Seven years after his initial program in 2007, Aref Hosseini was selected by the U.S. State Department as a member of IVLP's Gold Star Alumni. As a Gold Star Alumnus, Hosseini returned to the United States last month to be honored for his contribution to his home community in the Palestinian Territories. This trip gave him the opportunity to revisit Los Angeles and share how citizen diplomacy has shaped his work and benefited his homeland.

Mr. Hosseini first visited the United States for an Elementary and Secondary Education program in 2007. Upon returning to his homeland, he used the pedagogical tools and strategies that he learned to develop Al Nayzak ("Shooting Star"), a program designed to foster critical thinking and scientific skills in young people. Since his initial visit, Al Nayzak has become a premier educational enrichment program in the Palestinian Territories, working with students of all ages.

Before coming to California, Mr. Hosseini visited Washington, D.C., where he met with U.S. Government officials, members of Congress, and business representatives to discuss his work and celebrate his accomplishments. During his time in Los Angeles, he met with administrators and researchers at Claremont McKenna College, top educators at UCLA, teachers at STEM Academy of Hollywood, and the California Science Center's Deputy Director of Education. Mr. Hosseini's meetings with these elite educators will undoubtedly enrich the institutions he visited, as well as his own, highlighting the universal need for quality education. 

Mathias (Mal) Fobi is a medical doctor and the president of Bariatec Corporation, an innovative medical device company. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of IFS, a Fellow with numerous other medical associations, and an honorary member of several international medical societies. 

Deanne Neiman is the Honorary Consul of Botswana and the owner of Educational Equity Consultants, which provides services to school districts throughout California, conducting hearings and investigations regarding discrimination laws. She has been actively involved with the FASPACO (Pan African Film Festival) and participated in the African First Ladies Health Summit in 2009.   

Elga Sharpe is the Vice President of International Relations and Chief of Protocol for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015. As the Chief of Protocol for three Los Angeles Mayors, she oversaw the relationships between the City of Los Angeles and foreign governments.

Yael Swerdlow co-founded the Women's Empowerment Foundation, whose mission is to educate, enrich, and connect women to each other. In 1994, Yael traveled to Somalia, Southern Sudan, and Rwanda with the International Medical Corps to document the reestablishing of the medical infrastructure in those war-torn countries.  

Rinaldo Veseliza is a Registered Architect, AIA and LEED Accredited Professional specializing in sustainable development and green design. Committed to education, he advocates for college student career training through the U.S. Green Building Council programs and serves as Co-Chair of the 2014 Intel International Science Fair in Los Angeles.