2018 Global Gala 

Dear NNIC Supporters,

This is an important year for NNIC as we gear up for the Global Gala on April 12. Twenty years ago, our agency was formed with a seed grant from the City of Reno and then Mayor Jeff Griffin.  Some of the founders of the organization included well known Nevadans like the Crowleys, Larry Struve, Lans Levitt, Shayne del Cohen, Richard Siegel and Jennifer Satre.  I remember hosting the very first international visitor group from Thailand in January 1998, and they came to Northern Nevada to learn about legalized prostitution.  My first thought was “what a weird type of business this is!”

Ten years ago, NNIC began implementing youth leadership programs, such as the Algerian Youth Leadership Program (AYLP) through the US Department of State.  Since then, we have hosted over 500 high school students from half a dozen countries. I have had the privilege of visiting Algeria 17 times, and can testify to our positive contribution to the next generation of students there.  Consider this e-mail we received just a few days ago from one of last year’s youth participants from Algeria writing to the curriculum developer at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum:

“First off, I would like to thank you for your warm host of the Algerian Youth Leadership Program last August, I was among the group visiting the Discovery Museum and I was very impressed by the work you guys are doing there!

Second, and to show how the NVDM, and you, made a positive impact on me and my project, I am pleased to send you the below attached video presenting my project “Beyond Tekhmamek” (Beyond Your Thinking), a set of hands-on robotics workshops in middle-schools across Algiers (and soon Beyond Algiers). This project wouldn’t be possible without our visit to the Discovery Museum.

You have done great job, keep it up! The job you have achieved in Reno is making an impact 6000 miles away!

I hope one day we will work together!”

Rafik included a link to a video he made about his experience.  You can see the video here.

Imagine the possibilities here…if one visit to a local museum can spark the brilliant brains of young people across the globe, this has far-reaching implications.  When (not “if”) Rafik serves as Minister of Energy or Education in his country two decades from now, he will speak positively about his experiences in Reno and in the United States.  His vision for collaboration between the US and North African will be undeterred by ignorance and stereotypes.   He will be an ambassador for both his native Algeria and for the United States.  The work we do each day indeed has an impact on this and future generations, 6,000 miles apart.

Join us at the 20^th Annual Global Gala to hear more stories of NNIC’s impact.

Dr. Carina Black

NNIC Executive Director

Register Now!