Dear I-House Community,
Learning about other cultures is one thing. Actually living side by side with those from different cultures is another. That distinction is at the heart of what we do at I-House. We give residents both.
Through our Global Leadership Program, resident leadership roles, and Projects for Peace grants, we offer structured, intentional training in the skills that intercultural understanding requires — deep listening, perspective-taking, and navigating conflict across difference. These aren’t soft skills. They’re exactly what the world needs from the next generation of leaders.
This spring, that work is coming to life in real time. On April 11, our spring Global Leadership Program cohort gathers for their final session. This completes a journey that has challenged them to think and lead differently through the lens of Cultural Intelligence. Then, on April 25, our resident leaders will host the I-House Festival of Cultures, our biggest community event of the year. It features 20+ booths, a fashion show of cultural attire, and performances from around the world. We hope you'll join us for the celebration.
We’re also proud to announce that I-House residents Vamika Mittal and Sharon Wachira have been awarded Projects for Peace grants to bring social impact projects to their home countries of India and Kenya this summer.
But the real classroom is the house itself. Sharing a meal with someone from another country, working through a disagreement with a roommate who sees the world differently — that’s where learning becomes real. Residents practice these competencies every day, before they step into their careers.
Not many places offer that. A chance to do the hard, human work of understanding before the stakes of career and life make it harder. That's why I-House matters, and has for nearly a century.
Sincerely,
Shaun R. Carver Ed.D., MBA
Executive Director and CEO
International House at UC Berkeley
linkedin.com/in/shauncarver
