Issue link: http://ihouse.uberflip.com/i/1319488
6 International House Times O fficially launched on August 18, 2020, the 90th Anniversary of I-House Berkeley's founding, I-House Berkeley Connect, our new networking platform, has been joined by hundreds of alumni, special friends, Board members, and staff who accepted our invitation. If you haven't had a chance to do so, please join us now at ihberkeleyconnect.org. Based on the thoughtful feedback of volunteer charter members of the platform, this alumni and resident engagement and mentoring tool is designed to help bring the I-House Global Community together by facilitating connections— offering opportunities to give back through mentorship and networking, as well as enabling you to maintain friendships within the trusted International House Berkeley community. e underlying premise of the Global Community Initiative (see side bar) emphasizes the complementarity of personal communications and underlying technological tools, allowing improved data management along with some degree of "self- service" opportunities for engagement, an appealing prospect during these socially distant times. After a process of exploring engagement platforms that go beyond existing LinkedIn and other social media presence was conducted, I-House Berkeley Connect was chosen due to its particular emphasis on mentoring, networking, and career linkages in support of residents and recent alums, and as a way for older alums to give back. The I-House Berkeley Connect home page at ihberkeleyconnect.org Global Community Initiative Building on lessons learned and successes in past decades, our Board has encouraged staff to explore with alumni and friends ways to address nurturing a more robust, global, and lifelong I-House community. As a result, we've created a new I-House Global Community Initiative, which will pursue the following goals: • Strengthen the ties of alumni to International House and current residents; • Create added value for residents from their connections to the House, and thereby, increase awareness of the value of living at I-House; • Engage current residents in beginning lifelong participation in the International House Global Community; and to • Create a networking platform for country- and region-specific alumni groups to maintain and strengthen ties of alumni to International House. I-House Berkeley Connect provides access to the following: • A running feed of alumni updates, interesting content, photos, and conversations; • An opt-in directory of alumni, students, and special friends, allowing registered users to connect with the I-House Berkeley community around the world; • A mentorship program, giving you the opportunity to be mentored by others or offer mentorship to alumni and current students; • A job board with current jobs and internship opportunities posted by alumni, students, and strategic partners; • Group conversations allowing you to engage at a more granular level with those who have the same class, interests, careers, industries, and locations as you; • Invitations to events (encouraging alumni engagement around the world), webinars hosted by subject matter experts within our networks, and other organic engagement opportunities created for and by alumni and current residents. Maintaining Our Global Community I-House Berkeley Connect Be a Global Community Ambassador Calling All Alumni! Join the fun by volunteering to lead a country, regional, or decade group within the I-House Berkeley Connect community. Post content, help organize reunions and events, and encourage your I-House friends to register. Please contact us via the platform or email ihalumni@berkeley.edu. Browse the directory by location, industry, or "Willing to help" status