MANSFIELD — International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES) has announced Diana Donovan as its new Local Coordinator.
Donovan is excited for this new opportunity to work with international high school students and the local families that host them and feels that having exchange students in our local schools and communities increase mutual understanding and improves relationships between countries. Diana will be working with families and schools in Mansfield and in the surrounding area.
She is currently looking for families that would like to host for the school year of 2021. Exchange students live as a member of the host family — not a guest or boarder.
They participate in family activities, follow host family rules, and help with chores. Students have their own medical insurance and spending money to cover all personal expenses; Host families provide room & board and loving parental guidance to the student. As the Local Coordinator, Diana is available to answer questions, give advice, and provide general support to students and host families throughout the experience.
For more information about hosting or working with ICES, please contact Diana Donovan. ICES is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a peaceful world by increasing international awareness and understanding through cultural sharing experiences.
“My name is Diana Donovan and I am a native Californian, Long Beach to be exact, born and raised. I feel lucky to have grown up in a very diverse atmosphere, going to school with many diverse ethnicities and learning and growing with kids from different cultures. Being the daughter of a Greek woman, I was fortunate to see the world through my mother’s eyes as she embraced America but also diligently shared her culture and traditions with her own children.
“I have spent the last 30 years in Richland County, Ohio, currently living in Mansfield, and I am a Realtor. It’s quite a difference from sunny Southern California but I love the warm small town feel, and the people are incredible friendly. I must say I still am not much of a fan of the cold, especially driving in the snow, ha ha. I am the mother of 8 amazing children (yes I said 8).
“I have dicw beautiful daughters and three handsome sons all born and raised in Ohio. I have many hobbies and interests that include cooking, gardening, working out, writing poetry and now being a grandma spending as much time as possible enjoying my grandkids. I’ve always been drawn to helping people and love learning about other cultures.
“I think being the daughter of a Greek mother who came here not knowing how to speak English but who truly had a love for the American dream and culture and was always passionate about her own culture making sure we experienced that and knew her culture and traditions really helped me look at the beauty of this diverse world with great appreciation.
“As a Realtor I am grateful to be in a position that affords me the opportunity to meet new people/families and help them find new homes but also learn about their cultures, family traditions and they often become friends and like family. I am looking forward to this new opportunity to help families/students looking to grow in new experiences, share some of myself, learn and grow with them and watch them build new traditions, experiences and connections.
“I am active in the community and look for ways to involve myself in volunteering, I am a mentor in Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring and my match is a wonderful sweet girl named Grace who I have the pleasure of seeing her grow in new ways, we have only been a match for about a year but I have seen her grow in many ways, we share a lot of the same likes and interests and
“I am excited to see what the future holds for her and the great things I know she will accomplish. I am looking forward to this new opportunity to help families/students looking to grow in new experiences, share some of myself learn and grow with them and watch them build new traditions, experiences and connections. I am excited to work with exchange students because I love meeting people, seeing and hearing about their passions, their goals, their dreams and their experiences.
“It’s important to me to do meaningful things in life and I am hoping to be a meaningful, inspiring catalyst for teens/ students.”
