Washington, DC—The Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization Global Ties U.S., in partnership with the Office of International Visitors in the U.S. Department of State and network of Community-Based Members, host Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits across the United States creating connections between leaders with diverse backgrounds in the business, government, and nonprofit world. These Summits create opportunities to highlight the importance of public diplomacy and how exchange programs can contribute to strengthening and facilitating new global connections in local U.S. communities.
Global Ties U.S. confirms the following locations for the 2018 Diplomacy Begins Here Regional Summits:
- Diplomacy Begins Here: Cleveland, OH – June 28
- Host organization: Cleveland Council on World Affairs
- Theme: Women Who Rock the World
- Diplomacy Begins Here: Charlotte, NC – August 30
- Host organizations: International House, Palmetto Council for International Visitors
- Theme: Economic Development and Entrepreneurship
- Diplomacy Begins Here: Miami, FL – November 15
- Host organization: Global Ties Miami
- Theme: Community Resilience
“We are delighted to partner with our members in Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida on these Summits,” said Katherine Brown, Ph.D., President and CEO of Global Ties U.S. “By bringing leaders from all areas of society together—business, nonprofit, government, etc.—we help foster connections and growth in the international exchange community to build a more peaceful, prosperous world.”
Each Summit provides the chance to connect with the local exchange community—from nonprofits that coordinate exchange programs to families who host international visitors—as well as provide participants an opportunity to deepen their understanding of public diplomacy, U.S. foreign policy, and the role of international exchange programs, such as the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), in strengthening U.S. communities and economies.
Past summits have featured keynotes from prominent political figures, including Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO); former U.S. ambassadors; and U.S. Department of State officials in regional and public diplomacy bureaus.
ABOUT GLOBAL TIES U.S.
Global Ties U.S. is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of State that strengthens relationships between individuals and nations by making international exchange programs more effective. For over 50 years, Global Ties U.S. and its member organizations have sustained a network that coordinates exchange programs to bring current and future leaders to communities throughout the U.S., serving all 50 states and 16 countries.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (IVLP)
The International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Professional meetings reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.