Earlier this month, Global Minnesota welcomed a delegation of emerging African leaders for a professional exchange focused on the economic impact of arts and culture. From exploring Lanesboro’s vibrant arts scene to engaging with cultural institutions in the Twin Cities, the group saw firsthand how creative industries can drive local revitalization.

In this episode, hear from two participants: Lesedi Job, an award-winning theater director and producer from South Africa, and Lution Mzwandile Nxumalo, director and sound engineer at XLR Media in Eswatini. They share insights from their experience and reflections on cultural exchange in action.

LINKS

Global Minnesota Professional Exchanges

Lanesboro News Post

International Visitor Leadership Program

Global Ties U.S. Action Center

Bio & Works from Lesedi Job

https://www.osmtalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Lesedi-Job-CV-Mar-2024-2.pdf

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v9zsOwaL7d0

https://mikevangraan.co.za/plays/when-swallows-cry

https://barrymorisse.com/blog/bitter-winter

https://thecaperobyn.co.za/review-bitter-winter-beautiful-and-poignant-play-distinctly-south-african-and-universal/

https://weekendspecial.co.za/bitter-winter-review-at-the-baxter/

Diplomacy isn’t just a career path, it’s a skill we can use in everyday life. That’s what Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat emphasized during Global Minnesota’s wide-ranging webinar discussion around his new book “The Art of Diplomacy,” available at local bookseller Magers and Quinn. Tapping into decades of experience and dozens of high-level interviews with diplomats, Ambassador Eizenstat provided insights into historic diplomatic breakthroughs, as well as a roadmap for future success. Star Tribune columnist John Rash moderated a compelling discussion featuring audience questions on topics such as the negotiations in Ukraine, the importance of non-state actors in diplomacy, rising tension on the India-Pakistan border, and the universal values of diplomacy that span across centuries.

This episode is a recording of a public event held on Thursday, April 24 at the Hennepin County Library in downtown Minneapolis. For the first time since COVID, Global Minnesota hosted our Great Decisions foreign policy conference on the topic India's Rising Influence. The event offered critical context on an important region of the world just as tensions flared once again between India and its neighbor Pakistan. Thanks to the generous support of the Foreign Policy Association for making this event possible.

This episode concludes our series on the 2025 Great Decisions Conference with a lively presentation on India’s foreign policy, the Quad alliance, and nuclear nonproliferation by local expert and RAND analyst Raymond Kuo.