What people say about the
Center for Global Education

"The only tour company I actually support as a participant is the Center for Global Education.  Impressed by their local connections and expert local staff, I have traveled with them on three tours (1989, 1991, and 2005) and count these travel experiences as some of the best in my life."

Rick Steves,

Europe Through the Back Door

"After experiencing a journey of inquiry into human circumstances and the dialectic of history with the Center for global Education, one will never again view the world in the same fashion. As with music, my spirituality and human core have been touched and new hope and purpose reborn."

Peter Yarrow

of Peter, Paul, and Mary

"The Center for Global Education expanded my horizons as a locally elected official.  I gained an understanding firsthand of what was happening in hot spots in the world.  I was able to make the connection between foreign policy and policy in St. Paul.

Today the Center continues to give students the opportunity to explore the world in a way different than many study abroad programs.  Through reflection and experiential learning, the Center prepares the leadership we need in this 21st century."

Jim Scheibel

Former Mayor of St. Paul, MN

"My semester in Mexico, as a sophomore in college, changed my entire way of seeing the world...especially my view of my own country and its role in the world. It redirected my major area of studies to Spanish and Latin American Studies.  It also introduced me to other students who were committed to urban issues and social justice work... and that changed my life at home."

         Mary Laurel True, College of St. Catherine 1979

(now asst. director, community service at Augsburg College)

"I just wanted to add/repeat what I hope was made clear at the end of our trip, and that is our grateful appreciation of all the work that you and the CGE staff did to make our trip the success that it was.  I have to say, that having participated in a fair amount of overseas travel in both the developed and developing world, and seeing how some trips like this are organized, I have probably become a bit jaded about the utility and wisdom of many trips like this. I cannot speak highly enough, however, of the job that you and CGE did to dispel that creeping cynicism.  I don't know how you do it, but whatever it is don't change it!"

Professor,

Seattle University School of Law

As a Congressional staff member, I believe it is my responsibility to share this excellent experience with my co-workers and with other organizations that I relate to and that might have an interest or might have the resources to contribute in an assertive way to the problem of economic development in Nicaragua.  Also, as my office representative for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and his experience will help me bring to the table an even wider range of points of view and possibilities. 

U.S. Congressional staff member,

after a seminar to Nicaragua

I hope to use my experiences here to educate both my boss and other Congressional staff on Nicaragua and debt relief/trade issues to try to influence the focus of US policy. 

U.S. Congressional staff member,

after a seminar to Nicaragua

The pace was intense and broad.  I thought we witnessed a wide range of perspectives, which allowed our group to form their own individual opinions.”  “I came here with an open mind.  However, what I will take away far exceeds my expectations.  This is clearly the most fruitful and substantive trip I have ever participated in.”  “As a Congressional staffer, I plan on taking all the lessons that I have learned into consideration, both professionally and personally whether it be by legislation or a more proactive role personally. 

Congressional staff member,

after a seminar to Nicaragua

I would sincerely like to express my gratitude for all that both of you did to make our Mexico trip a success. Even though we worked very hard to prepare ourselves for the trip, each day in Mexico lent new scenes to my eyes and ideas to my mind.  Reflecting back on the transition, I have discovered that the trip not only awakened me to the issues of Latin America but also roused to life a part of myself I have never encountered before. Thank you so much for making this experience a reality for me and all the other students who are fortunate enough to

learn from excellent educators like yourselves!

Program Sponsor,

University of Notre Dame,

after a seminar to Mexico

"I'm aware that the hardest part is still ahead us of:  translating the experience of those weeks into meaningful, tangible support, not only for those in Central America who opened their hearts and lives to us, but to those right here in our own midst who we now see more clearly also as victims of oppression.  When we first put the goals of our trip into words, we prayed that our eyes, minds and hearts would be opened.  You need to know that you succeeded in helping us do just that.  There is a unique spirit that infuses the work that each of you does and that makes what the Center for Global Education does a real gift to all touched by the experience.  A number of our group have said to me what I want to say to you:  this has been the most profound experience of my life.  Thank you."

Program Sponsor,

Glenview Community Church

"My expectations were far exceeded.  I wanted to learn about the history and culture of the people of Peru and Chile and I did.  But the experiential part and my new understanding of liberation theology as it is put into practice was an unexpected insight for me." 

Anita Pampusch, former president of the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul,  (participant on Minnesota College President's trip to Chile and Peru Jan. 1990) and now president of the Bush Foundation