This June, the Mayor’s Office of International & Immigrant Affairs proudly celebrated the inaugural cohort of the Global Ambassador Certificate Program with a ceremony recognizing City of Atlanta employees.
The Global Ambassador Certificate Ceremony honored almost 300 employees from 24 City offices and departments who completed a multi-week training series designed to strengthen cultural competency and language access skills across Atlanta’s municipal workforce. The program was developed to ensure that City employees are equipped to deliver the same high standard of service to international visitors and residents as they do for all Atlantans.
“Today, we congratulate you, and thank you for your efforts to create a more inclusive city for all,” said Deputy Chief of Staff Greg Clay, who spoke at the ceremony alongside Paulina Guzman, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of International & Immigrant Affairs. Guzman also recognized Alrene Barr, Executive Director of International Affairs at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, whose team has been an essential partner in preparing the city’s gateway for global arrivals.
Over the course of the program, participants explored how culture shapes communication, expectations, and interactions with authority, building the awareness and adaptability needed to engage with international guests. Participants also learned about iSpeakATL, the City’s language access tool, reinforcing that language access is not simply a resource, but a responsibility.
The top participating departments in the Global Ambassadors program were the Department of Aviation with 53 Global Ambassadors, the Department of Watershed Management with 36, and the Executive Offices with 28—with representation spanning nearly every department citywide, including Atlanta Fire Rescue, Atlanta Police, City Council, City Planning, Corrections, Finance, Human Resources, Law, Transportation and more.
This inaugural cohort of Global Ambassadors, nearly 300-strong, represents a meaningful investment in Atlanta’s capacity to welcome the world. Not just during the World Cup, but in every interaction, every day. As Mayor Dickens continues to position Atlanta as a globally connected, genuinely welcoming city, these employees stand ready to deliver on that promise.
