Welcome to Dr. Denise R. Ames’ Blog
Join me as I weave stories about my captivating world and U.S. travels, hiking and experiences in nature, inward thoughts, worldviews/culture, world affairs/history, and family and personal experiences. I hope you find my blogs useful, insightful, and inspirational. Blogs run up to 2,000 words, for longer form content see my Articles Page
Denise at the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia
I have been blogging since 2013, but it has been under the umbrella of the Center for Global Awareness, my educational, non-profit organization. Thus, most of my blogs prior to 2020 have been education related. I now have shifted my global awareness focus to travelers and have launched this new website that you are now visiting. I have also started a new program: Global Awareness for Travelers. This blog is a sort of “relaunch” of myself and what I do.
About Dr. Denise R. Ames’ Blog
Denise with Turkish students, Bursa, Turkey
Roman Coliseum, Rome, Italy, photo Denise Ames
Dr. Denise R. Ames
First, a bit about myself. I am an author and veteran educator—secondary schools, community college, universities, professional development, and adult lifelong learners. I took my doctorate in history education with a focus in world history from Illinois State University. In 2003, I founded an educational non-profit, Center for Global Awareness, for which I have written eleven books and numerous blogs, lesson plans, articles, newsletters, and teaching units, plus conducted professional development workshops. My latest program—Global Awareness for Travelers (GATE)—aligns with my passion for travel and teaching about global awareness.
The Center for Global Awareness (CGA)
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Center for Global Awareness (CGA) is an educational nonprofit that I founded in 2003. I integrate balanced views, holistic thinking, global perspectives, and cross-cultural awareness into CGA’s three programs. Encouraging lifelong learning for life-long learners, travelers, educators, and students, CGA’s ultimate purpose is to “see the world with new eyes.”
CGA’s Three Programs:
1. Global Awareness Education
I have written eleven ground-breaking books in the areas of a holistic world history, global economy, human rights, five worldviews, and travel. I infuse a unique holistic approach, a lively global perspective, insightful cross-cultural awareness, and balanced views into my educational resources and professional services for educators and students grade 9-university, as well as life-long learners.
2. Gather (Global Awareness Through Engaged Reflection) is a conversation-based study program connecting small groups of engaged and curious lifelong learners. Each self-organizing group gathers together to study and talk about pressing global issues and cultural concerns with the goal of seeing them from different perspectives.
3. Global Awareness for Travelers (GATE) is an informational, non-profit travel organization encouraging engaged and culturally-curious travelers to practice global awareness—an understanding of our place in the wider world and our relationships with others—for a deep and wide-reaching travel experience.
“If we prepare our imagination as carefully as we pack our bags, then we will experience, learn, remember far more.” - Phil Cousineau
Acoma Pueblo, NM, USA, photo Denise Ames
“Travel makes a wise man better but a fool worse.” – Thomas Fuller