“The significance of diversity in transatlantic exchange — with regards to ethnicity and race, but also differing professional backgrounds or regions within the US — has been largely overlooked. It is essential that a broad range of voices joins the conversation between Europe and the United States.
The New Bridge Program is an exclusive, fully funded fellowship program with a focus on diverse, underrepresented young professionals. Several times a year, the program will enable current and emerging leaders from a variety of fields and regions in the United States to experience Europe first-hand, engage in an interdisciplinary exchange on transatlantic relations, discuss the rapid changes to societies on both continents, and cultivate lasting personal professional relationships“. Atlantik-Brücke, Building the New Bridge Program
The American Indian Society of Washington, DC (AIS) was honored to be invited to participate in The New Bridge Program Fellows luncheon in October 2021. This invitation came from German Ambassador Emily Haber and took place at the Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, DC
AIS President, Allie Myers-Hall was invited to speak in a round table discussion concerning the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. Allie expressed the importance that building bridges has for closing gaps, and that even though the New Bridge Program has begun to form relationships with other communities, “it is crucial to form a relationship with those who have called these lands home for over 49,000 years“. She noted that healing the misconceptions espoused by what is termed American History is the primary foundation for building these bridges; and with this healing our vision can be limitless.
Allie presented that there are many benefits to participating in The New Bridge Program and that it is an opportunity for our young people to increase their knowledge and experience in forming international connections.
“AIS is reawakening, stabilizing, and expanding our future with the hope to hand over a fully functional and capable organization to the 7th generation. We cannot allow ourselves (Indigenous Peoples) to be overlooked. Our contributions are crucial not only to all Indigenous and Native Peoples, but to this globe. We are resilient and we are visionaries.”
A’lice Myers-Hall, President of American Indian Society of Washington, DC.