Be A Global Citizen!

I'm joined by Laura Cossette to explore the term global citizenship and what it means to embody this ideal in our day-to-day lives. She currently works at Partners of the Americas where she does important work in global citizenship education, specifically, for study abroad programs. Laura has traveled and lived abroad on numerous occasions in Europe and Latin America.  On the episode, she sha...

I'm joined by Junior Menezes to talk about his fascinating and inspiring background of broadening his perspective on the world. He came from a lower income community on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Through bold action and grit, he has lived in seven different countries, earned University degrees, and currently works as the Admissions coordinator at Minvera University. There is a lot to unpa...

In the latest installment of GC talks, I'm joined by Rodrigo Carvalhedo who is a civil engineer, screenwriter, and animator from Brazil. He currently resides in California and is pursuing his dream to write and create stories that fully resonate with people. From his experiences living in different countries to his curiosity about the world, Rodrigo embodies global citizenship. He shares how vital...

From Taiwanese nights markets to international dialogue nights, Lillian I shares her experiences growing up in two different worlds and how her process of constructing a solid identity would lead her to engage in dialogue for global citizenship. Lillian works as program manager at the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, located in Boston. She holds dual citizenship in Taiwan and the US...

Let's talk with another amazing educator from the VCE (Value-Creating Education) program, Kimberly Mullenix. Kim is currently a preschool director in San Diego, CA. She has followed her passion for gymnastics, travel, and culture, while broadening her perspective on what it means to be a global citizen. Kim is also a graduate from Soka University of America. She talks about how her journey for hum...

Let's talk with a fellow IB Global Politics teacher!  Paul Vliegen is from Holland who is currently working in New York at the Dwight school. His journey as a global citizen has taken him all over the world to places like Poland, China, and the US. Paul shares his stories and approaches to teaching high school students how to ask questions about the world and learn to take action. Don't miss...

Non-governmental organizations, learning across cultural differences, cultivating compassion, and advocating for those in need. Those are just some topics that were discussed on this new installment of GC talks with Marling Aguila.  Marling is a Peruvian national who works in the NGO sector as well as the founder of a grassroots cultural association called La Casa Cultural Yuyay . Her work en...

What is community service? Which community do I serve? And what concrete actions am I taking to demonstrate my service to this community? These are some questions that I asked myself as I wrote my second scholarship essay to the Golden Key Honors Society. My life has taken an unexpected turn during the pandemic and I find myself back in California, working for my alma mater Soka University of Amer...

This episode marks one year for Be A Global Citizen! I'm very happy to have Dr. Paulette Bethel join us to share her incredible journey as a former Ambassador to the United Nations. She continues to be engaged on the International stage and is currently residing in the Bahamas. Her pioneering efforts within the UN are inspiring and exemplify global citizenship in many ways. I hope you enjoy our co...

On the podcast, I invited Audrey Roodvoets to join me in a wonderful conversation about global citizenship. Audrey is a Montessori teacher in Arizona, and she also happens to be a former classmate of mine from University. We discussed the role of curiosity, passion, and kindness as crucial components in fostering global citizenship. With the recognition of our interconnectedness to other people an...

For this next GC talk, I speak with Joana Roque de Pinho who is an environmental anthropologist from Portugal. Her fascinating background and perspective made for a great discussion about what is global citizenship for her. We covered identity formation, bilingualism, human geography, and much more. Plenty to unpack and reflect in this episode. Enjoy! 

We are back with another GC talks! I'm happy to have Vitor Assano join me for a great conversation about Global Citizenship. He is a fellow educator in Brazil and he is currently studying online with a Canadian University in the area of early childhood education. I stopped by his place to record our conversation in person. Enjoy! 

Here is another VCE interview! I'm excited to have Nina Thurau on the podcast. She is a 2nd grade teacher from Brooklyn, New York. Currently, she teaches at a Charter school in Queens, and she is working on her masters in the VCE program. Nina reflects upon her experiences teaching abroad in Spain for five years and how they helped recontextualize her understanding of education back home in the US...

Here is a closer look at the peace proposal that Ikeda wrote in 26 January, 2000. I want to look at each peace proposal and explore the many ideas and concepts he shares about global citizenship. I plan to work up to Ikeda's 2021 peace proposal, before I travel back to his 1983 peace proposal. There are 36 peace proposals from Ikeda so far, so let's dive into them. If you wish to access the full p...

Today's GC Talks has Vicki Mokuria sharing her thoughts on global citizenship. She has a wealth of teaching experience and recently completed a doctorate. She is a passionate advocate of social change and humanistic education. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed making it! 

Here is a great conversation with Dov Rosenmann! Dov has a deep background in the NGO sector and he shares his thoughts on global citizenship with me in this episode. With his unique global background and critical perspective on identity, there is a lot to unpack in this thought provoking conversation. Enjoy! 

More interviews about GC in this new series called 'GC Talks.' My goal is to bring different perspectives around GC from individuals all around the world into dialogue. Let's kick things off with Monse Sepulveda from Santiago, Chile. She is a Gender Specialist and fellow graduate from Soka University of America. I'm excited to have her on the podcast because she brings a rich perspective on GC. In...

We are kicking off season 3 with an interview with Michael Cornell! He is an elementary school teacher in New York and he shares about how his teaching background has led him to foster youth who are global citizens. He outlines important aspects of GC such as inclusion, dialogue, and courage. I hope you enjoy learning more about Michael's own story of becoming an educator, and equally important, h...

After a two month break, we are back with more episodes of Be A Global Citizen!, or BAGC! Enjoy weekly episodes that will introduce new perspectives on GC from various individuals as well as some deep dives into the Ikeda Peace Proposals!

This is the last episode of season 2 of BAGC! and we are ending on a high note! I had a wonderful and inspiring conversation with Candace Kapakos who is yet another amazing graduate from the VCE program. She shares her teaching background with autistic and special needs learners. We discuss topics of mental health, relationship skills, dialogue, local geography education, and more. Enjoy this fift...

Nature and humanity. Nature or humanity? The path human beings are walking has proven to be toxic to our environment. There are limits to our growth on a planet with limited resources. What can we do to curb the dangerous trajectory of unconscious consumerism of modern society? In this dialogue, Ikeda and his two interlocutors from the Thoreau society share insights from the American renaissance....

More VCE interviews!! Woo-hoo! Today's episode is another incredible conversation. Let's get to know Melanie who is the executive director of the North American Waldorf schools. She is a kind hearted and insightful educator and there is much to be learned from her thoughts on GC. Enjoy!

What are cultures of peace? How can we make them happen? On this episode we look to the dialogue between Dr. Elise Boulding and Daisaku Ikeda for insights into global citizenship. It is inspiring to join a dialogue with two individuals who have dedicated their lives to create peace cultures. From their insights, we may understand a little better how to create global citizens and what frameworks ar...

What does it mean to view Covid-19 from the perspective of global citizenship? In the great and tragic wake of the covid-19 pandemic, there has been greater concern over national borders and international exchange. Moreover, the incidents of racial discrimination in various countries like the United States have incited protests that seek greater understanding and justice. On this episode, I share...

Let's dive back into the dialogue with Dr. Harding and Ikeda to discuss their thoughts on global citizenship. In the chapter titled 'Becoming World Citizens' there are excellent discussions on the importance of embracing differences, the relationship between humans and the environment, and the necessity of knowing oneself to foster global citizenship. Enjoy this part 2 episode from 'America Will B...