by Krista Hall
IVLP participants are current and emerging leaders from across the world who are nominated and selected annually by the staff at U.S. embassies. Phillips was invited by the United States Ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson, to participate in the 21-day professional exchange program aimed at deepening understanding and ties between Americans and citizens of other countries.
The Greater Halifax Partnership team and the Halifax Gateway Council are delighted that Nancy has been selected for such a prestigious program promoting cultural exchange and collaboration between the United States and Canada.
“Given her experience and leadership of the Halifax Gateway Council and the Partnership’s investment and trade efforts, it’s natural that she would be asked to participate in a project focused on women in trade and entrepreneurship,” shared Paul Kent, Partnership President and CEO.
From February 25 to March 16, the Canadian delegation will visit five U.S. cities – Washington, Kansas City, Austin, Denver and San Francisco – to learn about entrepreneurial efforts initiated by women in the U.S. and the influence of social, economic and political factors on U.S. private enterprises.
Joyce Carter, Chairperson of the Halifax Gateway Council, says this is “a tremendous opportunity to cultivate lasting relationships with our principal trading partner.”
“Nancy is an outstanding ambassador for Halifax,” says Joyce. “She will add immense perspective and value to the exchange.”
Nancy is sharing her experiences during the trip. Here are photos and updates from her visit to Washington. Stay tuned for more.
February 25: Today we did some sightseeing with a fabulous historian who’s great-grandfather painted the frescoes in the Capital Building. The sites included the White House, the Capitol Building, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. In the afternoon we went to the Holocaust Museum.
February 27: Our days are filled with meetings including officials at the State Department and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and our program coordinators and sponsors. As well, we had a meeting inside the House of Representatives yesterday – what a busy place with all the lobbyists running around! We also visited the beautiful campus of Georgtown University and George Washington University. Today, we are packing up to leave Washington for our next stop Kansas City, MO.