Today, February 16, 2026, Global Ties U.S. marks the fifteenth anniversary of Citizen Diplomacy Day – an annual celebration of the Global Ties Network’s powerful role in connecting U.S. citizens with global leaders through international exchange and public diplomacy programs.
First recognized by the U.S. Congress in 2011, this day commemorates the unique role and impact of the Global Ties Network in strengthening U.S. communities and workforces through people-to-people exchange programs. As we mark this 15-year milestone, we celebrate the outstanding individuals and organizations across the nationwide Global Ties Network who showcase American excellence, innovation, and leadership though engagement with the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), our country’s flagship professional exchange.
The Global Ties Network is the national infrastructure for citizen diplomacy in the United States, uniting 70+ community-based nonprofit organizations across all 50 states that implement the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and a wide variety of professional and educational exchange programs. Together, these member organizations stimulate local economies across the country and contribute to a more prosperous and globally competitive nation. By connecting leaders from around the world with U.S. counterparts, the work of the Global Ties Network advances prosperity at home and strengthens U.S. influence abroad.
“Citizen diplomacy is a critical asset to U.S. national security and our economic strength, and it is at the heart of the Global Ties Network,” said Global Ties U.S. President and CEO Katherine A. Brown, Ph.D. “By engaging Americans locally in international exchange and public diplomacy programs, the nationwide Network showcases U.S. innovation and excellence while building the trusted, people-to-people relationships that help advance security, prosperity, and the United States’ global leadership.”
Global Ties U.S. will celebrate Citizen Diplomacy Day all week at the Global Ties U.S. 2026 National Meeting: America at 250, happening February 17-20 in Washington, DC. Learn more about the premier annual gathering of international exchange and public diplomacy professionals HERE. Learn more about the Global Ties Network in our 2025 annual report HERE.