Former mayor shares world experience

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For the first time after returning from his 17-month journey around the world, former East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh shared his experiences with his community and alma mater Thursday.

“Our interactions with other countries are becoming closer and closer,” Singh said. “Although I think we’re at a pretty good place as a region and as a community with an international attitude, I want us to grow and be the spot where international investors invest in. I want to be the region that students want to come to from other countries to learn and want to stay here.”

The city of East Lansing, along with MSU and the city’s Community Relations Coalition, hosted the event for Singh to speak about his travels and how residents and students can begin to foster a global community. Singh began his worldwide travels in December 2007 and returned in May 2009.

“We want to raise awareness of the importance of being a global community, in terms of attracting global talent,” Assistant City Manager Marie McKenna said. “It’s also important to be a community that creates global talent.”

Singh visited every continent and more than 25 countries, and saw places such as the Nile River and the Great Wall of China. In his travels, he saw the different types of globalization in cultures around the world.

“There are so many different places that I had great relationships that I created and so many great experiences,” he said. “The relationships and the friendships that I created in those places, I will never forget them.”

McKenna said when she initially talked to Singh about sharing his travels, she and others realized his experience was an opportunity for both residents and students to learn about globalization.

“We already have a very diverse community and region,” McKenna said. “We think we have a great foundation from which to build, but we can always do more. Sam is a great community asset.”

Students who attended the event said they were interested in traveling themselves.

“You need to know what’s going on around you in the world,” veterinary medicine freshman Kylie Horrocks said. “There are a lot of organizations (at MSU) where you can get involved with other countries.”

Audience members were given ways to become more global, which included getting a passport and becoming more knowledgeable about another culture. Singh said students should take advantage of the study abroad programs at MSU and get involved with volunteering efforts overseas.

“I think that will be a powerful experience for a student,” Singh said. “Obviously you’re learning in a different place, but when you can volunteer in a different country, side by side with the volunteers of that country, you can learn so much more about the community and the issues that they’re facing.”

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