you to all of our performers - Atlanta Drum Academy, Atlanta Irish Dance, Melissa Youngblood, Dance Canvas, and Lunar Krew, our musical talents - the Ojeda Penn Experience & DJ Salah Ananse - and the many volunteers and sponsors for making it an unforgettable evening.  We truly brought #theWorldtotheA! -- 🎥 To view the #ICB2022 video, visit https://lnkd.in/gy6bdewm 📸 Follow the link to view the #ICB2022 photo gallery https://lnkd.in/g7N7Hu26 Photo + video credit: Juxt Media

"Before I arrived to Atlanta, I had the impression that there is one American culture – the one I saw portrayed in Hollywood movies. This includes one language, one accent, and one lifestyle. I realized the absurdity of this stereotype after a few days of living in Atlanta." MOIIA's former Community Engagement Exchange Fellow, Hatem MohyEldeen, shares his experience as a fellow in our office, deconstructing cultural stereotypes, and how he plans to use his newfound knowledge to implement youth programing in Egypt! Read his reflection below 👇

We are excited to announce that Paulina Guzman has officially been appointed as Director of the Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming Atlanta! “Atlanta is an international city, and the Office of International & Immigrant Affairs is one of the most essential elements in maintaining our cultural and economic strength in the global community,” said Mayor Dickens. “This team needs strong leadership, which is what Paulina Guzman brings to this role. Her background in international affairs, knowledge and love for Atlanta makes her the ideal leader to help us continue to make this a city of opportunity for all.” View the full press release at: https://lnkd.in/eSPgZU9q

Thank you to our friends at Edmonton International Airport (YEG) and WestJet for a special evening celebration commemorating WestJet's newest non-stop flight from Atlanta to Edmonton. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 The Mayor of Edmonton, Amarjeet Sohi, City of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Y. Benjamin, Rosaline Kwan, Consul General at Consulate General of Canada in Atlanta | Consulat général du Canada aux États-Unis à Atlanta, and other key business leaders marked this exciting milestone by connecting business and tourism ties between Atlanta and Edmonton. Canada is the number one export market for Georgia, and we are excited to see the establishment of this new direct route in addition to Montréal, Toronto, and Calgary!

MOIIA, City of Atlanta - Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Atlanta BeltLine celebrated 50 years of the Atlanta-Lagos sister city relationship! 🇺🇸 🇳🇬 We hosted two artists from Lagos, Kainebi Osahenye and Taiye Idahor, for a town-hall style talk on the Atlanta-Lagos sister city agreement, the importance of artist residencies, the artists' work process, and the unveiling of the public art. The artists are a part of the public art residency and exhibition sponsored by the Atlanta Beltline and curated by Lauren Tate Baeza. Learn more about the “Lagos Atlanta: Sister City Rising” exhibition at: https://lnkd.in/ew7c7xRX Thank you to our supporters and vendors: Amb. Dr Amina Smaila, Classy Cocktails and Mocktails, Simply Exquisite, Racryst, Zanzi Bar Cuisine & Shisha Lounge, Ike's Cafe and Grill, Grand Lekki Cafe, Orie Peanuts Co., and After Party.

The European Film Festival of Atlanta returns to the Plaza Theatre and Tara Theatre, May 8-11, 2024! 🎥 🎬 🇪🇺 For its 3rd edition, the festival will feature films from 14 European countries. The films will showcase the diversity of European on-screen storytelling while exploring the many expressions of European identity. Get your tickets today at: https://lnkd.in/dwJtZzjA

Thank you to everyone who joined our second edition of Doing Business with the City of Atlanta! MOIIA, Invest Atlanta, and City of Atlanta Department of Procurement discussed bidding for contracts, becoming a city vendor, and applying for business licenses. Didn't get a chance to join us? Give it a watch at: https://lnkd.in/e3guZ3GJ

Thank you to the Consular Corps community in Atlanta for joining us for a special presentation, 2024-2028 Special Events Outlook: Georgia Hosting the World. This session was led by City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Felipe den Brok, who outlined the major sporting events coming to Atlanta in the next few years and how the 30+ consulates in Atlanta can start to prepare and safely manage the millions of visitors our city will receive. While we continue to put ATL on the global stage, we are honored to collaborate with the diplomatic community here in Atlanta to keep our residents and guests safe as exciting activity kicks off here in Atlanta.

The Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming Atlanta, the City of Atlanta - Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Atlanta BeltLine are celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the Atlanta-Lagos Sister City agreement by hosting two artists from Lagos! Join a blend of artists, the Nigerian community, Africans in the diaspora, and art lovers in a town-hall style talk on the Atlanta-Lagos sister city agreement, the importance of artist residencies, the artists' work process, and the unveiling of the public art. 📅 April 24, 2024 ⏰ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm 📍 72 Marietta St NW RSVP for free at: https://lnkd.in/evJbMfym

Another week, another engagement with local AND global youth! 🌎🤝 This past year, high school and university students from Brussels, Belgium have participated in an emerging leaders program with students from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. They developed prototypes and technologies that would help Belgium realize its UN #sustainabledevelopmentgoals. Last year, the students presented their projects to the U.S Embassy in Brussels and the U.S mission to NATO. Students from Brussels were selected to travel to the U.S, where they shared their ideas with our office and Microsoft to gain support to implement their ideas to the real world. We were so honored to connect these talented young entrepreneurs to resources in the ATL as their projects grow from prototypes to solutions!