In 2018, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, through DOJ/ICITAP partnered with experts from the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Kentucky to conduct a four-day recruiting background investigations training course in Bamako as part of an ongoing effort to help Mali increase the transparency and accountability of its police recruiting. This training provided 24 members of the National Police and seven members of the Gendarmerie with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct background investigations to determine the fitness and suitability of candidates for employment as law enforcement officers. In years past, an opaque and corrupt recruiting process in Mali has resulted in recruits that are not motivated or equipped to become effective police officers and undermined public trust in the police. (Source: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)
More: https://louisville.edu/spi
INL has partnered with Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) since 2015. In 2018, LMPD conducted a Public Outreach, Event Security/Crowd Control Management Assessment for the National Police and Gendarmerie of Burkina Faso and Senegal. (Source: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)
More: https://www.louisville-police.org/
INL first partnered with Kentucky State Police (KSP) in 2017. In 2018, the KSP trained Honduras National Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (DPI) officers to increase their capacity to forensically preserve and use digital evidence in order to develop strong cases for prosecution. KSP trained Colombia National Police (CNP) to support and enhance the CNP’s ability to incorporate new internal affairs initiatives. (Source: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)
More: http://kentuckystatepolice.org/
The Department works with nine domestic non-governmental organizations, which place refugees with more than 325 affiliates in roughly 190 communities around the country. These local affiliates work closely with community partners, congregations, volunteers, and state and local officials to provide a successful start for refugees rebuilding their lives. Refugee communities have historically enhanced the economic dynamism and cultural vitality of our nation. Refugees contribute to the United States in numerous ways, including by starting businesses and joining the U.S. military. This program helps the world’s most vulnerable refugees find permanent homes, and it demonstrates the immense generosity of the American people. (Source: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration)
More: https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-civilian-security-democracy-and-human-rights/bureau-of-population-refugees-and-migration/
2,229 Kentucky residents hosted or supported 1,055 International Visitor Leadership Program participants who visited the state, volunteering a total of 116,090 hours of service. (Source: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)
More: https://eca.state.gov/ivlp
15 emerging leaders studied or participated in a fellowship in Kentucky on one of the Young Leaders Initiatives. (Source: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)
More: https://exchanges.state.gov/
The U.S.-China EcoPartnership between the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research and Jiangsu Wisdom Engineering Technology focused on capturing volatile organic compounds prior to combustion in energy-intensive industrial plants. (Source: Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs)
More: http://ecopartnerships.lbl.gov/
Researchers from the University of Kentucky received grants from the OES-supported U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) for joint research projects with Israeli scientists. Selected through a peer-reviewed process, the BSF research funding advances our bilateral relationship and shared scientific priorities. (Source: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs)
More: http://www.bsf.org.il/
A researcher from the University of Louisville received a grant from the U.S.-Egypt Science and Technology Joint Fund for research projects with Egyptian scientists. Selected through a peer-reviewed process, the Joint Fund enables American scientists to conduct high impact research in the fields of agriculture, energy, health, and water and promotes U.S. – Egypt science and technology cooperation. (Source: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs)
More: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Egypt/pga_156529
In Fiscal Year 2017, the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) issued visas to 130 children who were adopted by U.S. citizens from Kentucky. Intercountry adoption is one CA's highest priorities. CA's Office of Children’s Issues plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process and works diligently to establish and maintain intercountry adoption as a viable option throughout the world. (Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs)
More: https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/about-us/statistics.html
Diplomatic Security Chicago Field Office serves Kentucky: Diplomatic Security has offices throughout the United States staffed with special agents and contract investigators, who conduct criminal, counterterrorism and background investigations. Agents assigned to field and resident offices assist in providing support to the protection of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Liaison with federal and local law enforcement, foreign mission personnel, local officials, and the private sector complements their major responsibilities. (Source: Bureau of Diplomatic Security)
More: https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-management/bureau-of-diplomatic-security/
Jobs and Economy
Kentucky hosted 1,628 foreign physicians, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs and others as part of work and study-based Exchange Visitor Program. (Source: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) The Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg is a significant area employer. (Source: Bureau of Consular Affairs)
More: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/diversity-visa/kentucky-consular-center.html
The Department of State, in partnership with agencies across the federal government, creates jobs for American workers by opening markets and eliminating trade barriers overseas and by attracting foreign direct investment to the United States. In 2018, goods exported totaled $31.7 billion. Those exports supported approximately 143,536 Kentuckian jobs (2016) and foreign direct investment into Kentucky supports an additional 129,400 jobs (2016). (Source: Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs)
More: https://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/statereports/states/ky.pdf
The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs advocates in meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) for conservation of pollinators, which contribute $24 billion to the national economy and $111 million to the economy of the state of Kentucky for alfalfa – vital to the production of cattle for beef and dairy. Kentucky is the largest cattle producing state east of the Mississippi River. (Source: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs)
More: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/Ag_Overview/stateOverview.php?state=kentucky&year=2017
The Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Programs encourage applications from minority groups historically underrepresented in the U.S. Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Each fellowship provides financial assistance towards the completion of a two year master’s degree in a field related to the Foreign Service, academic funding, mentorship and two internships – one in the U.S. and the other abroad at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Fellows commit to a minimum of five years in the Foreign Service. Currently, there are 11 active participants from the state of Kentucky.
More: http://www.global.howard.edu/ralph-j-bunche/fellowship/
Education
Diplomat-in-Residence (Louis Fintor): Diplomats in Residence (DIRs) are career Foreign Service Officers or Specialists located throughout the U.S. who provide guidance and advice to students, professionals and the community about Department careers. (Source: Bureau of Human Resources
More: http://careers.state.gov/connect/dir
30 Scholars, Students and Teachers from Kentucky were awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, and 22 international students received a Fulbright to study in Kentucky. (Source: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)
More: https://eca.state.gov/fulbright
55 students from Kentucky received Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, awarded to students of limited financial means. (Source: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)
More: https://www.iie.org/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program
9,942 international higher education students studied abroad in Kentucky. (Source: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)
More: https://educationusa.state.gov/
170 exchange visitors from overseas visited Kentucky and 318 Kentucky residents travelled overseas as part of the Department’s educational and cultural exchange funded programs. (Source: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)
More: https://exchanges.state.gov/
In 2018, six students and one professor from the University of Panama participated in an English language and cultural immersion program at Murray State University in Kentucky. The scholarship connects students from traditionally underserved, financially disadvantaged backgrounds with a unique opportunity for immersion-style language learning, international mobility and cross-cultural exchange. Participants awarded this competitive scholarship depart in January to study and volunteer in the U.S. for 2 months. They later return home to work closely with the next generation of scholarship recipients, the University of Panama’s English School and the U.S. Embassy to share their experience and increase volunteer culture in their home communities. (Source: Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs)
More: https://www.murraystate.edu/academics/CollegesDepartments/CollegeOfEducationandHumanServices/coecenters/InternationalTeachingExperiences/discoverpanama.aspx
The Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Brazil) is working with the University of Kentucky, Iowa State University, Purdue University, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to offer regular undergraduate courses in English in agricultural and biological engineering, food science, animal science, and agricultural economics to create opportunities for U.S. students. This partnership is part of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, the dynamic public/private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, Embassies, NGOs, companies, and foundations that inspires U.S. universities and colleges in the United States to team up with higher education institutions in the rest of the Western Hemisphere region. (Source: Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs)
More: http://www.100kstrongamericas.org/
The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs offered the University of Kentucky more than $101,000 in grant funding to train graduate students abroad. (Source: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs)
More: http://www.internationalrelationsedu.org/kentucky/
