Dan Keyport introduced Mark Ritchie with their long-time shared interest in electric vehicles. Dan briefly shared Mark’s many accomplishments including his
position as Minnesota’s Secretary of State 2007-2015, an endowed chair at the University of Minnesota, and currently he co-chairs the Minnesota USA Expo Bid Committee, serves as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Minnesota and is the President of Global Minnesota.
Global Minnesota takes relevant and timely information on international issues, foreign policy, and cultural topics, and provides the space and opportunity for Minnesotans to engage and discuss. The Global Minnesota story began in 1951,
when community leaders recognized the need for an organized approach to supporting international students coming to study at the University of Minnesota and other institutions.
Since then, Global Minnesota has become a multifaceted
organization with a broad mission “to advance international understanding and engagement.” In a typical year, they organize hundreds of educational events and civic engagement opportunities for people of all ages, connecting, informing, and engaging more than 20,000 individuals from across the state and beyond. It also serves as the official host for the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program participants who are invited by U.S. embassies around the world to learn more about America through virtual and in-person visits.
Contact Global Minnesota:
1901 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414-2025
Phone 612.625.1662, online: info@globalminnesota.org
Mark Ritchie is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Minnesota
World’s Fair Bid Committee. On June 29, the U.S. announced to the 168th
General Assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE – the Paris-based organization that oversees world’s fairs) that the State of Minnesota will
bid to host a specialized Expo in 2027. A specialized Expo is a three-month event,
which under BIE rules can take place between the larger, six-month events which take place every five years. Expo 2020 Dubai is the next large one, opening October 21 after a one-year COVID delay. If the bid is successful (there may be other bidders – Malaga, Spain has shown an interest) it would be the first BIE-sanctioned Expo in the U.S. in 43 years (since New Orleans ’84). The theme of Expo 2027 Minnesota USA is “Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well-Being for All.”
The Vision: Expo 2027 will be a platform and gathering place for the partnerships we all need to reach the ambitious health and wellness goals set by world leaders by the end of 2030. It will showcase innovations and discoveries that promote good health, wellness, and well-being for all. The event would bring the world together to advance global health equity.
Mark noted the confluence of medical device manufacturers, health care organizations, and the nearby Mayo Institute as reasons for the theme, which was developed before our world pandemic occurred. The proposed site will be in the South Loop region of Bloomington. It is within a few minutes drive or light-rail from the international airport, adjacent to the largest public transit hub in our state, and next to the country’s largest urban National Wildlife Refuge.
