J-1 Cafe
Posted on Friday, August 29th, 2014 at 5:20 pm.
Through Route J-1, we have spotlighted many local community groups and homegrown efforts to embrace the diversity student visitors bring. As we showed in Ocean City, Maryland and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, local community support enriches students’ understanding of American culture, and makes a lasting impact in the lives of those exchange visitors. In this post, my colleague, Michael James, shares his experience during a recent visit to the Virginia Beach Community Chapel’s “J-1 Café”.
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| J-1 students line up for a delicious dinner donated and served by the local community. |
J-1 Cafe |
Every Tuesday night during the summer, the Virginia Beach Community Chapel gymnasium looks like this! Some 400 students from countries around the world come together for food and fun, all done through the efforts of the Virginia Beach community, and J-1 designated sponsor organizations. This tradition began as an informal backyard barbecue event six years ago, and slowly grew. The J-1 Café doesn’t just serve up a delicious meal for 400 people, organizers put together cultural event opportunities, as well. I just heard about a trip to Washington, DC the Café put together!
I could see that J-1 Café and the organizers behind it play a significant role in welcoming the students to the community and making them feel connected and appreciated.
J-1 students enjoy a game of “Corn Hole” and ping pong after dinner.
J-1 Cafe also gives students a chance to meet each other. Long after dinner was over, students remained to continue talking with new friends and community volunteers. I smiled when I watched some J-1 students playing “Corn Hole.” Cultural exposure comes in so many forms! Thanks, Virginia Beach!
Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants
| About Rebecca Pasini Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange | |
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Rebecca A. Pasini joined the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchanges in July 2023. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister - Counselor, Ms. Pasini has been an American diplomat since 1997.
Ms. Pasini previously served as the Director of Public and Congressional Affairs in the Bureau of Consular Affairs from 2021-2023. Other Washington assignments have included positions in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Office of Foreign Missions, and as a liaison to the Department of Homeland Security. She has also completed multiple overseas tours, including as Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan, and as the Consular Chief in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Other tours included Mexico City and Kuwait.
A Maryland native, Ms. Pasini has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University, a master’s degree in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, and an undergraduate degree from Mary Washington College.
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