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PAKISTAN BOUND

It was the adventure of a lifetime for Rachel Zagrabelny, ICSC’s Director of State Government Relations. She took a 10-day trip last month to Pakistan to promote cross-cultural understanding. Aside from a brief trip to Europe, she had not traveled outside the United States. “I’ve always been interested in exotic destinations,” she said. “And on this trip I was able to find out about women’s rights in another country.”

On the journey, sponsored by the American Council of Young Political Leaders, Zagrabelny met members of Pakistan’s cabinet and congress, and governors and state lawmakers.

“I am proud that Rachel has been invited to become part of this prestigious program and know she will bring more skills and savvy to her role in government relations,” said ICSC President and CEO Michael P. Kercheval.

ACYPL delegates are chosen from a competitive, bipartisan field of candidates who are between the ages of 25 and 40 “and have exhibited strong leadership during their careers in public or private service,” according to the organization. Past participants have gone on to become members of Congress, governors and ambassadors.

Since 1966 the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit has conducted bilateral exchanges to promote awareness and understanding of the common problems, opportunities and challenges that face the international community. Over 90 nations in Eastern and Western Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific Rim have participated in exchange programs. ACYPL receives funding from the U.S. Department of State and has been endorsed as an important source of education on key foreign policy issues for rising American and foreign political leaders.

Zagrabelny, 32, has been with ICSC for two years and was a lobbyist for a law firm in Minneapolis.

She says she had some concerns about safety during her trip because of recent violence in Pakistan. But she was assured that the organization had a lot of experience sending delegates to unstable countries. “I am able to use my experience representing this retail trade association,” she said, “to give information to Pakistani officials about growing their economy through retail.”

— Sascha Brodsky