Globalize DC started life as the DC Center for Global Education and Leadership (CGEL), created by Sally Schwartz during her tenure as Director of International Programs at DC Public Schools (1999-2008). In that role, she worked with PK-12 teachers and administrators to encourage and support global teaching and learning in DCPS classrooms. Partnerships were key to this work, especially given the meager to non-existent budget available in those years to support global education in the schools. Much of her work, by necessity, focused on facilitating connections between interested schools and outside partners with global education resources and information to share.
Sally recognized the need to create a nonprofit entity that could support her work in the public sector by mobilizing external resources, building sustainable partnerships, and creating a community-based constituency on behalf of PK-12 global education. CGEL was incorporated in DC and received its 501(c)(3) designation in 2009. Sally Schwartz, no longer with DCPS, has served as its Executive Director since that time. Subsequently, CGEL broadened its mission beyond its original exclusive focus on DCPS to incorporate DC’s “state” education functions and DC charter schools, which serve almost half of DC’s public school students.
Here’s a sampling of some of the work we have been able to accomplish on behalf of DC students and educators – thanks largely to our network of committed partners: CGEL-OIP Partner Programs.
In 2016 the organization adopted its new name, Globalize DC, more reflective of its current mission and approach.
Since its founding, the organization has operated as a very small nonprofit without paid staff – but with a big vision. We are working intently on building our capacity to advance this agenda and put Globalize DC on a pathway to become an effective, sustainable, appropriately resourced organization that can fulfill its mission with fidelity.