With funding from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), ICMA conducted a four-part, two-way reciprocal environmental and sustainability fellowship exchange that promoted learning and knowledge exchange among key local government practitioners from the U.S., Brunei, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The exchange focused on the theme of accountable governance.

Fellows spent time in 23 different host communities and organizations across the United States: City of Ontario, OR; City of Austin, TX; City of Denver, CO; City of Goddard, KS; City of Tukwila, WA; Rare.org, DC; City of Kansas City, KS; Guilford County, NC; Harris County, TX; Office of Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty in New Britain, CT; Downtown DC Business Improvement District; City of Tallahassee, FL; City of Frankfort, KY; Coconino County, AZ; City of Northampton, MA; Jackson County, MI; City of Bozeman, MT; City of Salisbury, NC; CASA for Douglas County, NE; City of Hooksett, NH; City of Upper Arlington, OH; City of Tulsa, OK; City of Albany, OR

The exchange visits by the foreign participants occurred between April 2017 and November 2017, and included participation in short-term fellowships, job shadowing, meetings with government officials, and visits to nonprofits and community groups working to engage citizens. Participants captured their experiences and shared photos and videos on ICMA’s YSEALI Fellows WordPress blogsite.

In return, 12 participants from the United States participated in a reciprocal experience with their international participant counterparts The U.S. participants traveled from: Ontario, OR; Dubuque, IA; Denver, CO; Tukwila, WA; Coconino County, AZ; Goddard, KS; Upper Arlington, OH; Bozeman, MT; Albany, OR; Frankfort, KY; and Guilford County, NC.