Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the Global Ties U.S. 2026 National Meeting!
2026 is a celebratory year for our country, and this year’s theme, America at 250, elevates the leadership and impact of the nationwide Global Ties Network as the national infrastructure for citizen diplomacy in the United States. Over the course of three days and through more than 25 sessions, workshops, briefings, and plenaries, we’ll honor this milestone moment in America’s story. You’ll have an opportunity to learn from and connect with over 450 peers who share your belief in the power of people-to-people exchange.
We’ll celebrate America’s story through the lens of sports, innovation, and citizen diplomacy, and recognize outstanding leaders with our awards. Beginning with our Opening Plenary, we’ll recognize our first Global Ties Network Honors recipients of the week. On Thursday, we’ll present our two Citizen Diplomat awards, and also honor our newest cohort of Emerging Leaders as we celebrate their efforts and the communities they represent.
These experiences—and more—are carefully fostered by an extraordinary National Meeting Planning Committee who answered the call to create sessions that were engaging, meaningful, and, dare I say, fun. As the Chair of the Planning Committee, it has been an honor to serve alongside my friends and colleagues representing our Community-Based Members, National Program Agencies, and the U.S. Department of State. I am incredibly grateful for their dedication not only to the Global Ties Network, but also to the National Meeting itself.
Whether you’re interested in Building the People Power to Thrive, looking for a Practical Toolkit for Turning Your Projects into Private Sector Partnerships, or becoming a master at the Art of the Pivot, there is a skill-building session for you! As you attend each session, I encourage to you celebrate how your work contributes to a strong and vital citizen diplomacy network, and how the new ideas, information, and best practices presented can shape your work as we continue to strengthen and develop the Global Ties Network.
I encourage all attendees, especially those who have long been a voice for exchange, to extend a friendly hand, an empty chair, and welcoming conversation to newer members of the Network. Connections need not only happen during a breakout session. Strike up a conversation while waiting in the buffet line at lunch. Invite a new colleague to dinner. Ask two friends and two soon-to-be friends to join you on an adventure through the National Mall. As we know all too well, there are always opportunities for connections and insights, and some of the most powerful moments in a program are unplanned.
Thank you for your passion, your resiliency, and your unwavering commitment to citizen diplomacy. I look forward to celebrating with you throughout the week!
Fulori Kirikiti
Chair, Global Ties U.S. 2026 National Meeting Planning Committee
Executive Director, GlobalTexas