Baking Bonds: Locals Befriend Foreign Delegates Over Pastry at Farmers Market
On Saturday, August 2, the World Affairs Council hosted its inaugural “Farmer’s Market & Friends” at the Covington Farmers Market in partnership with local vendors. The event introduced the Council’s Dinner Diplomacy initiative, giving community members the chance to meet international delegates and learn more about global exchange programs. Staff and volunteers welcomed five delegates visiting the U.S. through a U.S. Department of State exchange program.
International delegates and WAC staff (left) speaking with community members
Food plays a central role in connecting across cultures and is a key component of diplomacy. It is a living, delicious expression of culture, telling stories of heritage, history, and home. Whether Cincinnati chili, New Orleans gumbo, Nigerian jollof rice, or Vietnamese pho, each dish carries meaning and creates connections. That is why the World Affairs Council champions Dinner Diplomacy.
Delegates from Algeria, Angola, Namibia, Seychelles, and South Africa, visiting through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), shared pastries from North South Bakery while engaging with local residents. Their U.S. trip focused on Combating Illegal Fishing, with stops in Washington, D.C., Portland, Oregon, and Greater Cincinnati. While the itinerary was policy-focused, it was the personal exchanges that made the biggest impact.
International delegates with WAC intern, Eavan, and community members
One of those connections happened between Mr. Sibusiso Zungu of the South African Revenue Service and Dr. Phillip Arceneaux, a professor at Miami University. Dr. Arceneaux mentioned he would be attending a conference in Cape Town next year and asked Mr. Zungu for travel tips. The conversation quickly turned into an invitation to visit Durban after the conference. Mr. Zungu also offered to introduce him to friends in Cape Town who could provide local guidance or even host him. That new connection gave Dr. Arceneaux the encouragement he needed to move forward with his travel plans.
Another memorable moment came when Dr. Berkane of Algeria reflected on his experience with his dinner host, Morgan Miller, a community member and a member of the World Affairs Council’s Young Professional Advisory Group. He shared, “We had a very emotional discussion on togetherness, tolerance, brotherhood, living in peace, through borders, languages, and religions.” His words captured the spirit of the morning: that diplomacy is not just about treaties and negotiations, but also about human connection and shared understanding.
Delegates and community members at the Covington Farmers Market
The event also sparked new interest in Dinner Diplomacy, with 22 community members signing up to learn about hosting international delegates. One enthusiastic volunteer even drove from Dayton to join the day’s activities and connect with the Council.
“Farmer’s Market & Friends” was made possible through a Dinner Diplomacy grant from Marriott Hotels International, part of a nationwide effort to foster peace and cross-cultural understanding through the universal language of food. The grant enables members of the Global Ties Network, like the World Affairs Council, to create opportunities for communities to welcome and engage with international visitors.
WAC Vice President, Melissa McDonald (center), with local community members
Events like this remind us that even a simple pastry shared at a market can lead to friendships that cross oceans and conversations that open doors to new possibilities.
