Notes & News: May 2019 International Institute Newsletter

Here you can read the last issue of the month of May of “NOTES & NEWS”, the newsletter that the International Institute publishes three times a year. Below is one of the articles in this issue.

American Space Madrid: The Power of Learning by David Connell, US Embassy Information Officer

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a piano and cello concert in the beautiful auditorium of the International Institute.

A pianist mother, and a teenage son, a teenager, who transforms himself on stage and becomes a music professional, a performer who stops us all in our seats and leaves us with our souls on edge. A concert that transforms and delights all of us who listen; we find it hard to believe that a 16-year-old boy has become a cello virtuoso. I give this example because the American Space Madrid, which turns 5 years old in 2019, is part of this history, it is part of this joint effort to strengthen ties between Spaniards and North Americans. A commitment that unites us and that in five years has led us to create a joint center that has managed to generate a true community and that lives and grows with a program and a series of high quality activities and all free.

Five years ago, the International Institute and the US Embassy signed the agreement to create the American Space Madrid and this year we celebrate it with a renewed desire to continue growing and advancing together. Now that my shift as a diplomat in Spain is coming to an end, I look back on the three years that I have experienced American Space Madrid and I am proud to have been a part of this project.

The American Space Madrid is one of the three American Spaces that we have in Spain (Valencia and Barcelona are the other centers) and its coordinated and collaborative work among them means that many more Spaniards are exposed and can participate in the culture, values and the traditions of the USA. But it is much more than one of three, it is part of an extensive network of American Spaces worldwide. More than 650 centers that open a window to the US to bring people from different countries closer together. For us, diplomats dedicated to Public Diplomacy, seeing the American Spaces network grow and multiply is getting closer to the true essence of our work: creating networks, connecting and bringing people closer.

The American Space Madrid is a clear example of how the five pillars that define the programs of all these centers in the world are carried out. The concert with which I start this text reflects two of the pillars: the cultural program and the activities with former scholarship holders participating in all kinds of exchanges sponsored by the government of my country. The pianist, mother of our cellist, is Rosalía Pareja, a Fulbrighter (precisely last year the Fulbright program celebrated its 60th anniversary in Spain). Having mentioned this line of action, I can only point out the other three: providing all kinds of information about our country, providing academic advice on university studies in the US and promoting the learning of English. The American Space Madrid has been dedicating itself to all these pillars with relish and professionalism, through a close relationship between its director, Lee Douglas, and the staff of the Embassy. Suffice it as an example that last year the programs and activities of the ASM reached almost 53.000 people, not counting those who access to know what happens through digital media.

The American Space is a place of meeting, connection and learning. I believe that in these three words is the key. Learning is an intrinsic part of being human and the connection between people allows one to deepen the skills learned and grow. Creating a meeting place for two cultures, two societies and the people who are part of them is the key to the success of these centers. The American Space Madrid is a prominent example of this. We have seen young people progress in English, a language that opens doors for the future; we have seen girls and boys delve into STEM subjects through electronics, computer programming, digital music creation, robotics and 3D design, among others. These young people will face the future equipped with knowledge and tools that will open doors and paths for them, even if they do not know it today; and all this learning while creating and enjoying. A great achievement, without a doubt, of which we can be proud. We have seen meetings of women fighting for a more egalitarian future, we have seen and heard minorities defending their aspirations and their rights in society, we have seen LGTBI groups talking about opportunities and we have seen the public become emotional with the children of a school in Lavapiés representing a play in English and listening to a concert that leaves us nailed to the seat. I fall short in the examples, but not in the horizon, happy anniversary American Space Madrid! I wish you a future full of collaboration and success. For the next five years, cheers!

David Connell, US Embassy Information Officer