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Standing Together in the Path to Progress
The past two weeks have been a tragic time in U.S. history. We are hurting as a people. But as we mourn the death of George Floyd and those before him, we must remember there is no progress in silence; there is no justice that comes from retreat and stillness.
As an organization that has celebrated diversity since its humble beginnings, and even more intentionally over the last two decades, IES Abroad’s entire mission fosters a long-term antidote to systemic racism: creating global leaders who are diverse and inclusive through study abroad, who open their (and others') minds and question established beliefs.
Now is the time for us all to further educate ourselves, to challenge our assumptions, to call our leaders, to support our communities, to learn, listen, and act.
There is a lane for everyone in the path to progress.
Black lives matter.
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How to Be an Antiracist
Ibram X. Kendi (book)
So You Want to Talk About Race
Ijeoma Oluo (book)
This Book is Antiracist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action and Do the Work
Tiffany Jewell (book)
White Fragility
Robin DiAngelo, PhD (book)
How to Deconstruct Racism One Headline at a Time
Baratunde Thurston (TED Talk)
How We Can Make Racism a Solvable Problem - and Improve Police Brutality
Phillip Atiba Goff (TED Talk)
We Need to Talk about an Injustice
Bryan Stevenson (TED Talk)
Differentiating Global Attitudes Towards Difference
Shane Young (IES Abroad Barcelona Student Blog)
From the Segregated South to Feeling Free in Vienna
Maxine Hayes (65 Years | 65 Faces of IES Abroad)
Bite-Sized Spoken Word
Sabrina Hunte (IES Abroad Freiburg Student Blog)
Learn, listen, speak up, and connect with your community. As for the long haul? Continue to have the uncomfortable conversations. Continue to question your assumptions.
We will stand with you along the way.
What We’re Doing at IES Abroad
Today—more than ever—IES Abroad is challenging ourselves to do what our students do every day.
Questioning what we have learned.
Having the uncomfortable conversations.
Opening our minds; opening our hearts.
Developing into more compassionate, empathetic, critical thinkers than we were yesterday.
Being the global leaders we seek to educate.
IES Abroad will also continue to reflect on what this means for us, and how to further educate, train, and support staff members in our ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts.
As our President & CEO, Dr. Mary M. Dwyer, said in a statement shared with our entire organization this week, “I know that what is happening around our country and the world right now is not about study abroad. It is about how we react, support, treat, and listen to each other, no matter what our backgrounds or where we came from. These are the basic tenets that all of us must demonstrate with action.”
Just as your progress and commitment doesn’t stop when you finish reading that book or listening to that podcast, neither will ours.
Recent news & press
Future-Focused Friday: Things That Highlighted Our Connectedness This Week
This week we’ve been thinking about our connectedness a lot. In fact, it’s one of the biggest things study abroad teaches us: we have so many more commonalities than we do differences, and that our shared human experience on a global scale is real.
Future-Focused Friday: Things That Happen When You Take The Leap
This week we're spotlighting the experience of finding your independence, which is pretty much a guarantee when you study abroad. And whether you go abroad in search of becoming more self-sufficient, or it's thrust upon you by chance after getting lost in your host city, finding your inner strength is a real confidence booster.
Future-Focused Friday: Things That Added a Pop of Color to Our Week
We know it's been a tough time lately, but remember, you can't have a rainbow without the rain shower! It's time to get out (as much as you can) and open up your eyes to the simpler things that can brighten your day. For us, a pop of COLOR is one of those simpler things. Tune in to our newsletter this week as we dive into the color edition.
Future-Focused Friday: Things That Inspired Us to Keep Momentum this Week
This activism-centered edition of our Future-Focused Friday newsletter features students, staff, and alumni who have carried on the belief of our founders: that study abroad can be a catalyst for peace.
Merrill Study Abroad Scholarship Endowed for Morehouse & Spelman Students
We are excited to announce good news about the IES Abroad Charles Merrill, Jr. Scholarship Fund! We have just surpassed the threshold amount of $50,000 in gifts and pledges, and will soon endow this special fund. Through the Fund, IES Abroad will begin to award study abroad scholarships to students from Morehouse College and Spelman College to study abroad on any of our programs around the world.
Future-Focused Friday: Things Shining with Pride This Week
This month, while we continue to push for progress in the Black Lives Matter movement, we also proudly celebrate our LGBTQ+ students, staff, and friends. Just like we said in our Pride video, in case you don't hear it enough.
