66 APRIL-MAY 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL There was a problem, however: The project needed a new greenhouse to grow 100,000 plants every year in the middle of the desert. Spirit of America invested $55,000 in private funding to build the greenhouse, the missing piece that enabled the $10 million-plus Oasis project to make impact at scale. To help tell this story of recovery and partnership, we invited some of Kazakhstan’s most popular social media influencers to visit the Aral Sea. The story resonated: Through Instagram and TikTok, more than 1.1 million viewers across Central Asia learned how partnership between the United States and Central Asia is helping the region heal. I loved being in the Foreign Service. Today, I have the privilege of being part of its extended family of veterans, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and likeminded citizens who believe in the ideals of America and stand with people around the world who share our values. By channeling the ingenuity, capabilities, and resources of the American people, Spirit of America has pioneered a “whole of America” approach to public service. n Spirit of America helps Taiwanese civic organizations train citizens in emergency response capabilities, and it joined national exercises in 2023 and 2024. COURTESY OF CHAZ MARTIN LIFE AFTER THE FOREIGN SERVICE
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